Abstract:
Microtubule molecular motors are critically involved in transporting vesicles during interphase, in building and maintaining spindles during mitosis and meiosis, and also in the localization of various organelles. DYNC1I1 (cytoplasmic dynein 1 intermediate chain) and its cofactor DCTN1 (dynactin p150Glued) are crucial for oocyte maturation but their role during mammalian female meiosis is not yet known. The goal of this study was to analyze the dynamics of these proteins in oocytes collected from different-size follicles at different stages of in vitro maturation (IVM), i.e., germinal vesicle stage (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), metaphase I (MI), and metaphase II (MII), and their association with microtubules. Ovaries were collected at a local abattoir. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles either <2 mm or 2-8 mm in size and matured in M199, supplemented with 1% fatty acid-free BSA, 10 UI pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/5 UI HCG, and 100 µ<span class="sc-ex">m</span> cysteamine, at 39�C and 5% CO2. Follicle sizes and time points for fixation were: GV-0 h; GVBD-8 h for oocytes <2 mm and 9 h for oocytes 2-8 mm; MI-15 h; MII-24 h (Racedo et al. 2007, pub. online: 10.1002/mrd.20770). The distribution of the proteins was assessed by immunocytochemistry and laser confocal microscopy. The attached cumulus cells and zona pellucida of oocytes were removed in TALP-HEPES medium containing 1 mg mL-1 hyaluronidase and 2 mg mL-1 pronase, respectively. The oocytes were then incubated in a fixation-permeabilization solution containing 2% formaldehyde and 0.1%Triton X-100 for 1 h. Samples were then blocked for 1 h in 10 m<span class="sc-ex">m</span> PBS + 0.3% BSA + 1% fetal calf serum (ICC blocking solution). The primary antibody was applied over night at 4�C, followed by treatment with fluorochrome-conjugated secondary antibodies for 1 h at 37�C in the dark. After RNase treatment, oocytes were incubated with TOTO-3 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) to visualize the DNA. The material was mounted in an anti-fade medium (Vectashield�, Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) and imaged with a Zeiss laser scanning microscope. Immediately after chromatin condensation (GVBD), dynactin was in close association with the DNA and interacting with the spindles in MI and MII oocytes recovered from large follicles. No clear association with the DNA was observed in GVBD oocytes obtained from small follicles; little dynactin was found in MI and MII spindles. Dynein localization did not differ from dynactin in GVs and was homogeneously distributed in the cytoplasm of both groups of follicles. Dynein was not associated with the DNA in the GVBD stage while at MI and MII it was associated with the meiotic spindle. The association of dynein with microtubules was weak at the MI stage in oocytes from small follicles. Results provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms of oocyte maturation and a possible relationship with oocyte competence.