Morphometric, subcellular, in vitro fertilisation and embryonic developmental assessment of mouse oocytes produced by anti-inhibin serum or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin superovulation.
Abstract: This study compared the morphometric, subcellular characteristics, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryonic developmental potential of metaphase II (MII) mouse oocytes obtained from females superovulated with either anti-inhibin serum-human chorionic gonadotrophin (AIS-hCG) or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)-hCG. The oocyte's quantity, quality, zona pellucida (ZP) thickness, perivitelline space (PVS), diameter, microtubules, F-actin, cortical granules (CGs) and mitochondrial distribution were determined. Superovulation using AIS-hCG resulted in a higher numbers of oocyte/donor compared with PMSG-hCG (P=0.002). There was no difference in morphologically normal and abnormal oocytes between AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG (P=0.425 and P=0.194, respectively). The morphometric measurements showed no difference in oocyte diameter between AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG (P=0.289). However, the thickness of the ZP of oocytes from AIS-hCG females was decreased compared with PMSG-hCG (P<0.001). The PVS of oocytes from the AIS-hCG was larger than with PMSG-hCG (P<0.001). The microtubules of oocytes from both AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG were normal, although there was an increased fluorescence intensity in the AIS-hCG oocytes (P<0.001). The F-actin and CGs distribution in oocytes from both AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG were similar (P=0.330 and P=0.13, respectively). Although the oocytes from PMSG-hCG females had homogenously distributed mitochondria, AIS-hCG oocytes showed more peripheral distribution with no differences in fluorescence intensity (P=0.137). The blastocyst development rates after IVF with fresh sperm showed no difference between AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG (P=0.235). These data suggested that AIS-hCG superovulation produces high numbers of morphologically normal oocytes that also possess normal subcellular structures, good morphological characteristics and had high invitro embryonic developmental potential.
Publication Date: 2020-01-24 PubMed ID: 31972126PubMed Central: PMC8020730DOI: 10.1071/RD19131Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research compares the quality and developmental potential of mouse oocytes (female reproductive cells) obtained using two different types of superovulation treatments. Superovulation in mice was induced either using anti-inhibin serum-human chorionic gonadotrophin (AIS-hCG) or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG-hCG).
Abstract Overview
The researchers carried out a comparative study on mouse oocytes obtained using two different superovulation treatments, AIS-hCG and PMSG-hCG. They examined a variety of factors, including:
- The number of produced oocytes: Superovulation using AIS-hCG produced more oocytes compared to PMSG-hCG.
- Morphometric measurements: These were largely the same regardless of the treatment used, although oocytes from AIS-hCG females had a thinner zona pellucida (ZP), the membrane surrounding the oocyte, and a larger perivitelline space (PVS), the area between the ZP and the oocyte’s plasma membrane.
- Subcellular structures: The intensity of microtubules’ fluorescence was higher in AIS-hCG oocytes, but the distribution of F-actin and cortical granules (CGs) was similar in oocytes from both treatments. Mitochondrial distribution differed, with AIS-hCG oocytes showing a more peripheral pattern.
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryonic development: The rate of blastocyst (early-stage embryo) development following IVF with fresh sperm was not significantly different between the two treatments.
Results and Interpretations
The study concluded that AIS-hCG superovulation produces a higher quantity of morphologically normal oocytes than PMSG-hCG. Despite some differences in morphometric measurements and subcellular structures, the AIS-hCG oocytes possessed good morphological characteristics and demonstrated high in vitro embryonic developmental potential, indicating that they are suitable for use in IVF and similar reproductive technologies.
Significance and Future Directions
The findings of this research could have significant implications for the field of reproductive medicine, particularly where in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies are involved, as it provides valuable insights into how different superovulation treatments can affect the quality and developmental potential of oocytes. Future studies may explore the application of this knowledge in optimising superovulation protocols to enhance the success rate of IVF.
Cite This Article
APA
Wuri L, Agca C, Agca Y.
(2020).
Morphometric, subcellular, in vitro fertilisation and embryonic developmental assessment of mouse oocytes produced by anti-inhibin serum or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin superovulation.
Reprod Fertil Dev, 32(5), 474-483.
https://doi.org/10.1071/RD19131 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; and Corresponding author. Email: agcay@missouri.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blastocyst / physiology
- Chorionic Gonadotropin / pharmacology
- Embryo Culture Techniques
- Female
- Fertility Agents, Female / pharmacology
- Fertilization in Vitro
- Gonadotropins, Equine / pharmacology
- Immune Sera / pharmacology
- Inhibins / antagonists & inhibitors
- Inhibins / immunology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Oocyte Retrieval
- Oocytes / drug effects
- Oocytes / immunology
- Ovulation / drug effects
- Pregnancy
- Superovulation
Grant Funding
- U42 OD010918 / NIH HHS
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interest Statement: Authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Gerb SA, Agca C, Agca Y. Developmental Potential of In Vitro Fertilization-Derived Mouse Zygotes Following Vitrification: Effects of Superovulation Method. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2025 Aug 1;64(6):1-7.
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