HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 70/3/548    most recent biolreprod.103.021204v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thomas, R. E. Articles by Gilchrist, R. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thomas, R. E. Articles by Gilchrist, R. B. Agricola Articles by Thomas, R. E. Articles by Gilchrist, R. B.

Bovine Cumulus Cell-Oocyte Gap Junctional Communication During In Vitro Maturation in Response to Manipulation of Cell-Specific Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosophate Levels¹

Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 5011, Adelaide, Australia

In the growing follicle, communication between the oocyte and its surrounding follicular cells is essential for normal oocyte and follicular development. Maturation of the fully grown oocyte in vivo is associated with the loss of cumulus cell-oocyte gap junctional communication, preventing entry of meiotic-modulating factors such as cAMP into the oocyte. We have previously shown that oocyte and cumulus cell cAMP levels can be independently regulated using inhibitors of cell-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of cell type-specific PDE inhibitors on the maintenance of cumulus cell-oocyte gap junction communication (GJC) and oocyte meiotic progression. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from antral follicles of abattoir-derived ovaries. Cumulus cell-oocyte GJC during oocyte maturation was quantified using the fluorescent dye, calcein-AM. COCs were cultured in the presence of specific PDE inhibitors, milrinone (an oocyte PDE3 inhibitor) or rolipram (a cumulus cell PDE4 inhibitor), and were pulsed with calcein-AM to allow dye transfer between the two cell types. Following cumulus cell removal, fluorescence in denuded oocytes was measured by microphotometry, and meiotic progression was assessed. In control COCs, dye transfer from cumulus cells to the oocyte fell progressively from 0 to 9 h, after which oocyte-cumulus cell GJC was completely lost. Loss of GJC was significantly attenuated (P < 0.05) during this time in response to treatment with milrinone and rolipram. Forskolin maintained GJC at the initial 0 h level until 3–4 h of culture, whereas treatment with milrinone and forskolin together actually increased the level of dye transfer above that in COCs treated with forskolin alone. Importantly, all treatments that prolonged GJC also delayed meiotic resumption, with meiosis generally resuming when fluorescence had fallen to 40% of initial levels. These results, together with our previous studies, demonstrate that treatments that maintain or elevate cAMP levels in cumulus cells, oocytes, or both result in prolonged oocyte-cumulus cell communication and delayed meiotic resumption.

¹ Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) project grant 207761, an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship to R.E.T., and in part by the FTT Fricker Medical Research Associateship from the University of Adelaide to R.B.G.

² Correspondence: FAX: 61 08 8222 7521; robert.gilchrist{at}adelaide.edu.au

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-m. Shu, H.-t. Zeng, Z. Ren, G.-l. Zhuang, X.-y. Liang, H.-w. Shen, S.-z. Yao, P.-q. Ke, and N.-n. Wang Effects of cilostamide and forskolin on the meiotic resumption and embryonic development of immature human oocytes Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2008; 23(3): 504 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Ben-Ami, S. Freimann, L. Armon, A. Dantes, R. Ron-El, and A. Amsterdam Novel function of ovarian growth factors: combined studies by DNA microarray, biochemical and physiological approaches Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2006; 12(7): 413 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. LaRosa and S. M. Downs Stress Stimulates AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and Meiotic Resumption in Mouse Oocytes Biol Reprod, March 1, 2006; 74(3): 585 - 592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Nogueira, R. Ron-El, S. Friedler, M. Schachter, A. Raziel, R. Cortvrindt, and J. Smitz Meiotic Arrest In Vitro by Phosphodiesterase 3-Inhibitor Enhances Maturation Capacity of Human Oocytes and Allows Subsequent Embryonic Development Biol Reprod, January 1, 2006; 74(1): 177 - 184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Pace and P. Thomas Steroid-Induced Oocyte Maturation in Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) Is Dependent on Activation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signal Transduction Pathway Biol Reprod, November 1, 2005; 73(5): 988 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Pant, L. P Reynolds, J. S Luther, P. P Borowicz, T. M Stenbak, J. J Bilski, R. M Weigl, F. Lopes, K. Petry, M. L. Johnson, et al. Expression of connexin 43 and gap junctional intercellular communication in the cumulus-oocyte complex in sheep Reproduction, February 1, 2005; 129(2): 191 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Roth and P.J. Hansen Involvement of Apoptosis in Disruption of Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes by Heat Shock During Maturation Biol Reprod, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 1898 - 1906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.E. Thomas, J.G. Thompson, D.T. Armstrong, and R.B. Gilchrist Effect of Specific Phosphodiesterase Isoenzyme Inhibitors During In Vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes on Meiotic and Developmental Capacity Biol Reprod, October 1, 2004; 71(4): 1142 - 1149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]