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Intracellular calcium oscillations and activation in horse oocytes injected with stallion sperm extracts or spermatozoa.
Abstract: In oocytes from all mammalian species studied to date, fertilization by a spermatozoon induces intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) oscillations that are crucial for appropriate oocyte activation and embryonic development. Such patterns are species-specific and have not yet been elucidated in horses; it is also not known whether equine oocytes respond with transient [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations when fertilized or treated with parthenogenetic agents. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (i) to characterize the activity of equine sperm extracts microinjected into mouse oocytes; (ii) to ascertain in horse oocytes the [Ca(2+)](i)-releasing activity and activating capacity of equine sperm extracts corresponding to the activity present in a single stallion spermatozoon; and (iii) to determine whether equine oocytes respond with [Ca(2+)](i) transients and activation when fertilized using the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. The results of this study indicate that equine sperm extracts are able to induce [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations, activation and embryo development in mouse oocytes. Furthermore, in horse oocytes, injection of sperm extracts induced persistent [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations that lasted for >60 min and initiated oocyte activation. Nevertheless, injection of a single stallion spermatozoon did not consistently initiate [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations in horse oocytes. It is concluded that stallion sperm extracts can efficiently induce [Ca(2+)](i) responses and parthenogenesis in horse oocytes, and can be used to elucidate the signalling mechanism of fertilization in horses. Conversely, the inconsistent [Ca(2+)](i) responses obtained with sperm injection in horse oocytes may explain, at least in part, the low developmental success obtained using ICSI in large animal species.
Publication Date: 2003-10-04 PubMed ID: 14525531DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1260489Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research examines how horse oocytes (egg cells) react to being fertilized by a stallion’s sperm, specifically focusing on the calcium fluctuations within the cell. Current understanding suggests that these calcium oscillations play a crucial role in initiation and support of embryonic development. The study explores different methods of introducing sperm into the oocyte, like using sperm extracts or direct injection of spermatozoa, and records their effect on the calcium response in the cell.
Understanding the Study’s Objectives
The study aimed to:
- Examine how equine sperm extracts affect mouse oocytes when microinjected.
- Figure out how horse oocytes respond to calcium-releasing activity and the activation ability of these sperm extracts. This is in comparison to the activity present in a single stallion spermatozoon.
- Determine whether horse oocytes respond to sperm injection – specifically, the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure – with transient calcium fluctuations and cellular activation.
Findings of the Research
The study revealed that:
- Equine sperm extracts could indeed induce calcium oscillations, cell activation, and embryo development in mouse oocytes.
- In horse oocytes, the injection of sperm extracts triggered persistent calcium oscillations that lasted over 60 minutes, initiating oocyte activation. However, the direct injection of a single stallion spermatozoon did not consistently initiate calcium oscillations.
Conclusions from the Research
Researchers concluded that stallion sperm extracts could efficiently induce calcium responses and trigger parthenogenesis in horse oocytes. This finding is helpful because it can help to clarify the fertilization signalling mechanism in horses. The study also suggested that the inconsistent calcium responses observed with direct sperm injection might partially explain the low success rate of embryo development when using ICSI in larger animal species.
Cite This Article
APA
Bedford SJ, Kurokawa M, Hinrichs K, Fissore RA.
(2003).
Intracellular calcium oscillations and activation in horse oocytes injected with stallion sperm extracts or spermatozoa.
Reproduction, 126(4), 489-499.
https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.0.1260489 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Paige Laboratory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9286, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcium / metabolism
- Calcium Signaling
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Mice
- Microinjections
- Oocytes / metabolism
- Oogenesis
- Parthenogenesis
- Species Specificity
- Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
- Sperm-Ovum Interactions
- Spermatozoa / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Fakhar-I-Adil M, Angel-Velez D, Araftpoor E, Amin QA, Hedia M, Bühler M, Gevaert K, Menten B, Van Soom A, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Stoop D, De Roo C, Smits K, Heindryckx B. Biphasic CAPA-IVM Improves Equine Oocyte Quality and Subsequent Embryo Development Without Inducing Genetic Aberrations. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Jun 8;26(12).
- Hisey EA, Ross PJ, Meyers S. Genetic Manipulation of the Equine Oocyte and Embryo. J Equine Vet Sci 2021 Apr;99:103394.
- Fernandes G, Dasai N, Kozlova N, Mojadadi A, Gall M, Drew E, Barratt E, Madamidola OA, Brown SG, Milne AM, Martins da Silva SJ, Whalley KM, Barratt CL, Jovanović A. A spontaneous increase in intracellular Ca2+ in metaphase II human oocytes in vitro can be prevented by drugs targeting ATP-sensitive K+ channels. Hum Reprod 2016 Feb;31(2):287-97.
- Giritharan G, Li MW, Di Sebastiano F, Esteban FJ, Horcajadas JA, Lloyd KC, Donjacour A, Maltepe E, Rinaudo PF. Effect of ICSI on gene expression and development of mouse preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod 2010 Dec;25(12):3012-24.
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