ZygotePub Date : 2023-08-01DOI: 10.1017/S096719942300028X
Norma Berenice Cruz-Cano, Uriel Ángel Sánchez-Rivera, Carmen Álvarez-Rodríguez, Mario Cárdenas-León, Martín Martínez-Torres
{"title":"Sex steroid receptors in the ovarian follicles of the lizard <i>Sceloporus torquatus</i>.","authors":"Norma Berenice Cruz-Cano, Uriel Ángel Sánchez-Rivera, Carmen Álvarez-Rodríguez, Mario Cárdenas-León, Martín Martínez-Torres","doi":"10.1017/S096719942300028X","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S096719942300028X","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Estradiol and progesterone have been recognized as important mediators of reproductive events in the female mainly via binding to their receptors. This study aimed to characterize the immunolocalization of the estrogen receptor alfa (ERα), estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the ovarian follicles of the lizard <i>Sceloporus torquatus</i>. The localization of steroid receptors has a spatio-temporal pattern that depends on the stage of follicular development. The immunostaining intensity of the three receptors was high in the pyriform cells and the cortex of the oocyte of previtellogenic follicles. During the vitellogenic phase, the granulosa and theca immunostaining was intense even with the modification of the follicular layer. In the preovulatory follicles, the receptors were found in yolk and additionally, ERα was also located in the theca. These observations suggest a role for sex steroids in regulating follicular development in lizards, like other vertebrates.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9791185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-08-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000102
SeungHoon Lee, Haeyun Jeong, Hayeon Wi, Jin-Gu No, Whi-Cheul Lee, Seokho Kim, Hyeon Yang, Sung June Byun, Sejin Park, Jong Gug Kim
{"title":"Autophagic activation in porcine oocytes is independent of meiotic progression.","authors":"SeungHoon Lee, Haeyun Jeong, Hayeon Wi, Jin-Gu No, Whi-Cheul Lee, Seokho Kim, Hyeon Yang, Sung June Byun, Sejin Park, Jong Gug Kim","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, we built on our previous research that discovered that autophagy activated the metaphase I stage during porcine oocytes <i>in vitro</i> maturation. We investigated the relationship between autophagy and oocyte maturation. First, we confirmed whether autophagy was activated differently by different media (TCM199 and NCSU-23) during maturation. Then, we investigated whether oocyte maturation affected autophagic activation. In addition, we examined whether the inhibition of autophagy affected the nuclear maturation rate of porcine oocytes. As for the main experiment, we measured LC3-II levels using western blotting after inhibition of nuclear maturation via cAMP treatment in an <i>in vitro</i> culture to clarify whether nuclear maturation affected autophagy. After autophagy inhibition, we also counted matured oocytes by treating them with wortmannin or a E64d and pepstatin A mixture. Both groups, which had different treatment times of cAMP, showed the same levels of LC3-II, while the maturation rates were about four times higher after cAMP 22 h treatment than that of the 42 h treatment group. This indicated that neither cAMP nor nuclear status affected autophagy. Autophagy inhibition during <i>in vitro</i> oocyte maturation with wortmannin treatment reduced oocyte maturation rates by about half, while autophagy inhibition by the E64d and pepstatin A mixture treatment did not significantly affect the oocyte maturation. Therefore, wortmannin itself, or the autophagy induction step, but not the degradation step, is involved in the oocyte maturation of porcine oocytes. Overall, we propose that oocyte maturation does not stand upstream of autophagy activation, but autophagy may exist upstream of oocyte maturation.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9793253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-08-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000229
Flávia de Marchi, Renan Lazzaretti, Janine de Camargo, Fernanda Luiza Facioli, Eraldo Lourenso Zanella, Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Mariana Groke Marques, Kyle Cody Caires, Ricardo Zanella
{"title":"Association between anti-Müllerian hormone levels and reproductive parameters in Wagyu cattle raised in Brazil.","authors":"Flávia de Marchi, Renan Lazzaretti, Janine de Camargo, Fernanda Luiza Facioli, Eraldo Lourenso Zanella, Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Mariana Groke Marques, Kyle Cody Caires, Ricardo Zanella","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The production of <i>in vitro</i> embryos has sped up the dissemination of superior genetic material. However, the variation among the cattle response to oocyte and embryo production is a challenging factor. This variation is even higher in the Wagyu cattle as the breed has a small effective population size. The identification of an effective marker related to reproductive efficiency would allow the selection of more responsive females to reproductive protocols. The objective of this study was to evaluate the blood levels of anti-Müllerian hormone and associate it with oocyte recovery and blastocyst rate of embryos produced <i>in vitro</i> in Wagyu cows, as well as observe the hormone circulating levels in males. Serum samples from 29 females with seven follicular aspirations and four bulls were used. AMH measurements were performed using the bovine AMH ELISA kit. A positive correlation was identified between oocyte production and blastocyst rate (<i>r</i> = 0.84, <i>P</i> = 9 × 10<sup>-9</sup>), and AMH levels with oocyte (<i>r</i> = 0.49, <i>P</i> = 0.006) and embryo (<i>r</i> = 0.39, <i>P</i> = 0.03) production. The mean levels of AMH were different between animals with low (11.06 ± 3.01) and high (20.75 ± 4.46) oocyte production (<i>P</i> = 0.01). Males showed high serological levels of AMH (3829 ± 2328 pg/ml) compared with other breeds. It is possible to use the serological measurement of AMH as a method to select Wagyu females with greater capacity for oocyte and embryo production. Further studies correlating AMH serological levels with Sertoli cell function in bulls are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10151779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-08-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000230
Clara Slade Oliveira, Paola Maria da Silva Rosa, Bruna Rios Coelho Alves, Clara Ana Santos Monteiro, Gabriela Ramos Leal, Pedro Henrique Evangelista Guedes, Agostinho Jorge Dos Reis Camargo, Naiara Zoccal Saraiva
{"title":"Luteinizing hormone secretion, ovulatory capacity, and oocyte quality in peripubertal Gir heifers.","authors":"Clara Slade Oliveira, Paola Maria da Silva Rosa, Bruna Rios Coelho Alves, Clara Ana Santos Monteiro, Gabriela Ramos Leal, Pedro Henrique Evangelista Guedes, Agostinho Jorge Dos Reis Camargo, Naiara Zoccal Saraiva","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Induction of puberty in cattle breeds that attain puberty in later stages, such as Gir, allows the earlier beginning of reproductive life and it might increase oocyte quality. Here, the ovulatory capacity of prepuberal Gir heifers was studied and its relationship to follicular growth, luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and oocyte quality was evaluated. Peripubertal Gir heifers were treated with a progesterone-based protocol and according to ovulatory response were separated into groups: not-ovulated (N-OV) and ovulated (OV). Serial blood samples were taken 24 h after estradiol treatment on day 12 to evaluate LH secretion. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected using ovum pick-up and assessed for brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining rate, IVF-grade oocytes rate, and mean oocyte diameter, in comparison with cow oocytes. Gene expression of developmental competence markers (ZAR1, MATER, and IGF2R) was also analyzed. The largest follicle diameters were similar between N-OV and OV groups on the day of estradiol treatment (d12) and the next day and decreased (<i>P</i> = 0.04) in the N-OV group thereafter. LH pulse secretion was different between groups (N-OV = 3.61 ± 0.34 vs OV = 2.83 ± 0.21 ng/ ml; <i>P</i> = 0.04). COC assessment showed that the number of recovered oocytes, BCB+ rate, IVF-grade oocytes and oocyte size was similar (<i>P</i> > 0.05) among groups, resembling adult cow patterns. ZAR1, MATER and IGF2R gene expression in oocytes were also similar (<i>P</i> > 0.05) in N-OV and OV groups. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a lower LH secretion profile in peripubertal Gir heifers prone to ovulate after induction protocol, and that oocyte quality is not affected on a short-term basis by ovulation itself.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10151216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199422000521
L P Alcaráz, P V S Pereira, T A Oliveira, L F L Correia, E M Vasconcelos, F Z Brandão, J M G Souza-Fabjan
{"title":"Effect of the addition of antifreeze protein type I on the quality of post-thawed domestic cat epididymal sperm.","authors":"L P Alcaráz, P V S Pereira, T A Oliveira, L F L Correia, E M Vasconcelos, F Z Brandão, J M G Souza-Fabjan","doi":"10.1017/S0967199422000521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199422000521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryopreservation of domestic cat semen is mainly performed as a model for the establishment of endangered wild feline protocols. The supplementation of antifreeze protein type I (AFP I) to cryopreservation medium has shown improvement in frozen-thawed sperm quality in other species, but its effect on cat semen has not yet been tested. This study aimed to assess the addition of AFP I to cryopreservation medium in domestic cats. Sperm was obtained from the cauda epididymis of orchiectomized cats; sperm was then pooled in Tris buffer and allocated into three treatments, according to AFP I final concentration: 0 (control), 0.1, and 0.5 µg/ml. Nine replicates were cryopreserved in a two-step protocol and subsequently thawed at 37°C for 30 s. There was no difference (<i>P</i> > 0.05) among the control, 0.1 and 0.5 µg/ml groups for parameters such as motility, vitality, functional membrane integrity, mature chromatin, normal morphology, and sperm binding to egg perivitelline membrane. In the 0.5 μg/ml group only, percentages of live sperm with intact acrosome and of sperm with most inactive mitochondria (DAB III) showed a significant reduction, along with a tendency (<i>P</i> = 0.053) to an increase in the percentage of sperm with most active mitochondria (DAB II). In conclusion, the supplementation of 0.1 and 0.5 µg/ml of AFP I did not promote consistent beneficial effects on the overall sperm cryotolerance in domestic cats.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9487044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000138
Jayesh Vyas, Urmila Pannu, Ram Kumar Saran, H K Narula, Ashish Chopra, G R Gowane
{"title":"Performance evaluation of Marwari lambs for growth traits and impact of inbreeding.","authors":"Jayesh Vyas, Urmila Pannu, Ram Kumar Saran, H K Narula, Ashish Chopra, G R Gowane","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed at the performance evaluation of a closed flock of Marwari sheep and also to study the effect of accumulated inbreeding on the growth traits using a linear mixed model methodology. The data generated for 39 years (1981 to 2020) on Marwari sheep maintained at ICAR-Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Arid Region Campus (CSWRI, ARC), Bikaner, Rajasthan, India were used for analysis on growth traits. The overall least-squares means (LSM) of live weights at birth (BWT), weaning (3MWT), 6 months (6MWT), 9 months (9MWT) and 12 months (12MWT) were observed to be 3.02 ± 0.01, 14.30 ± 0.04, 20.12 ± 0.05, 23.68 ± 0.06 and 26.39 ± 0.07 kg, respectively. Overall LSM for average daily gain from birth to 3 months (ADG1), 3 to 6 months (ADG2) and 6 to 12 months (ADG3) were 125.44 ± 0.40, 67.37 ± 0.40 and 35.83 ± 0.29 g/day, respectively. Kleiber ratio (KR) from birth to 3 months (KR1), 3 to 6 months (KR2), and 6 to 12 months (KR3) were 16.78 ± 0.02, 6.58 ± 0.04 and 3.05 ± 0.02, respectively. Results revealed a 4.36, 25.83, 36.33, 31.50 and 28.99% improvement in the live weights since the inception of the improvement programme. This is also reflected by a significant effect of sire on all the growth traits. The estimate of inbreeding in the flock was 1.55%. Highly inbred animals were 5.13% (>5% Fi). The study revealed the non-significant effect of inbreeding level on all growth traits except for BWT and KR3. For BWT, inbreeding classes had variation; however, a negative effect was not seen. The inbreeding class (>5% Fi) was reduced by 0.05 units for KR3 as against its preceding class. Dam's age at lambing and weight influenced the birth weight and subsequent weights. The study concluded that the selection programme of Marwari sheep is in the right direction; however, regular monitoring of inbreeding is necessary and factors affecting growth must be monitored to attain better growth rates in the nucleus.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9865385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000047
Mohammad Babatabar Darzi, Farkhondeh Nemati, Hossein Azizi, Abbasali Dehpour Jouybari
{"title":"Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry analysis of PLZF and VASA in mice testis during spermatogenesis.","authors":"Mohammad Babatabar Darzi, Farkhondeh Nemati, Hossein Azizi, Abbasali Dehpour Jouybari","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the basis of male spermatogenesis and fertility. SSCs are distinguished by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into spermatozoa throughout the male reproductive life and pass genetic information to the next generation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC) and Fluidigm reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyze the expression of PLZF and VASA in mice testis tissue. In this experimental study, whereas undifferentiated spermatogonial cells sharply expressed PLZF, other types of germ cells located in the seminiferous tubule were negative for this marker. Conversely, the germ cells near the basal membrane of the seminiferous tubule showed VASA expression, whereas the undifferentiated germ cells located on the basal membrane were negative. The ICC analysis indicated higher expression of PLZF in the isolated undifferentiated cells compared with differentiated germ cells. Fluidigm real-time RT-PCR results demonstrated a significant expression (<i>P</i> < 0.05) of VASA in the SSCs compared with differentiated cells and also showed expression of PLZF in undifferentiated spermatogonia. These results clearly proved the role of PLZF as a specific marker for SSCs, and can be beneficial for advanced research on <i>in vitro</i> differentiation of SSCs to functional sperms.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9849172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199422000314
Krzysztof Lukaszuk, Izabela Wocławek Potocka, Grzegorz Jakiel, Jolanta Olszewska, Aron Lukaszuk, Anna Knight
{"title":"Comment on 'Importance of real-time measurement of sperm head morphology in intracytoplasmic sperm injection' by Fumiaki Itoi <i>et al.</i>","authors":"Krzysztof Lukaszuk, Izabela Wocławek Potocka, Grzegorz Jakiel, Jolanta Olszewska, Aron Lukaszuk, Anna Knight","doi":"10.1017/S0967199422000314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199422000314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a commentary on the article published in the <i>Zygote</i> FirstView: 'Importance of real-time measurement of sperm head morphology in intracytoplasmic sperm injection' by Fumiaki Itoi and colleagues. We comment on the importance of providing the microscope setup details whenever sperm morphology visualization is discussed. The claim of ×6000-10,000 magnification is misleading as such levels of magnification are impossible to achieve.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9864865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000060
Nuria Hernández-Rollán, Soledad Sánchez-Mateos, Marta López-Morató, Francisco M Sánchez-Margallo, Ignacio S Álvarez
{"title":"Supplementation of culture medium with quercetin improves mouse blastocyst quality and increases the expression of HIF-1α protein.","authors":"Nuria Hernández-Rollán, Soledad Sánchez-Mateos, Marta López-Morató, Francisco M Sánchez-Margallo, Ignacio S Álvarez","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regarding the low number of embryos that reach the blastocyst stage when cultured <i>in vitro</i>, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of quercetin on pre-implantation mouse (<i>Mus musculus</i>) embryos obtained using <i>in vitro</i> fertilization, especially during the passage from morula to blastocyst. Furthermore, we studied whether quercetin also affected the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). The culture medium for the embryos was supplemented with quercetin, for long or short periods of time, and then the development potential, total cell number, apoptosis rates and expression of HIF-1α were studied to determine the effect of quercetin. Embryos failed to develop when cultured for long periods of time with quercetin, implying the possible toxic effects of this, alternatively antioxidant, compound. However, a short culture from morula to blastocyst significantly improved the development potential of <i>in vitro</i> produced embryos, increasing the final total cell number and reducing the apoptosis rate, observing similar results to those embryos cultured in low-oxygen concentrations or developed <i>in utero</i>. Furthermore, in embryos treated with quercetin for 2 or 4 h we found an increase in HIF-1α compared with untreated embryos. This work could imply a way to use quercetin in fertility clinics to improve the production of healthy blastocysts and, consequently, increase the success rates in assisted reproduction techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9976514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ZygotePub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1017/S0967199423000114
Tânia Santos, Ana S Pires-Luís, Ângela Alves, Elsa Oliveira, Carla Leal, Mónica Fernandes, Emídio V Fernandes, Márcia Barreiro, Ana-Margarida Calado, Rosália Sá, Mário Sousa
{"title":"All that glitters is not gold: a stereological study of human donor oocytes.","authors":"Tânia Santos, Ana S Pires-Luís, Ângela Alves, Elsa Oliveira, Carla Leal, Mónica Fernandes, Emídio V Fernandes, Márcia Barreiro, Ana-Margarida Calado, Rosália Sá, Mário Sousa","doi":"10.1017/S0967199423000114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199423000114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Here we report a quantitative analysis of human metaphase II (MII) oocytes from a 22-year-old oocyte donor, retrieved after ovarian-controlled hyperstimulation. Five surplus donor oocytes were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a stereological analysis was used to quantify the distribution of organelles, using the point-counting technique with an adequate stereological grid. Comparisons between means of the relative volumes (Vv) occupied by organelles in the three oocyte regions, cortex (C), subcortex (SC) and inner cytoplasm (IC), followed the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-test with Bonferroni correction. Life cell imaging and TEM analysis confirmed donor oocyte nuclear maturity. Results showed that the most abundant organelles were smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) elements (26.8%) and mitochondria (5.49%). Significant differences between oocyte regions were found for lysosomes (<i>P</i> = 0.003), cortical vesicles (<i>P</i> = 0.002) and large SER vesicles (<i>P</i> = 0.009). These results were quantitatively compared with previous results using prophase I (GV) and metaphase I (MI) immature oocytes. In donor MII oocytes there was a normal presence of cortical vesicles, SER tubules, SER small, medium and large vesicles, lysosomes and mitochondria. However, donor MII oocytes displayed signs of cytoplasmic immaturity, namely the presence of dictyosomes, present in GV oocytes and rare in MI oocytes, of SER very large vesicles, characteristic of GV oocytes, and the rarity of SER tubular aggregates. Results therefore indicate that the criterion of nuclear maturity used for donor oocyte selection does not always correspond to cytoplasmic maturity, which can partially explain implantation failures with the use of donor oocytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":24075,"journal":{"name":"Zygote","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9493354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}