Bovine cumulus-oocyte disconnection in vitro.
Cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained from cows by aspiration of small (1-6 mm in diameter) antral follicles after slaughter. Complexes with a compact multilayered cumulus investment were cultured and processed for transmission electron microscopy after different periods of culture including a 0 h control group. In 0 h control oocytes the cumulus cells had numerous projections which penetrated the zona pellucida and established gap junctions with the oolemma. A partial loss of these junctions was noticed as an early event of oocyte maturation occurring within the first 3 h of culture. A low frequency of gap junctions was maintained until 12-18 h of culture where the junctional contact was completely disrupted. This decrease in intercellular communication was parallelled by resumption of oocyte meiosis.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008540:Meiosis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000648:ultrastructure*