In vitro maturation of human oocytes in a follicle-mimicking three-dimensional coculture

Torre, Maria Luisa; Munari, E.; Albani, Elena; Levi-Setti, Paolo Emanuele; Villani, Simona; Faustini, M.; Conte, U.; Vigo, D.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.02.090

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…For example, immature oocytes that are cultured in the presence of the cumulus cells that normally surround the oocyte, as well as those cultured in a gel matrix that more accurately simulates the three-dimensional environment of the oocyte-cumulus cell complex, have improved cytoplasmic maturation rates compared with oocytes separated from the cumulus cells [14,45]. By identifying the importance of the GPR3/G s signaling pathway in human oocytes, we add another component to our understanding of an important stage of meiotic regulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meiotic Arrest in Human Oocytes Is Maintained by a Gs Signaling Pathway1

Diluigi

Weitzman

Pace

et al. 2008

Biology of Reproduction

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In mammalian oocytes, the maintenance of meiotic prophase I arrest prior to the surge of LH that stimulates meiotic maturation depends on a high level of cAMP within the oocyte. In mouse and rat, the cAMP is generated in the oocyte, and this requires the activity of a constitutively active, Gs-linked receptor, GPR3 or GPR12, respectively. To examine if human oocyte meiotic arrest depends on a similar pathway, we used RT-PCR and Western blotting to look at whether human oocytes express the same components for maintaining arrest as rodent oocytes. RNA encoding GPR3, but not GPR12, was expressed. RNA encoding adenylate cyclase type 3, which is the major adenylate cyclase required for maintaining meiotic arrest in the mouse oocyte, was also expressed, as was Galphas protein. To determine if this pathway is functional in the human oocyte, we examined the effect of injecting a function-blocking antibody against Galphas on meiotic resumption. This antibody stimulated meiotic resumption of human oocytes that were maintained at the prophase I stage using a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. These results demonstrate that human oocytes maintain meiotic arrest prior to the LH surge using a signaling pathway similar to that of rodent oocytes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meiotic Arrest in Human Oocytes Is Maintained by a Gs Signaling Pathway1

Diluigi

Weitzman

Pace

et al. 2008

Biology of Reproduction

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show abstract

“…Thus, IVM co-culture with GCs, especially IVM co-culture with autologous ones, was raised specifically to assist the IVM of human oocytes. Although some fairly encouraging results of IVM co-culture with heterologous monkey kidney cells (7) or homologous cumulus cells (15) have been obtained in humans, the available data on the IVM coculture with autologous GCs did not demonstrate significant improvement in the IVM of human oocytes (5,16).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In humans, attempts have been made to improve the IVM of human oocytes by IVM co-culture with helper somatic cells, including heterologous monkey kidney cells (7), homologous sperms (14) or cumulus cells (15), and autologous cumulus cells (5,16). However, the results of IVM co-culture were not consistent, in particular, no significant improvement was obtained in the maturation rate of oocytes from IVM co-culture with autologous cumulus cells when compared with the conventional non-IVM co-culture (5,16).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Autologous mature follicular fluid: its role in in vitro maturation of human cumulus-removed oocytes

Zhu

et al. 2008

Fertility and Sterility

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“…The IVM system requires optimization; the culture medium requires further refinement beyond the reported benefits of supplementation with Activin A, 495 or the epidermal growth factor family members amphiregulin (Areg) and epiregulin (Ereg) EGF-like growth factors. 496 Use of a three-dimensional culture system to support the structural integrity of the oocyte-cumulus complex either in a prematuration phase 497 or during maturation 498,499 requires further investigation. Moreover, the optimal duration of IVM remains to be determined, and the optimal protocols for preparation of a receptive endometrium need to be identified.…”

Section: In Vitro Oocyte Maturationmentioning

confidence: 99%