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A MAPK pathway is involved in the control of cortical granule reaction and mitosis during bovine fertilization
Author(s) -
Tae Jin Cheol,
Kim Eun Young,
Jeon Kilsoo,
Lee Keum Sil,
Lee Chang Hyun,
Kim Yeon Ok,
Park Se Pill,
Kim NamHyung
Publication year - 2008
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.20777
Subject(s) - polyspermy , biology , human fertilization , mapk/erk pathway , cortical granule , microbiology and biotechnology , mitosis , andrology , insemination , mapk cascade , oocyte , kinase , sperm , anatomy , embryo , genetics , medicine
Abstract In order to understand the mechanism by which mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulates fertilization, we examined the effect of the MAPK pathway inhibitor U0126 on polyspermy, cortical granule reaction and mitosis in bovine oocytes during and after fertilization. Oocytes were treated with 30 µM U0126 for 30 min prior to insemination, or from 15 to 27 hr following insemination. Western blotting with antibodies that detect active, phosphorylated MAPK revealed that MAPK activity was decreased in U0126 treated oocytes. Oocytes that were treated with U0126 before insemination displayed a significantly higher incidence of polyspermic penetration and incomplete cortical granule reaction than that observed in untreated oocytes ( P < 0.05). Exposure of oocytes to 30µM U0126 15–27 hr after insemination induced aberrant microtubule assembly and cell division, often resulting in the formation of two or three daughter cells with altered shapes and sizes. These results suggest that an ERK‐like cascade is part of a mechanism that controls cortical granule reaction and the formation of the mitotic spindle following sperm penetration in the bovine. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1300–1306, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.