title: The effect of temperature fluctuations on the cytoskeletal organisation and chromosomal constitution of the human oocyte.
abstract: The effect of temperature fluctuation on spindle integrity and chromosomal organisation in the human oocyte, and the consequences of such effects on the chromosomal constitution of resulting parthenotes, were investigated. A total of 340 oocytes were stained immunocytochemically with an antibody to alpha-tubulin, and 502 were activated parthenogenetically. Exposure of oocytes to room temperature for 2, 10 or 30 min caused disruption of the spindle in 77% (n = 26), 72% (n = 18) and 89% (n = 19) of cases respectively, with evidence of chromosomal dispersal in 50%, 56% and 52.6% respectively. These effects were reversed when oocytes were returned to 37 degrees C after exposure to room temperature for 2 min, but not after 10 min or 30 min. Temperature reduction affected rates of parthenogenetic activation of oocytes (2 min: 67%, n = 27; 10 min: 68%, n = 28; 30 min: 54%, n = 35) and cleavage of resulting parthenotes, but only if oocytes were exposed to room temperature for 30 min (30 min: 53%, n = 19). There is a direct association between temperature-induced spindle damage in the oocyte (70%, 50 of 63) and chromosomal abnormalities in parthenotes developed from oocytes exposed to room temperature (56%, 23 of 41; p < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Assisted Conception Unit, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Bolton
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000502:physiology*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008540:Meiosis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010312:Parthenogenesis; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure*