Autoradiographic Localization of Specific Binding of Meiosis-Activating Sterol to Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes from Marmoset, Cow, and Mouse

The sterol, 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3beta-ol (FF-MAS), isolated from human follicular fluid, can induce resumption of meiosis in denuded and cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes inhibited by hypoxanthine, IBMX, or dibutyric cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In this study the distribution of FF-MAS binding sites in denuded oocytes and in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) was studied using light microscopic (LM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) autoradiography in marmoset, cow, and mouse oocytes. Denuded (n = 39) and cumulus-enclosed (n = 28) marmoset, cow, and mouse oocytes were cultured in the presence of [3H]FF-MAS with and without excess of unlabeled FF-MAS, respectively. In denuded oocytes LM autoradiography demonstrated specific binding to the oolemma and zona pellucida and, to some extent, the cytoplasm. In the nucleus, no specific binding of [3H]FF-MAS was demonstrated. In some COCs the labeling was dispersed throughout the zona pellucida, the oolemma, and the cytoplasm as well as the cumulus cells; whereas in others, only the outer part of the cumulus cells were labeled. TEM autoradiograms of denuded cow oocytes (n = 6) demonstrated that specific [3H]FF-MAS binding was closely related to the oolemma and that a low level of [3H]FF-MAS binding to cumulus cell remnants was present. In conclusion, specific binding of FF-MAS is predominant at the oolemma of denuded oocytes, suggesting the existence of a plasma membrane-associated molecule with affinity for FF-MAS (i.e., a putative FF-MAS receptor).