title: Natriuretic peptide precursor C delays meiotic resumption and sustains gap junction-mediated communication in bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes.
abstract: Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has become a valuable technological tool for animal breeding and cloning and the treatment of human infertility because it does not require the administration of exogenous gonadotropin to obtain fertilizable oocytes. However, embryo development after IVM is lower compared to in vivo maturation, most likely because oocytes collected for IVM are heterogeneous with respect to their developmental competencies. Attempts to improve IVM outcome have relied upon either prematuration culture (PMC) or two-step maturation strategies in the hope of normalizing variations in developmental competence. Such culture systems invoke the pharmacological arrest of meiosis, in theory providing oocytes sufficient time to complete the acquisition of developmental competence after cumulus-enclosed oocytes isolation from the follicle. The present study was designed to test the efficiency of natriuretic peptide precursor C (NPPC) as a nonpharmacologic meiosis-arresting agent during IVM in a monoovulatory species. NPPC has been shown to maintain meiotic arrest in vivo and in vitro in mice and pigs; however, the use of this molecule for PMC has yet to have been explored. Toward this end, meiotic cell cycle reentry, gap-junction functionality, and chromatin configuration changes were investigated in bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes cultured in the presence of NPPC. Moreover, oocyte developmental competence was investigated after IVM, in vitro fertilization, and embryo culture and compared to standard IVM-in vitro fertilization protocol without PMC. Our results suggest that NPPC can be used to delay meiotic resumption and increase the developmental competence of bovine oocytes when used in PMC protocols.
authors: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Franciosi
authors: Biogenesi Reproductive Medicine Centre, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Monza, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Coticchio
authors: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Lodde
authors: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Tessaro
authors: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Silvia C
authors: SC
authors: Modina
authors: Biogenesi Reproductive Medicine Centre, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Monza, Italy.
authors: Rubens
authors: R
authors: Fadini
authors: Biogenesi Reproductive Medicine Centre, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Monza, Italy.
authors: Mariabeatrice
authors: M
authors: Dal Canto
authors: Biogenesi Reproductive Medicine Centre, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Monza, Italy.
authors: Mario Mignini
authors: MM
authors: Renzini
authors: Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: Albertini
authors: Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy alberto.luciano@unimi.it.
authors: Alberto M
authors: AM
authors: Luciano
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004477:Ectogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; D049469:Meiotic Prophase I / Q000187:drug effects; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors; D011498:Protein Precursors; D015363:Quinolones; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; C021294:cilostamide
keywords: bovine; chromatin configuration; cilostamide; cumulus cells; developmental competence; gap junctions; meiotic arrest; natriuretic peptide precursor C; oocyte