title: Plasma membrane water permeabilities of human oocytes: the temperature dependence of water movement in individual cells.
abstract: Membrane water permeability values were measured in individual fresh human pre-ovulatory oocytes using real time microscopy in a microscope diffusion chamber. The cells were exposed to anisosmotic conditions, their volume responses measured, and from these data the Lp values were computed employing the Kedem-Katchalsky analyses of irreversible thermodynamics. Lp values were measured at four temperatures for each oocyte between 37 degrees C and 10 degrees C, and the temperature-related Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) calculated. It was apparent that individual oocytes exhibited a wide range of Lp values; at 37 degrees C Lp values ranged between 0.33 and 1.80 microns/atm/min. However, each oocyte exhibited the expected inverse linear correlation between Lp and temperature, with high linear correlations (R2 values between 0.73 and 0.96). A mean value for Ea of 8.61 +/- 5.11 Kcal/mol was computed. It is apparent that pre-ovulatory human oocytes express a range of biological diversity in terms of membrane water transport, and this fact needs to be considered when attempting to formulate cryopreservation protocols for storage of these oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, England.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010784:Photomicrography; D013696:Temperature; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014867:Water