Amphiregulin promotes the maturation of oocytes isolated from the small antral follicles of the rhesus macaque

Background: In non-primates, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF-related ligands such as amphiregulin (AREG) serve as critical intermediates between the theca/mural cells and the cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC) following the mid-cycle LH surge. Studies were designed in primates (1) to analyze ARE...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Peluffo, Marina Cinthia, Ting, Alison Y., Zamah, Alberuni M., Conti, Marco, Stouffer, Richard L., Zelinski, Mary B., Hennebold, Jon D.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/97932
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/97932
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:AMPHIREGULIN
EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT
OOCYTE MATURATION
RHESUS MONKEYS
SMALL ANTRAL FOLLICLE
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/3.2
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/3
Descripción
Sumario:Background: In non-primates, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF-related ligands such as amphiregulin (AREG) serve as critical intermediates between the theca/mural cells and the cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC) following the mid-cycle LH surge. Studies were designed in primates (1) to analyze AREG levels in follicular fluid (follicular fluid) obtained from pre-ovulatory follicles, as well as (2) to assess dose-dependent effects of AREG on oocytes from small antral follicles (SAFs) during culture, including meiotic and cytoplasmic maturation. methods: Controlled ovulation protocols were performed on rhesus monkeys (n = 12) to determine AREG content within the single, naturally selected dominant follicle after an ovulatory stimulus. Using healthy COCs (n = 271) obtained from SAFs during spontaneous cycles (n = 27), in vitro maturation (IVM) was performed in the absence or presence of physiological concentrations of AREG (10 or 100 ng/ml) with or without gonadotrophins (FSH, 75 mIU/ml; LH, 75 mIU/ml). At the end of the culture period, oocyte meiotic maturation was evaluated and ICSI was performed (n = 111), from which fertilization and early embryo development was followed in vitro. results: AREG levels in follicular fluid from pre-ovulatory follicles increased (P < 0.05) following an ovulatory bolus of hCG at 12, 24 and 36 h post-treatment. At 12 h post-hCG, AREG levels in follicular fluid ranged from 4.8 to 121.4 ng/ml. Rhesus macaque COCs incubated with 10 ng/ml AREG in the presence of gonadotrophins displayed an increased percentage of oocytes that progressed to the metaphase II (MII) stage of meiosis (82 versus 56%, P < 0.05) and a decreased percentage of metaphase I (MI) oocytes (2 versus 23%, P , 0.05) relative to controls, respectively. The percentage of either MI or MII oocytes at the end of the culture period was not different between oocytes cultured with 100 ng/ml AREG or in media alone. Fertilization and first cleavage rates obtained by ICSI of all IVM MII oocytes were 93 and 98%, respectively, and did not vary among treatment groups. Of the MII oocytes that fertilized (n = 103), 37 were randomly selected and maintained in culture to assess developmental potential. A total of 13 early blastocysts were obtained, with four embryos developing to expanded blastocysts. conclusions: These data indicate that AREG levels increase in rhesus macaque pre-ovulatory follicles after an ovulatory stimulus, and a specific concentration of AREG (10 ng/ml) enhances rhesus macaque oocyte nuclear maturation but not cytoplasmic maturation from SAFs obtained during the natural menstrual cycle. However, owing to the small number of samples in some treatment groups, further studies are now required.