Activation with ethanol improves embryo development of ICSI-derived oocytes by regulation of kinetics of MPF activity

• Published in: Journal of Reproduction and Development Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 171 - 178
• Main Authors: Fujinami, N. (Kinki Univ., Higashiosaka, Osaka (Japan)), Hosoi, Y, Kato, H, Matsumoto, K, Saeki, K, Iritani, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan THE SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 01.04.2004
• Subjects: Activation; ANIMAL EMBRYOS; Animals; Bovine embryo; CATTLE; CDC2 Protein Kinase - metabolism; CYTOPLASM; Development; Embryo, Mammalian - physiology; EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT; ETHANOL; Ethanol - pharmacology; Female; IN VITRO CULTURE; INJECTION; Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); Kinetics; Male; Maturation-Promoting Factor - metabolism; MPF activity; Oocytes - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic - methods; SPERMATOZOA; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0916-8818; 1348-4400
• DOI: 10.1262/jrd.50.171

Developmental potential of bovine embryos that are not artificially activated after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is generally very low. In this study, we investigated effects of artificial activation with ethanol on kinetics of maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity (p34 sup(cdc2)kinase activity) and development of bovine oocytes following ICSI. Treatment of oocytes with ethanol at 4 h after ICSI improved their first cleavage and further preimplantation development (51% vs. 13%, 14% vs. 4%: treatment with vs. without ethanol, respectively). MPF activity of oocytes was lowered until at least 2 h after ICSI. In oocytes without activation after ICSI, MPF activity temporarily elevated at 6 h after ICSI, whereas this phenomena was not observed in the oocytes treated with ethanol. Furthermore, MPF activity was elevated 20 h after ICSI in oocytes activated with ethanol, whereas this elevation of MPF activity was not shown in oocytes without activation. These results indicate that the stimulus of sperm was sufficient to lower MPF activity of oocytes following ICSI, and moreover the activation treatment of bovine oocytes with ethanol after ICSI served to maintain the low levels of MPF activity until the next cell cycle started .