DNA synthesis and epigenetic modification during mouse oocyte fertilization by human or hamster sperm injection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate DNA synthesis and epigenetic modification in mouse oocytes during the first cell cycle following the injection of human or hamster sperm.


METHODS
Mouse oocytes following the injection of human and hamster sperm and cultured in M16 medium.


RESULTS
Male and female pronucleus formation, DNA synthesis, histone protein modification, and heterochromatin formation were similar in mouse oocytes injected with human or hamster sperm. However, DNA methylation patterns were altered in mouse oocytes following human sperm injection. Immunocytochemical staining with a histone H3-MeK9 antibody revealed that human and hamster sperm chromatin associated normally with female mouse chromatin, then entered into the metaphase and formed normal, two-cell stage embryos.


CONCLUSIONS
Although differences in epigenetic modification of DNA were observed, fertilization and cleavage occurred in a species non-specific manner in mouse oocytes.
Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Gaesin-dong, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, South Korea.
Yong-Nan
YN
Xu
Xiang-Shun
XS
Cui
Jin-Cheol
JC
Tae
Yong-Xun
YX
Jin
Nam-Hyung
NH
Kim
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004261:DNA Replication; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*
C096188:Cbx1 protein, mouse; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone