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Polarized Light Microscopy in Mammalian Oocytes
Author(s) -
Caamaño JN,
Muñoz M,
Diez C,
Gómez E
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01621.x
Subject(s) - intracytoplasmic sperm injection , oocyte , meiosis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , genetics , in vitro fertilisation , gene
Contents The meiotic spindle structure plays a key role in normal chromosome alignment and segregation during meiosis. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) allows non‐invasive evaluation of the meiotic spindle of metaphase oocytes from different animal species. The purpose of this article is to review the use of PLM in animal reproduction, mainly in the assessment of the meiotic spindle in oocytes. A brief overview of the methods to assess the meiotic spindle is presented as well as the principles behind the PLM. The use of PLM to evaluate oocyte quality and spindle morphology is discussed and the results on the viability of the oocytes after being exposed to PLM are presented. Several researchers showed that PLM could be successfully implemented on cryopreservation, nuclear transfer and intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures as a tool to improve the outcome of these procedures. In addition, PLM can be used to develop studies on oocyte maturation and spindle dynamics. However, the information on the practical use of this technology in farm animals is very limited and further studies are needed to assess the importance of PLM in animal reproduction.