Coculture of human oviductal cells maintains mitochondrial function and decreases caspase activity of cleavage-stage mouse embryos.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mitochondrial function and caspase activity in mouse embryos after human oviductal cell coculture.


METHODS
Experimental laboratory study.


METHODS
University gynecology unit.


METHODS
MF-1 (female); BALB/c (male) mice.


METHODS
Mouse embryos were cocultured with human oviductal cells.


METHODS
Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta psi(m)) and caspase activity.


RESULTS
Compared to embryos after coculture in Chatot-Ziomek-Bavister (CZB) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/mL of BSA (CZB), Delta psi m of embryos cultured in CZB was significantly lower at the two-cell (CZB, 2.04 +/- 0.412; coculture, 4.34 +/- 0.563) and morula (CZB, 6.06 +/- 0.548; coculture, 7.12 +/- 0.568) stages. Cocultured embryos and in vivo developed embryos had comparable Delta psi m. Caspase activity was not detected in unfragmented cleavage-stage embryos and morula developed in vivo. In vitro cultured morula possessed caspase activity. The activity was significantly reduced in the cocultured morula.


CONCLUSIONS
Human oviductal cells maintained the mitochondria function in terms of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and decreased the caspase activity to improve the development of mouse embryo.
Xu
Jia-Sen
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Chan
Samuel Ting-Hon
ST
Ho
Pak-Chung
PC
Yeung
William Shu-Biu
WS
D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D009028:Morula / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C068624:5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases