Meiotic maturation in the mammalian oocyte involves a complex series of metabolic and structural changes which ultimately confers fertilizability and development competence to the mature ovum. Since errors in the maturation process result in infertility or defective embryonic development, this proposal seeks to define both the normal and abnormal structural events which occur during the in vitro maturation of mammalian oocytes in order to assess the developmental competence of the oocyte.
Three specific aims are proposed: 1. To continue to develop and apply non-invasive methods for the assessment of the developmental capability of in vitro matured mammalian oocytes. Vital fluorescent dyes and digital imaging microscopy will be used to analyze nuclear and cytoplasmic components within living mammalian oocytes during meiotic maturation, in vitro fertilization, and early embryonic cleavages. 2. To analyze chromosome behavior meiosis-1 and meiosis-2 in mammalian oocytes. Using morphological, micromanipulation and digital imaging microscopic techniques, meiotic chromosomes and their relationship to meiotic spindle microtubules will be studied in immature, mature and aged oocytes. 3. To study the physiological regulation of meiotic maturation in cultured mammalian oocytes. Attention will be focused upon both germ cell (oocyte) and somatic cell (cumulus) factors which mediate the complete maturation process emphasizing the areas of intercellular communication, intracellular pH and calcium, and asymmetric changes in the oocyte cortex. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopic methods will used in conjunction with micromanipulation and on hand quantitative fluorescence techniques. These studies will provide new methods for analyzing the developmental competence of oocytes used for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in the human and domestic animal species as well as provide a better understanding of the cellular events which lead to chromosome malsegregation during meiosis in the female.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD020068-07
Application #
3317889
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1985-04-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1991-04-01
Budget End
1992-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02111
Sanfins, Alexandra; Plancha, Carlos E; Albertini, David F (2015) Pre-implantation developmental potential from in vivo and in vitro matured mouse oocytes: a cytoskeletal perspective on oocyte quality. J Assist Reprod Genet 32:127-36
Kim, S Samuel; Olsen, Rachel; Kim, Dojun David et al. (2014) The impact of vitrification on immature oocyte cell cycle and cytoskeletal integrity in a rat model. J Assist Reprod Genet 31:739-47
Combelles, C M; Carabatsos, M J; London, S N et al. (2000) Centrosome-specific perturbations during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes exposed to cocaine. Exp Cell Res 260:116-26
Carabatsos, M J; Combelles, C M; Messinger, S M et al. (2000) Sorting and reorganization of centrosomes during oocyte maturation in the mouse. Microsc Res Tech 49:435-44
Carabatsos, M J; Sellitto, C; Goodenough, D A et al. (2000) Oocyte-granulosa cell heterologous gap junctions are required for the coordination of nuclear and cytoplasmic meiotic competence. Dev Biol 226:167-79
Carabatsos, M J; Elvin, J; Matzuk, M M et al. (1998) Characterization of oocyte and follicle development in growth differentiation factor-9-deficient mice. Dev Biol 204:373-84
Can, A; Albertini, D F (1997) Stage specific effects of carbendazim (MBC) on meiotic cell cycle progression in mouse oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev 46:351-62
Albertini, D F; Eppig, J J (1995) Unusual cytoskeletal and chromatin configurations in mouse oocytes that are atypical in meiotic progression. Dev Genet 16:13-9
Johnson, L D; Albertini, D F; McGinnis, L K et al. (1995) Chromatin organization, meiotic status and meiotic competence acquisition in mouse oocytes from cultured ovarian follicles. J Reprod Fertil 104:277-84
Albertini, D F; Rider, V (1994) Patterns of intercellular connectivity in the mammalian cumulus-oocyte complex. Microsc Res Tech 27:125-33

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