Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-8r8nv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-08T12:59:17.476Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Highly effective method of human oocyte activation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Jacob Levron ,
Jacques Cohen  and
Steen Willadsen
Jacob Levron*
Affiliation:
The Center Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, The Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, Cornell University Medical College, New York, USA.
Jacques Cohen
Affiliation:
The Center Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, The Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, Cornell University Medical College, New York, USA.
Steen Willadsen
Affiliation:
The Center Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, The Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, Cornell University Medical College, New York, USA.
*
Jacob Levron, The Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, Cornell University Medical College, PO Box 30, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. Telephone: (212)7466626. Fax: (212)746 5859.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Fresh and aged unfertilised human oocytes were activated by electroporation and by exposure to isotonic solution of mannitol supplemented with low concentrations of calcium magnesium and chloride. Over 95% of the fresh oocytes were activated, all showing formation of one pronucleus and extrusion of the second polar body. Oocytes activated 1 and 2 days post-collection showed activation rates of 66.6% and 64.1%, respectively; however, the proportion of one-pronucleate oocytes in these groups was significantly lower (61.6% and 23.5%, respectively). There was no difference in the activation efficiency between the two activation modes. Twelve activated oocytes from the freshly collected group cleaved when left in culture. It is concluded that, in the human, a brief exposure to isotonic solution of mannitol with low concentrations of calcium, magnesium and chloride is a very effective activation stimulus.

Keywords

ElectroporationOocyte activationParthenogenesis

Information

Type
Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , May 1995 , pp. 157 - 161
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Abramczuk, J.W. & Lopata, A. (1990). Resistance of human follicular oocytes to parthenogenetic activation:DNA distribution and content in oocytes maintained in vitro. Hum.Reprod. 5 578–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balakier, H. & Casper, R.F. (1993). Experimentally induced parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes. Hum. Reprod. 8, 740–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balakier, H. & Tarkowski, A.K. (1976)Diploid parthenogenetic mouse embryos produced by heat-shock and cytochalasin B.J. Embryol. Exp.Morphol. 35,25–39.Google ScholarPubMed
Clarke, H.J. & Masui, Y. (1983). The induction of reversible and irreversible chromosome decondensation by protein synthesis inhibition during meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes. Dev. Biol. 97, 291–301.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colonna, R., Tatone, C., Malgaroli, A.Eusebi, F. & Managia, F. (1989). Effects of protein kinase C stimulation and free Ca2+ rise in mammalian oocyte activation. Gamete Res. 24, 171–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuthbertson, R. (1983). Parthenogenetic activation of mouse oocytes in vitro with ethanol and benzyl alchohol. J. Exp. Zool. 266, 311–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuthbertson, R., Whittingham, D.G. & Cobbold, P.H. (1981). Free Ca2+ increases in exponential phases during mouse oocyte activation. Nature 294, 754–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Sutter, P.Dozortsev, D., Cieslak, J., Wolf, G., Verlinsky, Y. & Dyban, A. (1992). Parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes by puromycin. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 9, 328–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Sutter, P., Desmmet, R. & Dhont, M. (1993). Cytogenetic analysis of human oocytes parthenogenetically activated by puromycin. Paper presented at ESHRE 9th Annual Meeting, Thessalonika.Google Scholar
Kaufman, M.H. (1978). The experimental production of mammalian parthenogenetic embryos. In Methods of Mammalian Reproduction, ed. Daniel, J.C. Jr, pp. 21–47.San Fran-cisco: Freeman.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaufman, M.H. (1981). Parthenogenesis: a system facilitating understanding of factors that influence early mammalian development. In Progress in Anatomy. Harrison, R.J. & Holmes, R.L., 1–34. CambridgeCambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Kaufman, M.H. (1982). The chromosome complement of single pronuclear haploid mouse embryos following activation by ethanol treatment, J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 71, 139–54.Google ScholarPubMed
Kaufman, M.H. (1983). Early Mammalian Development. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Kaufman, M.H. & Surani, M.A.H. (1974). The effect of osmolarity on mouse parthenogenesis. J. Embyol. Exp. Morphol. 31, 31–513.Google ScholarPubMed
Komar, A. (1973). Parthenogenetic development of mouse oocytes activated by heat shock. J. Reprod. Fert. 35, 433–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kubiak, J.Z. (1989). Mouse oocytes gradually develop the capacity for activation during the metaphase II arrest. Dev.Biol. 136. 537–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schatten, H., Walter, M.Biessmann, H. & Schatten, G. (1992). Activation of maternal centrosomess in unfertilized sea urchin eggs. Cell Motil.Cytoskeleton. 23, 61–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siracusa, G., Whittingham, D.W., Molinaro, M. & Vivarelli, E. (1978a). Parthenogenetic activation of mouse oocytes induced by inhibitors of protein synthesis. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 44, 157–66.Google Scholar
Siracusa, G., Whittingham, D.J., Codonesu, M. & De Felici, M.(1978b). Local anesthetics and phenothiazine tranquilizers induce parthenogenetic activation of the mouse oocyte. Dev. Biol. 65, 531–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steinhardt, R.A.Epel, D., Carroll, E.J. & Yanagimachi, R. (1974). Is calcium ionophore a universal activator of unfertilized oocytes? Nature 252, 41–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarkowski, K.A., Witkowska, A. & Nowicka, J. (1970). Experimental parthenogenesis in the mouse. Nature 226, 162–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Winston, M., Johnson, M., Pickering, S. & Braude, P. (1991). Parthenogenetic activation of fresh and aged human oocytes, Fertil. Steril, 56, 904–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Witkowska, A. (1973). parthenogenetic development of mouse embryos in vivo, J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 30, 519–45.Google ScholarPubMed