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Chromatin organization and meiotic non-disjunction in mouse oocytes

Organizzazione della cromatina e non disgiunzione meiotica in oociti di topo

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Abstract

Two forms of oocytes termed SN (Surrounded Nucleolus) and NSN (Non Surrounded Nucleolus) differing for the spatial distribution of nuclear and nucleolar-associated chromatin have been described within the antral compartment of the ovary of a number of mammals. The biological significance of these two kinds of oocytes is as yet not completely clear. In previous studies we have shown that prior to ovulation, SN oocytes isolated from the antral compartment, cultured and fertilizedin vitro (IVM-IVF) have a far better meiotic and developmental competence than NSN oocytes. Following ovulation the proportion of SN antral oocytes diminishes and those SN and NSN oocytes that remain in the antral compartment are uncapable of embryonic development beyond the 2-cell stage. To further examine the correlation between chromatin distribution and meiotic competence of mouse antral oocytes, in the present study we have analyzed chromosome segregation at the time of first meiotic division in SN and NSN antral oocytes and in ovulated oocytes. SN and NSN antral oocytes were isolated before (48 hr post PMSG injection) or after (15 hr post hCG injection) ovulation from ovaries of females of increasing age, they were culturedin vitro to metaphase II, and their aneuploidy rate was examined. Comparison of data obtained before and after ovulation highlights two main points: 1) following ovulation a statistically significant increase of aneuploidy is observed in antral oocytes in most age groups. This increase is mainly attributable to SN oocytes, whereas the aneuploidy rate in the group of NSN oocytes does not significantly change before and after ovulation. 2) The aneuploidy rate of MII ovulated oocytes has a decreasing trend during female aging. These results suggest that in the ovarian dynamics, SN antral oocytes may be favoured in the selection for ovulation.

Riassunto

Gli oociti antrali di tutti i Mammiferi studiati possono essere classificati in due categorie e denominati SN (Surrounded Nucleolus) o NSN (Non Surrounded Nucleolus) in base alla distribuzione della cromatina nucleare e perinucleolare. Il significato biologico di questi due tipi di oociti non è ancora completamente chiaro. In studi precedenti abbiamo dimostrato che oociti SN di topo isolati prima dell’ovulazione, possedevano una migliore competenza meiotica ed erano in grado di meglio procedere nello sviluppo embrionale degli oociti di tipo NSN. Se però gli oociti venivano isolati successivamente alla ovulazione, allora entrambi i due tipi di oociti erano incapaci di proseguire lo sviluppo embrionale oltre lo stadio di 2 cellule. Per capire meglio questa correlazione tra organizzazione della cromatina e competenza meiotica degli oociti antrali di topo, in questo studio abbiamo analizzato la segregazione cromosomica durante la prima divisione meiotica in oociti SN, NSN ed oociti ovulati di topo. Oociti SN e NSN sono stati isolati prima (48 ore post iniezione di PMSG) o dopo (15 ore post iniezione di hCG) l’ovulazione da ovari di femmine di età crescente, gli oociti sono quindi stati coltivatiin vitro fino alla metafase II, ed è stato analizzato il grado di aneuploidie. Il confronto tra i dati ottenuti prima e dopo l’ovulazione evidenzia due punti principali: 1) successivamente all’ovulazione è osservabile un aumento statisticamente significativo di aneuploidie negli oociti antrali in tutti i gruppi d’età analizzati. Questo aumento è principalmente attribuibile agli oociti di tipo SN, mentre il tasso di aneuploidie nel gruppo di oociti NSN non aumenta significativamente. 2) Il tasso di aneuploidie degli oociti ovulati diminuisce con l’età della femmina. Questi risultati suggeriscono che gli oociti antrali SN sono favoriti nella selezione per l’ovulazione.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Piazza Botta, 9, 27100, Pavia

    Maurizio Zuccotti, Michele Boiani, Silvia Garagna & Carlo Alberto Redi

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  1. Maurizio Zuccotti
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  2. Michele Boiani
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  3. Silvia Garagna
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  4. Carlo Alberto Redi
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Correspondence to Maurizio Zuccotti.

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Nella seduta del 24 aprile 1998.

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Zuccotti, M., Boiani, M., Garagna, S. et al. Chromatin organization and meiotic non-disjunction in mouse oocytes. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 9, 227–240 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904406

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904406

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