Expression of genes encoding zona pellucida glycoproteins and cortical granule distribution in porcine oocytes isolated from small and medium follicles in relation to puberty status of donors

Abstract

Jeseta M., Budna J., Kranc W., Hanulakova S., Bryja A., Chachuła A., Ciesiółka S., WojtanowiczMarkiewicz K., Bukowska D., Brüssow K.-P., Bruska M., Nowicki M., Antosik P., Hulinska P., Machatkova M., Zabel M., Kempisty B. (2017): Expression of genes encoding zona pellucida glycoproteins and cortical granule distribution in porcine oocytes isolated from small and medium follicles in relation to puberty status of donors. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 62, 234-241.The zona pellucida proteins belong to a group of proteins that regulate the processes of gamete recognition, interaction, and fusion, since they are recognized as primary and secondary sperm receptors. It is suggested that cortical granule distribution is significantly associated with the zona pellucida structure and membrane preparation to cortical and acrosome reaction. Therefore, this study investigated the zona pellucida marker gene expression (ZP2 and ZP4 protein) in relation to cortical granules distribution in oocytes and puberty status of donors. Oocytes were collected from adult cyclic sows (isolated from medium and small follicles) and juvenile gilts (isolated only from small follicles). The oocytes were examined by RT-qPCR and by confocal microscopy. The expression of genes for ZP2 and ZP4 protein in oocytes collected from small follicles from

In vitro maturation using an agarose matrix with incorporated extracellular matrix proteins improves porcine oocyte developmental competence by enhancing cytoplasmic maturation

“…Moreover, BMP15 stimulates gapjunction communication (GJC) by maintaining the connection between the oocyte and CCs (Sugimura et al, 2014). GJC facilitates the transportation of metabolites involved in glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway, and the electron transport system from CCs into oocytes (Ciesiółka et al, 2017;Sun & Nagai, 2003), resulting in increased ATP synthesis in oocytes.…”

“…As shown in Figure S1, analysis method for distribution of CGs was based on those reported by Jeseta et al. (2017) and the migration of CGs was assessed using the index of CG distribution (ICGD) (Jeseta et al., 2017). The ICGD values represent the ratio between the intensity of CGs in the peripheral part area (20%) of the stained oocyte and the intensity of CGs in the central part area (80%) of the stained oocyte.…”