Remodeling of mouse thymocyte nuclei depends on the time of their transfer into activated, homologous oocytes

The potential of parthenogenetically activated mouse oocytes to remodel somatic cell nuclei was studied by ultrastructural means using oocyte-thymocyte hybrids. Complete nuclear remodeling, initiated by nuclear envelope breakdown and chromosome condensation (which is followed by formation of pronucleus-like nucleus) is possible only during a short time gap between metaphase II and telophase of meiotic division. Maturation-promoting factor activity is high during this period. The thymocyte nucleus can follow the sequence of morphological changes only in concert with the development of the native nucleus and only after exposure of the chromatin to the ooplasm. If hybridization is effected with pronucleate oocytes, the thymocyte nucleus retains its interphase character but shows particular modifications in nucleolar morphology (identical to changes observed during reactivation of the nucleolus in stimulated lymphocyte) and in the activity of the nuclear envelope (blebbing). Thus the nucleus not exposed to maturation-promoting factor activity may be influenced by a ‘programme’ specific for oocyte (blebbing) and by a programme inherent in the introduced somatic cell nucleus.