Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 5, Supplement , Pages 2051-2060, May 2009

Paracrine factors from cumulus-enclosed oocytes ensure the successful maturation and fertilization in vitro of denuded oocytes in the cat model

  • Natasha M. Godard, M.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Species Survival, Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
    • Department of Biology, American University, Washington, District of Columbia
    • ,
  • Budhan S. Pukazhenthi, B.V.Sc., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Species Survival, Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
    • ,
  • David E. Wildt, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Species Survival, Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
    • ,
  • Pierre Comizzoli, D.V.M., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Species Survival, Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Pierre Comizzoli, D.V.M., Ph.D., Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, P.O. Box 37012 MRC 5502, Washington, DC 20013-7012 (FAX: 202-673-4733).

Received 26 March 2008; received in revised form 13 May 2008; accepted 16 May 2008. published online 11 August 2008.

Objective

To better characterize cumulus-oocyte interactions during oocyte maturation and fertilization in the cat model.

Design

Experimental in vitro study.

Setting

Smithsonian Institution.

Animal(s)

Domestic shorthair cats.

Intervention(s)

Groups of denuded oocytes (DOs) and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were subjected to in vitro maturation (with or without FSH and LH, with or without the gap junction disruptor 1-heptanol, in separated groups or in coculture) and inseminated in vitro (IVF; in separated groups or in coculture).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Nuclear maturation, pronuclear formation, kinetics of early embryo cleavage, and blastocyst formation and quality after different in vitro conditions were compared between DOs cultured separately and DOs cocultured with COCs.

Result(s)

Without FSH and LH, the removal of cumulus cells prevented spontaneous meiotic resumption in DOs. With FSH and LH, groups of DOs progressed to the metaphase I stage but fully advanced to metaphase II only in coculture with intact (nondisrupted) COCs. Groups of DOs cultured separately were fertilized poorly and exhibited no blastocyst formation. In contrast, DOs cocultured with intact COCs during in vitro maturation and IVF recovered fertilizability, and approximately 35% formed blastocysts.

Conclusion(s)

Paracrine factors produced by cumulus-enclosed oocytes in the cat model will help to develop synthetic media for successful in vitro culture of DOs.

Key Words: Immature oocyte, cat model, cumulus cells, coculture in vitro, gap junctions, meiosis, fertilization

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 N.M.G. has nothing to disclose. B.S.P. has nothing to disclose. D.E.W. has nothing to disclose. P.C. has nothing to disclose.

 Supported by grant K01 RR020045 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland. Funding also was received from the American University, Washington, District of Columbia.

 The contents of this study are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR or NIH.

PII: S0015-0282(08)01179-5

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.05.069

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 5, Supplement , Pages 2051-2060, May 2009

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