title: Gap-junctional communication in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes: implications for the mechanism of meiotic maturation.
abstract: The mechanisms underlying the hormonal stimulation of meiotic maturation are not understood. The most prevalent hypothesis is that hormone-induced maturation is stimulated by an increase in the intracellular messengers, cAMP or Ca2+. This study investigated whether Ca2+ transients in somatic cells can lead to Ca2+ transients in the oocyte, and whether hormones that stimulate meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes in vitro and in vivo stimulate an increase in intracellular Ca2+. Of a range of potential agonists of Ca2+ release, ATP and UTP were the only agents that stimulated Ca2+ release in cumulus cells. ATP-induced Ca2+ release is from intracellular stores, as the response is not blocked by chelation of extracellular Ca2+, but is inhibited by the Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin. ATP and UTP are equipotent, consistent with the receptor being of the P2Y2 type. Confocal microscopy was used to show that ATP-induced Ca2+ release in cumulus cells leads to a Ca2+ increase in the oocyte. Inhibition of gap-junctional communication using carbenoxolone, as assayed by dye transfer, inhibited the diffusion of the Ca2+ signal from the cumulus cells to the oocyte. Thus, provided that a Ca2+ signal is generated in the somatic cells in response to maturation-inducing hormones, it is feasible that a Ca2+ transient is generated in the oocyte. However, FSH and EGF, both of which stimulate maturation in vitro, have no effect on Ca2+ in cumulus--oocyte complexes. Furthermore, LH, which leads to meiotic maturation in vivo, did not stimulate Ca2+ release in acutely isolated granulosa cells from preovulatory mouse follicles. These studies indicate that ATP may play a role in modulating ovarian function and that diffusion of Ca2+ signals through gap junctions may provide a means of communication between the somatic and germ cells of the ovarian follicle. However, our data are not consistent with a role for Ca2+-mediated communication in hormone-mediated induction of meiosis in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bains
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruttwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D002118:Calcium; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate