In-situ mechanical characterization of mouse oocytes using a cell holding device

Elastic and Viscoelastic Characterization of Mouse Oocytes Using Micropipette Indentation

“…12 The analysis of F-acting contents via fluorescent staining also shows that old oocytes contain much less F-actin in cytoplasm than young oocytes. 12 This lack of glycoprotein in cell membrane and F-actin in cytoskeleton cause poor mechanical support for subjected mechanical loads, therefore decrease the overall mechanical properties in old oocytes.…”

“…Our previous scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination has shown that the surface of young oocytes ZP is a fibrous network with numerous pores, compared to a rough ZP surface deprived of pores in old oocytes. 12 Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of the cross sections of ZP glycoprotein structures indicate the glycoproteins in young oocytes ZP are significantly denser than those in the ZP of old oocytes. 12 The analysis of F-acting contents via fluorescent staining also shows that old oocytes contain much less F-actin in cytoplasm than young oocytes.…”

“…12 Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of the cross sections of ZP glycoprotein structures indicate the glycoproteins in young oocytes ZP are significantly denser than those in the ZP of old oocytes. 12 The analysis of F-acting contents via fluorescent staining also shows that old oocytes contain much less F-actin in cytoplasm than young oocytes. 12 This lack of glycoprotein in cell membrane and F-actin in cytoskeleton cause poor mechanical support for subjected mechanical loads, therefore decrease the overall mechanical properties in old oocytes.…”

“…In embryology and reproduction research, mechanical characterization of mammalian oocytes represents a potential technique to detect cellular defects in pre-implantation oocytes, 12 and to assess quality and bio-viability of processes such as cryopreservation. 7 Assisted reproduction technologies require the reproductive quality of oocytes to be evaluated to select the healthy ones for in vitro fertilization (IVF) use.…”

“…Our preliminary mechanical deformation measurement showed distinct mechanical characteristics of healthy (young) and aging-induced defective (aged) mouse oocytes as a result of structural changes in cytoskeleton and the glycoprotein shell of zona pellucida (ZP). 12 Up to date, there are no comparative studies reported in the literature on elastic and viscoelastic properties of young and aged oocytes. In order to quantitatively reveal the mechanical differences between young and aged mouse oocytes, this study performed stress-relaxation indentation tests of mouse oocytes using the vision-based force measurement technique.…”