The morphology of porcine oocytes is associated with zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 and integrin beta 2 protein levels--

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The morphology and quality of oocytes is set during oo-and folliculo-genesis, and is completed during final maturation. Early embryonic development is associated with the morphology of the cumulus-oocytecomplex (COC). However, current knowledge of the possible relationships between oocyte morphology and the level of proteins within the oocyte, which may reflect fertilization ability, is insufficient. Using western-blot analysis and confocal microscopic observation, we determined the levels of integrin beta-2 (integrin β2) and glycoprotein 3 (pZP3) protein levels in the porcine zona pellucida of four morphologically different types of oocytes, graded according to their cytoplasmic composition and cumulus structure. The level of integrin β2 protein was increased in grade I and II oocytes as compared to other grades (P < 0.05). Moreover, the level of pZP3 protein was 3-4 fold higher in grade I oocytes (P < 0.01). We suggest that COC morphology may be associated with oocyte fertilization ability with respect to its sperm-oocyte interaction gene expression, which is the result of increased accumulation of specific proteins prior to fertilization in higher quality oocytes. Higher quality oocytes may also reflect better fertilization ability.

Global transcriptome analysis of porcine oocytes in correlation with follicle size

“…The same pattern has been observed in mouse oocytes, as the ZP3 transcript increases gradually from primordial to small antral follicles then decreases in the large antral follicles (Pan et al, ). Moreover, in porcine oocytes, the ZP3 protein level has been reported to be significantly higher in oocytes isolated from large compared to small follicles (Antosik et al, ). In agreement with our findings, these results could suggest that ZP3 is accumulated in the early growing oocyte, then it is utilized and accumulated as a protein in the fully grown oocytes to build the zona pellucida and support oocyte development.…”

Expression and cellular distribution of zona pellucida glycoproteins in canine oocytes before and afterin vitromaturation

“…Previous studies in the pig have suggested that developmental potential and fertilization ability may be strongly related to briliant crezyl blue test (BCB) staining, oocyte morphology and follicular size (Kölle et al , 2007; Antosik et al , 2010; Kempisty et al , 2011). The experiments examining the expression and/or distribution of zona pellucida proteins are currently of high significance due to the low number of fully matured canine oocytes recovered in vitro as well as the decreased fertilization rate.…”

“…These proteins are encoded by ZP genes, ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 (Gupta et al, 2012). ZP2 functions as the secondary receptor and plays, compared to ZP3, a subordinate role during the initial steps of fertilization (Jackowska et al, 2009;Antosik et al, 2010;Ikawa et al, 2010;Kempisty et al, 2011;Kempisty et al, 2012). ZP2 functions as the secondary receptor and plays, compared to ZP3, a subordinate role during the initial steps of fertilization (Jackowska et al, 2009;Antosik et al, 2010;Ikawa et al, 2010;Kempisty et al, 2011;Kempisty et al, 2012).…”

“…The ZP3 proteins are recognized to represent the primary sperm receptor. ZP2 functions as the secondary receptor and plays, compared to ZP3, a subordinate role during the initial steps of fertilization (Jackowska et al , 2009; Antosik et al , 2010; Ikawa et al , 2010; Kempisty et al , 2011; Kempisty et al , 2012). As shown in our previous study (Kempisty et al , 2011), the porcine pZP3 protein is differentially located and distributed in the oocyte.…”

First polar body morphology affects potential development of porcine parthenogenetic embryo in vitro

“…Oocyte quality is one of the most important factors that affects the outcome of porcine embryo development (Antosik et al , 2010). Although many kinds of cloning animals have been produced during recent decades, objective criteria for selecting competent oocytes remain elusive.…”