Using oocytes isolated from juvenile and adult mice, we have examined the qualitative patterns of protein synthesis during growth and during meiotic maturation of these oocytes. Oocytes were cultured in a denned medium in the presence of [^Slmethionine and radioactively labelled proteins were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by fluorography. The results of these ...

Intact germinal vesicle (GV) arrest and release are essential for maintaining the fertility of mammals inducing human. Intact germinal vesicle release, maturation of oocytes is maintained by very complex procedures along with folliculogenesis and is a critical step for embryonic development. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) has been suggested a key factor for meiotic arrest but so far its ...

The relationship between the mos protooncogene protein and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) during the maturation of Xenopus oocytes was investigated. Microinjection of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKA0 into Xenopus oocytes inhibited oocyte maturation induced by the mos product but did not markedly affect the autophosphorylation activity of injected mos protein. By contrast, PKA~ did not inhib...

BACKGROUND Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), a member of the small heat shock protein family, is an apoptosis regulator. Our previous proteomic study showed that Hsp27 mainly expressed in human oocyte, and that Hsp27 expression was downregulated in the ovaries derived from women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a well known endocrinal disorder with abnormal apoptotic activity and follicu...

Effects of the neutralization of endogenous progesterone with rabbit antiserum to progesterone (anti-progesterone) on germinal vesicle breakdown of ova in follicles of small (less than 125 micrometers), intermediate (125-250 micrometers) and large (greater than 250 micrometers) diameter were examined by a quantitative histological technique. Immature rats were treated with 5 IU pregnant mare's ...

Cortical granules are secretory vesicles poised at the cortex of an egg that, upon stimulation by sperm contact at fertilization, secrete their contents. These contents modify the extracellular environment and block additional sperm from reaching the egg. The role of cortical granules in blocking polyspermy is conserved throughout much of phylogeny. In the sea urchin, cortical granules accumula...

Background: Cryopreservation of oocytes, which is an interesting procedure to conserve female gametes, is an essential part of reproductive biotechnology. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of cumulus cells on survival,in vitro maturation,fertilization and subsequent developmental capacity of mouse germinal vesicle stage oocytes during vitrification. Materials and...