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The impact of vitrification on murine germinal vesicle oocyte In vitro maturation and aurora kinase A protein expression

  • Gamete Biology
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Investigate the effect of vitrification on in vitro maturation (IVM) and expression of Aurora kinases A, B, and C in germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes.

Methods

GV-stage oocytes from B6D2F1 female mice 7–11 weeks of age were vitrified after collection, thawed, and matured in vitro for 0, 4, 8, and 12 h (hrs). The rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), spindle apparatus assembly, and Aurora kinase mRNA and protein expression during IVM was measured.

Results

Oocyte vitrification was associated with significant delays in both GVBD and normal spindle apparatus assembly at 4 and 8 h of IVM (p < 0.05). There was no difference in mRNA levels between control and vitrified oocytes for any of the Aurora kinases. Aurora A protein levels were reduced in vitrified compared to control oocytes at 0 h (p = 0.008), and there was no difference at 4 and 8 h (p = 0.08 and 0.69, respectively) of IVM.

Conclusions

Vitrified oocytes have delayed GVBD and normal spindle assembly during in vitro maturation. Reduced levels of Aurora A protein immediately post-thaw may be associated with the impaired oocyte maturation manifested by the delayed progression through meiosis I and II, and the atypical timing of the formation of meiotic spindles in vitrified GV-stage oocytes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Tang lab for providing Aurora C antibody and to Thomas Toth, M.D. for editorial support. We appreciate the technical efforts of Sanaz Ghazal, M.D. The authors would also like to thank Jonathan L. Tilly, PhD for his contributions related to the design of the experiments and interpretation of the results. This work was funded by the Vincent Memorial Research Funds.

Conflict of Interest

The authors of this manuscript have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Thier 9, MGH Vincent Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Joseph O. Doyle, Ho Joon Lee, Kaisa Selesniemi, Aaron K. Styer & Bo R. Rueda

  2. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Joseph O. Doyle, Aaron K. Styer & Bo R. Rueda

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  1. Joseph O. Doyle
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  2. Ho Joon Lee
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Correspondence to Bo R. Rueda.

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Capsule Assessment of the impact of vitrification on murine GV oocyte in vitro maturation and aurora kinase A protein expression

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Doyle, J.O., Lee, H.J., Selesniemi, K. et al. The impact of vitrification on murine germinal vesicle oocyte In vitro maturation and aurora kinase A protein expression. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 1695–1702 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0336-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0336-7

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