The morphology of porcine oocytes is associated with zona pellucida glycoprotein transcript contents.
We hypothesized that oocyte morphology may be associated with the accumulation of specific mRNAs encoding proteins responsible for the gamete fertilization ability. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the transcript levels of porcine zona pellucida (pZP1, pZP2, pZP3 and pZP4) glycoproteins in oocytes classified by a four-grade morphological scale (I-IV) accounting for either a homogeneous cytoplasm and a complete cumulus oophorus (grade I) or a heterogenous cytoplasm and decreased number of cumulus layers in the other grades (II, III and IV). We observed a significant increase of all investigated pZP glycoprotein mRNAs in grade I oocytes as compared to other grades (p<0.05). Our observations suggest that porcine oocyte morphology is associated with pZP transcript contents and may be related to an increased fertilization ability of higher quality oocytes.
Department of Agricultural Veterinary, University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Marta
M
Jackowska
Bartosz
B
Kempisty
Paweł
P
Antosik
Dorota
D
Bukowska
Joanna
J
Budna
Margarita
M
Lianeri
Ewa
E
Rosińska
Magdalena
M
Woźna
Paweł P
PP
Jagodziński
Jedrzej M
JM
Jaśkowski
D000818:Animals; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000737:chemistry*
D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger