Nitric oxide produced by cumulus cells stimulates maturation of mouse oocytes

The effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a donor of nitric oxide, on meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes was studied by injecting N^w-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) intra-peritoneal (ip), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, or culturing oocytes in the medium supplemented with L-NAME or hypoxanthine (HX) to arrest the spontaneous oocyte maturation in vitro. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of L-NAME by injecting 10 mg/kg ip on extrusion of the first polar body only could be reversed by injecting 2.5 mg/kg SNP with L-NAME simultaneously (P < 0.05). Half an hour later ten mice died when given 10 mg/kg SNP ip. The treatment of some concentrations of SNP (10^–7, 10^–6, 10^–5mol/L) significantly stimulated meiotic maturation to metaphase Ⅱ stages in cumulus enclosed oocytes in the presence of HX. However, other concentrations of SNP (10^–8, 10^–4, 10^–3 mol/L) had no effect on HX-arrested oocyte meiotic maturation. The optimal concentration of SNP on CEOs had no effect on DOs. The dose of 10^–3 mol/LL-NAME demonstrated a significant suppression in formation of PB₁, but not in GVBD. This inhibition was reversed by the addition of SNP. These results indicated that the physiological levels of NO produced by cumulus cells could stimulate meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes both in vivo and in vitro.     

Roles of protein kinase C in oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a superfamily of Ser/Thr protein kinases that is distributed widely in eukaryotes. It plays key regulatory roles at multiple steps of oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization. During the process of meiotic maturation, the activation of PKC in cumulus cells stimulates meiotic maturation, whereas the activation of PKC in oocytes results in the inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown. PKC activity increases following the meiotic maturation, and decreases at the transition of metaphase/anaphase in meiosis I, so as to facilitate the release of the first polar body and the entry of meiosis II. In fertilization of mammalian oocytes, PKC may act as one of the downstream targets of Ca2+ to stimulate the cortical granule exocytosis, release the oocytes from MII arrest and to induce pronucleus formation. PKC is also involved in the regulation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Several PKC isoforms have been identified in mammalian oocytes, and there is evidence showing that classical PKCs may be the principal mediator of oocyte cortical reaction.     

四氯化碳对雌性小鼠卵母细胞成熟和体外受精等影响

探讨了四氯化碳对小鼠生殖作用的影响.采用小鼠卵母细胞体外培养、体外受精的方法研究了四氯化碳对小鼠卵母细胞的成熟和体外受精的影响.结果表明:四氯化碳对小鼠脏器、超排卵的卵母细胞数量和卵母细胞生发泡破裂没有影响,但可以抑制卵母细胞第一极体的释放,影响卵母细胞的存活率并可降低体外受精率.四氯化碳可以破坏卵母细胞减数分裂进行,降低卵母细胞的受精能力,具有潜在的生殖毒性.     

NO对新生大鼠心肌细胞PKC活性的影响

利用培养新生大鼠心肌细胞，检测NO前体L-精氨酸(L-arginine,L-Arg)和NO供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)对PKC活性的影响，并探讨内、外源性NO在PKC激动剂佛波指(phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate,PMA)激活PKC中的作用.实验结果表明：培养基中加入L-Arg，PKC活性呈剂量依赖性降低；用L-Arg进行预处理，30 min后加入PMA，PKC活性明显降低，与单纯PMA组相比有显著差异；NOS抑制剂L-NAME本身对基础状态PKC活性无明显影响，但可阻断L-Arg对上述2个效应的影响；培养液中加入NO供体SNP，PKC活性呈剂量依赖性降低；用SNP预处理心肌细胞，5 min后加入PMA，PKC活性与单纯PMA组相比有显著性差异.以上结果表明，内、外源性NO均具有剂量依赖性抑制PKC活性的作用，PKC可能是NO对心肌细胞作用的胞内信号传导通路的关键部位或重要信号分子之一；L-Arg通过NOS先生成NO，NO再对PKC起抑制作用.     

Meiotic initiation by the mos protein in Xenopus.

When fully grown Xenopus oocytes are stimulated by progesterone, a period of protein synthesis is necessary for maturation. Synthesis of the mos proto-oncogene product, pp39mos, is necessary for the activation of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) in meiosis I. On the basis that mos is translated de novo on hormonal stimulation of Xenopus oocytes and that injecting mos RNA into oocytes induces their maturation, we have proposed that the mos protein is a candidate initiator of oocyte maturation, needed to trigger the conversion of precursor MPF into its active form. To determine whether mos is the only protein required for initiating maturation, we have produced a soluble, active recombinant mos protein and injected it into Xenopus oocytes. We report here that in the absence of protein synthesis that mos protein efficiently induces germinal vesicle breakdown and the activation of MPF. The oocytes, however, do not proceed into meiosis II. Thus, the mos protein fulfills the requirements of an initiator protein, but the synthesis of one or more additional proteins may be necessary to complete oocyte maturation.     

Regulation of embryo implantation by nitric oxide in mouse

Intrauterine injection and zymography were used to investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on embryo implantation in mice. On day 3, one uterine horn of female pregnant mice was injected intraluminally with various doses of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), while the contralateral horn served as control. Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation on day 7 of gestation, and the number of implanted embryos in each horn was calculated. The results showed that lower doses (0.05 mg L-NAME) did not inhibit implantation significantly (P > 0.05), but high doses (0.2 mg L- NAME) resulted in a significant reduction in the number of implanted embryos (P < 0.05). Co-administration of SNP, a generator of NO, with L-NAME would reverse the antiimplantation effect of L-NAME. To further understand the precise mechanism of NO in implantation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) activities were detected by gelatin zymography. The reduction in the number of implanted embryos in 0.2 mg L-NAME treated group was associated with decreased MMP-9 activity but a stable MMP-2 activity. The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were not changed in L-NAME and SNP treated group. These data suggest that NO acts as a mediator to regulate the activity of MMP-9, and facilitates embryo implantation.     

DHEA对小鼠超排卵和卵母细胞质量的影响

目的 研究脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)对C57BL/6J雌鼠超排卵效果和卵母细胞质量的影响及其机制。方法 3周龄C57BL/6J雌鼠30只随机分为3组,分别为对照组、低剂量处理组(2 mg/kg·d-1)和高剂量处理组(5 mg/kg·d-1)。用DHEA灌胃1周,再经超排卵后分别进行体外受精和收集卵丘细胞。提取卵丘细胞RNA进行qRT-PCR检测与胚胎质量相关基因Grem1、Has2、Ptgs1、Ptgs2和Vcan的mRNA水平以及凋亡相关基因Caspase3和Bcl2l10的mRNA水平。结果 经过DHEA处理的雌鼠超排卵后,体外受精(IVF)显示实验组异型卵比例下降。实验组卵丘细胞中与胚胎质量相关基因Has2,Ptsg1和Vcan转录水平与对照组相比上调,而Germ1和Ptgs2的mRNA水平下调。Caspase3的mRNA水平下调,Bcl2l10的mRNA水平上调。结论 经过DHEA处理后可以通过抑制卵丘细胞凋亡,提高卵母细胞的质量。     

Function of c-mos proto-oncogene product in meiotic maturation in Xenopus oocytes

The c-mos proto-oncogene is expressed as a maternal mRNA in oocytes and early embryos of Xenopus laevis, but its translation product pp39mos is detectable only during progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. Microinjection of mos-specific antisense oligonucleotides into oocytes not only prevents expression of pp39mos, but also blocks germinal vesicle breakdown, indicating that it functions during reinitiation of meiotic division.     

Function and interaction of maturation-promoting factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase during meiotic maturation and fertilization of oocyte

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) cascade and maturation-promoting factor (MPF) play very important roles during meiotic maturation and fertilization of oocyte. Interaction between MAP kinase and MPF influences meiotic maturation and fertilization of oocyte throughout the animal kingdom, including stimulation of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), suppression of DNA replication, control of meiotic chromosome segregation, maintenance of metaphase II arrest, and resumption and completion of second meiosis. This review focuses on the function and interaction of MAP kinase and MPF during meiotic maturation and fertilization of oocyte.     

富勒烯及其衍生物对小鼠卵母细胞成熟和激活的作用

为探索富勒烯及其水溶性衍生物对哺乳动物卵母细胞减数分裂的作用,使用富勒烯膦酸衍生物(2P)、富勒烯-PVP和富勒醇作用于体外培养的小鼠GV期卵母细胞和超排卵母细胞,通过观察第一极体排出率和原核形成率以判断卵母细胞的成熟和激活,并探讨光照对这一作用的影响.结果表明,在光照和非光照下,富勒烯的PVP水溶液、富勒醇对卵母细胞的成熟没有明显影响,而2P在光照下对卵母细胞的成熟和孤雌激活具有明显抑制作用,其作用有浓度依赖性.     

体外培养绵羊卵母细胞核质成熟的研究

实验通过研究卵母细胞的核相及皮层颗粒的分布,探讨按照卵泡大小和卵丘细胞层多少分类后的不同绵羊卵母细胞在体外培养过程中的核质成熟情况,结果表明：（１）小卵泡卵经体外２４ｈ后的核质成熟率分别为４５．９％和２８．２％,远低于大（９３．５％,６６．７％）、中（８５．１％,５１．０％）两类卵泡卵,２）大卵泡卵在体外培养２０ｈ已完成核质成熟,较中等卵泡提前４ｈ。３）ｇｋｐｈｅ ３ｎｆｃ ｃ ｈ ｇｃｆｔ ｐｎ     

Mitochondrial functions on oocytes and preimplantation embryos

Oocyte quality has long been considered as a main limiting factor for in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the past decade, extensive observations demonstrated that the mitochondrion plays a vital role in the oocyte cytoplasm, for it can provide adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for fertilization and preimplantation embryo development and also act as stores of intracellular calcium and proapoptotic factors. During the oocyte maturation, mitochondria are characterized by distinct changes of their distribution pattern from being homogeneous to heterogeneous, which is correlated with the cumulus apoptosis. Oocyte quality decreases with the increasing maternal age. Recent studies have shown that low quality oocytes have some age-related dysfunctions, which include the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, increase of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damages, chromosomal aneuploidies, the incidence of apoptosis, and changes in mitochondrial gene expression. All these dysfunctions may cause a high level of developmental retardation and arrest of preimplantation embryos. It has been suggested that these mitochondrial changes may arise from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is closely associated with the oxidative energy production or calcium overload, which may trigger permeability transition pore opening and subsequent apoptosis. Therefore, mitochondria can be seen as signs for oocyte quality evaluation, and it is possible that the oocyte quality can be improved by enhancing the physical function of mitochondria. Here we reviewed recent advances in mitochondrial functions on oocytes.     

Sources of cumulus expansion enabling factor (CEEF) in porcine follicles

It was shown that expansion of porcine cumulus did not depend on oocyte-secreted factor(s), and it is therefore presumed that porcine CEEF may not be produced exclusively by the oocyte. In this experiment, we used mouse oocytectomized complexes (OOX), which were incapable of CEEF production, to assess the secretion of CEEF by evacuated zona, oocytes of different quality and somatic cells in the porcine follicles. The results showed that: (ⅰ) Evacuated zonae from both porcine and mouse oocytes did not produce CEEF. (ⅱ) Porcine oocytes of A, B and C types from 3—6 mm follicles were not significantly different in both production and activity of CEEF. (ⅲ) Both porcine OOX from 3—6 mm follicles and granulose cells from < 1 mm follicles secreted CEEF in a large quantity, independent of gonadotropins; mural granulose cells from 3—6 mm follicles, however, produced neglectable amount of CEEF. (ⅳ) The follicular fluid from 3—6 mm porcine follicles contained CEEF activity that was concentration-dependent, and thus it enabled cumulus expansion in 60% mouse OOX when used at 10% of concentration, but the expansion rate of mouse OOX decreased to 9% when the concentration was increased to 50%. (ⅴ) Mouse OOX cultured in porcine CEEF-containing M199 expanded only in the presence of gonadotropins, suggesting that the activity of porcine CEEF is hormone-dependent.     

川芎嗪对大鼠脑缺血-再灌注脑内NOS变化的作用

目的 :研究川芎嗪 (TMP)对大鼠脑缺血 -再灌注皮层和海马一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)变化的作用。方法 :阻断大鼠双侧颈总动脉 15min和再灌注 2 4h建立脑缺血 -再灌注损伤模型 ,用NADPH d组化技术检测脑NOS阳性细胞数目的变化和TMP对脑缺血 再灌注过程中NOS阳性细胞数目的影响。结果 :脑缺血 再灌注 2 4h后 ,皮层和海马NOS阳性细胞数目显著增多 ,TMP(2 0mg·kg-1和 4 0mg·kg-1)缺血前 30min腹腔注射 ,可明显抑制其增多 ,与NOS拮抗剂L NAME 10mg·kg-1的作用相似。结论 :TMP能降低脑内NOS的活性 ,对脑缺血可能产生保护作用     

EGF、IGF-Ⅰ对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

在牛卵母细胞体外成熟培养液中添加不同量的EGF、IGF-Ⅰ,观察其对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响并确定成熟液中添加这两种生长因子的最佳浓度.在卵母细胞成熟培养液中分别添加1 ng/m l、10 ng/m l、50 ng/m l、100 ng/m l、200 ng/m l的EGF,10 ng/m l、50 ng/m l、100 ng/m l、150 ng/m l、200 ng/m l的IGF-Ⅰ,分析成熟培养22 h后的卵母细胞成熟率.发现添加有EGF实验组的成熟率分别是36.73%、42.18%、56.18%、53.67%、56.50%,同对照组相比都较对照组的成熟率(34.04%)高,且50 ng/m l、100 ng/m l、200 ng/m l实验组的成熟率同对照组差异显著(P<0.05).IGF-Ⅰ实验组的成熟率分别是38.46%、46.94%、58.73%、55.00%、58.70%,50 ng/m l、100 ng/m l、150 ng/m l、200 ng/m l都较对照组的成熟率(38.60%)要高,100 ng/m l、150 ng/m l、200 ng/m l实验组同对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05).将50 ng/m l的EGF、100 ng/m l的IGF-Ⅰ共同添加在成熟培养液中得到的成熟率为75.00%,同对照组(36.54%)相比差异极显著(P<0.01).在牛卵母细胞体外成熟培养液中添加EGF、IGF-Ⅰ会提高卵母细胞的成熟率,并且随着浓度的增加,这种作用将达到饱和,其最佳作用浓度为50ng/m l EGF、100 ng/m l IGF-Ⅰ.     

中华眼镜蛇心脏毒素对疼痛及记忆的影响

通过热板法及醋酸扭体法观察中华眼镜蛇心脏毒素(CTX)对成年昆明种小鼠疼痛的影响,通过Y一型电迷宫及穿梭箱法研究CTX对东蓖若碱诱发成年昆明种小鼠学习记忆障碍的影响,利用跳台法研究CTX对东蓑若碱诱发成年BABL/C小鼠学习记忆障碍的影响,利用Morris水迷宫法研究CTX对对东蓖若碱诱发成年C57BL/6J小鼠学习记忆障碍的影响。实验发现,CTX能明显增加热刺激引起的疼痛闭值,明显减少醋酸引起的扭体次数,并能显著增加小鼠在Y型迷宫实验中的正确反应次数,减少在穿梭箱实验中小鼠重新训练至学会标准的训练次数及小鼠的反应时间,能增加小鼠在跳台法中的潜伏期,减少错误反应次数,减少小鼠在Morris水迷宫实验中的寻台时间和游泳路程,以上效果均表现出明显的剂量依赖性。以上结果提示,CTX有良好的镇痛作用以及对东莫若碱诱发的小鼠学习记忆障碍的改善作用,这可能是由于CTX与眼镜蛇神经毒素(NT)三维结构相似而导致了相似的生物学效应。     

牛体外受精胚胎成份明确培养系统的建立

以 SOF为基本培养液 ,分别添加血清、PVA以及同时添加 PVA、肌醇和柠檬酸钠 ,进行牛体外受精卵的发育培养 ,三个处理组的囊胚发育率分别为 :3 2 .6%、1 1 .9%和 1 5 .9% ,血清处理组极显著高于两个 PVA处理组 (p<0 .0 1 ) .在此基础上 ,将受精处理后的卵子去掉卵丘细胞后 ,培养于 SOF PVA 肌醇 柠檬酸钠培养液内 ,以未去掉卵丘细胞的卵子为对照 ,两个处理组的囊胚发育率分别为 1 0 .8%和 2 1 .1 % .二者间没有显著差异 .结果表明没有血清和卵丘细胞的成份明确的培养系统能够支持牛体外受精卵发育至囊胚阶段 .     

NO样舒张因子和内皮素在急性缺氧肺动脉高压中的作用

在大鼠急性缺氧肺动脉高压模型、离体灌流肺动脉环模型及培养的牛肺动脉内皮细胞探讨ＮＯ样舒张因子（ＮＯ－ＬＲＦ）和内皮素（ＥＴ）在急性缺氧肺动脉高压中的作用。结果发现：ＮＯ合成前体Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（２５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ，ｉｖ）可有效降低急性缺氧肺动脉高压的幅度；在内皮完整血管环加入ＮＯ合成抑制剂Ｌ－ＮＮＡ（１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）、ＮＯ合成前体Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（１０－２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）分别升高（＋８０％，Ｐ＜０．０１）和降低（－３５％，Ｐ＜０．０５）缺氧肺动脉收缩幅度，给予硝酸甘油（１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）直接补充ＮＯ可降低缺氧肺动脉收缩幅度；此效应可被可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂亚甲蓝部分逆转；内皮素抗血清或内皮素Ａ受体结抗剂ＢＱ１２３对急性缺氧肺动脉高压及缺氧肺动脉收缩没有明显影响；Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印渍杂交技术显示缺氧使培养的牛肺动脉内皮细胞ＮＯ合成酶（ＮＯＳ）基因表达明显受抑乃至缺失．结果提示：缺氧时ＮＯＳ基因表达受抑及ＮＯ－ＬＲＦ合成释放降低可能是急性缺氧肺动脉高压的发生机制之一，内皮素不起主要作用．     

牛胚胎体外生产技术的应用研究

利用屠宰牛卵巢抽出的卵母细胞，以卵裂率和囊胚发育为标准，对牛胚胎体外生产过程进行了简化试验，结果显示：不加卵丘细胞的高密度卵母细胞体外成熟（１００－２００枚／平皿）可代替加卵丘细胞标准密度培养，其卵裂率和囊胚发育率没有显著变化，体外授精时间可从成熟培养后２２小时延长至２７小时，卵裂率和囊胚发育率均没有显著变化。卵母细胞体外成熟后可以不经洗涤直接移入受精滴，原成熟培养皿内残留孵丘细胞再培养４８小时形