Prostaglandin synthesis by cumulus-oocyte complexes: effects on in vitro fertilization in mice.
Cumulus-oocyte complexes, obtained from superovulated Balb/C virgin female mice, released to the incubation media significant amounts of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, as estimated by bioassay. Fertilization rates in vitro decreased sharply when cumulus-oocyte complexes were treated with indomethacin (10(-6) M) and then inseminated with 5000 sperm per oocyte. In order to explore if the reduced prostaglandin (PG) concentration was responsible for diminished fertilization rates, PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha (10(-9) M) were added to the fertilization media of treated oocytes. PGE1 and PGE2 but not PGF2 alpha returned fertilization rates to control levels. Besides, PGE1 (10(-9) M) enhanced fertilization rates with reduced sperm numbers (1000 sperm per oocyte) of untreated cumulus-oocyte complexes. In conclusion, PG synthesis and release of mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes affects fertilization in vitro, and it is suggested that PGs of the E series modulate sperm function at the moment of fertilization.
Viggiano
J M
JM
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Herrero
M B
MB
Cebral
E
E
Boquet
M G
MG
de Gimeno
M F
MF
D000527:Alprostadil / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D015237:Dinoprost; D000527:Alprostadil; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007213:Indomethacin