title: Lipid content, active mitochondria and brilliant cresyl blue staining in bovine oocytes.
abstract: Bovine oocytes that stain with brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) have a relatively higher developmental competence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships among BCB staining, lipid content, and active mitochondria. Bovine oocytes (N = 133) with at least three layers of cumulus cells were segregated as BCB retained (BCB+) or metabolized (BCB-) and then stained for active mitochondria (Mitotracker Red) and lipid (Bodipy), with analysis by confocal microscopy. The BCB+ oocytes (N = 45) contained approximately 26% more cytoplasmic lipid than BCB- oocytes (N = 26-27; P < 0.05). Staining for active mitochondria did not differ between the groups. In BCB- oocytes but not BCB+ oocytes, lipid content correlated with active mitochondrial staining (r = 0.48; P < 0.05). Diameter correlated with lipid content for BCB+ oocytes (r = 0.46; P < 0.05), but not for BCB- oocytes (r = 0.16; P > 0.05). Irrespective of BCB staining, both lipid and active mitochondrial content correlated with diameter. In conclusion, the higher lipid content of BCB+ bovine oocytes might provide a cellular and functional basis for their greater developmental competence.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Cesar A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Castaneda
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pantaleon
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: D'Occhio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010078:Oxazines; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010078:Oxazines; C006797:Brilliant Cresyl Blue