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Heterologous cell contacts and metabolic coupling in bovine cumulus oocyte complexes
Author(s) -
de Loos F.,
Kastrop P.,
van Maurik P.,
van Beneden Th. H.,
Kruip Th. A. M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080280307
Subject(s) - oocyte , biology , human fertilization , microbiology and biotechnology , gap junction , coupling (piping) , genetics , embryo , intracellular , materials science , metallurgy
The integrity of the cumulus cell processes were studied in four categories of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) selected on their morphological characteristics. Three different types of cumulus cell process endings (CCPEs) were identified, one penetrating the cortex, another not penetrating the cortex, and a third form was intermediate and more rare in appearance. The process endings that penetrated the cortex frequently made gap junctions with the oolemma. The division of the three types of CCPEs over the four different COC categories was specific for three of the four categories. The first‐category COC predominantly possessed the penetrating CCPE, the fourth‐category COC possessed predominantly the nonpenetrating CCPE, and the second and third categories had both types of CCPEs. The metabolic coupling of the cumulus‐oocyte contacts was assessed by means of incorporation of 3 H‐choline into the oocyte. The majority of category 4 COCs transferred low levels of choline into the oocyte while the majority of the oocytes of the other three categories transferred high levels of choline into the oocyte. Category 4 includes a smaller proportion of oocytes capable of cleaving after fertilization than the other three categories. This reduced developmental capacity is probably due to the loss of metabolic coupling before the onset of culture.