title: Effect of oocyte diameter on meiotic competence, embryo development, p34 (cdc2) expression and MPF activity in prepubertal goat oocytes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between oocyte diameter, meiotic and embryo developmental competence and the expression of the catalytic subunit of MPF, the p34(cdc2), at mRNA, RNA and protein level, as well as its kinase activity, in prepubertal (1-2 months old) goat oocytes. MPF is the main meiotic regulator and a possible regulator of cytoplasmic maturation; therefore, it could be a key factor in understanding the differences between competent and incompetent oocytes. Oocytes were classified according to oocyte diameter in four categories: <110, 110-125, 125-135 and >135 microm and matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro. The p34(cdc2) was analyzed in oocytes at the time of collection (0 h) and after 27 h of IVM (27 h) in each of the oocyte diameter categories. The oocyte diameter was positively related to the percentage of oocytes at MII after IVM (0, 20.7, 58 and 78%, respectively) and the percentage of blastocysts obtained at 8 days postinsemination (0, 0, 1.95 and 12.5%, respectively). The expression of RNA and mRNA p34(cdc2) did not vary between oocyte diameters at 0 and 27h. Protein expression of p34(cdc2) increased in each oocyte category after 27 h of maturation. MPF activity among diameter groups did not vary at 0h but after IVM there was a clear and statistically significant increase of MPF activity in the biggest oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Ciència Animal I dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anguita
authors.forename: Ana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Macedo
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mogas
authors.forename: Maria-Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Paramio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006041:Goats / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor