miRNAs, ~22nt small RNAs associated with Argonaute (AGO) proteins, are important negative regulators of gene expression in mammalian cells. However, mammalian maternal miRNAs show negligible repressive activity and the miRNA pathway is dispensable for oocytes and maternal-to-zygotic transition. The stoichiometric hypothesis proposed that this is caused by dilution of maternal miRNAs during oocyte growth. As the dilution affects miRNAs but not mRNAs, it creates unfavorable miRNA:mRNA stoichiometry for efficient repression of cognate mRNAs. Here, we report that porcine ssc-miR-205 and bovine bta-miR-10b are exceptional miRNAs, which resist the diluting effect of oocyte growth and can efficiently suppress gene expression. Additional analysis of ssc-miR-205 shows that it has higher stability, reduces expression of endogenous targets, and contributes to the porcine oocyte-to-embryo transition. Consistent with the stoichiometric hypothesis, our results show that the endogenous miRNA pathway in mammalian oocytes is intact and that maternal miRNAs can efficiently suppress gene expression when a favorable miRNA:mRNA stoichiometry is established.

• Klíčová slova
• NanoLuc, miR-10b, miR-205, miRNA, oocyte,
• MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• oocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• oogeneze genetika   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• zygota metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• mikro RNA * MeSH

The developmental potential of porcine oocytes cultured in vitro was remarkably enhanced in a medium containing FGF2, LIF and IGF1 (FLI) when compared to a medium supplemented with gonadotropins and EGF (control). We analyzed the molecular background of the enhanced oocyte quality by comparing the time course of MAPK3/1 and AKT activation, and the expression of genes controlled by these kinases in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured in FLI and the control medium. The pattern of MAPK3/1 activation in COCs was very similar in both media, except for a robust increase in MAPK3/1 phosphorylation during the first hour of culture in the FLI medium. The COCs cultured in the FLI medium exhibited significantly higher activity of AKT than in the control medium from the beginning up to 16 h of culture; afterwards a deregulation of AKT activity occurred in the FLI medium, which was not observed in the control medium. The expression of cumulus cell genes controlled by both kinases was also modulated in the FLI medium, and in particular the genes related to cumulus-expansion, signaling, apoptosis, antioxidants, cell-to-cell communication, proliferation, and translation were significantly overexpressed. Collectively, these data indicate that both MAPK3/1 and AKT are implicated in the enhanced quality of oocytes cultured in FLI medium.

• Klíčová slova
• AKT kinase, FGF2, IGF1, LIF, MAP kinase 3/1, gene expression, oocyte competence, oocyte maturation,
• MeSH
• IVM techniky metody   veterinární   MeSH
• kultivační média chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• meióza účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 1 fyziologie   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 3 fyziologie   MeSH
• oocyty cytologie   účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• oogeneze účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt fyziologie   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kultivační média MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 1 MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 3 MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt MeSH

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitous small RNAs guiding post-transcriptional gene repression in countless biological processes. However, the miRNA pathway in mouse oocytes appears inactive and dispensable for development. We propose that marginalization of the miRNA pathway activity stems from the constraints and adaptations of RNA metabolism elicited by the diluting effects of oocyte growth. We report that miRNAs do not accumulate like mRNAs during the oocyte growth because miRNA turnover has not adapted to it. The most abundant miRNAs total tens of thousands of molecules in growing (∅ 40 μm) and fully grown (∅ 80 μm) oocytes, a number similar to that observed in much smaller fibroblasts. The lack of miRNA accumulation results in a 100-fold lower miRNA concentration in fully grown oocytes than in somatic cells. This brings a knock-down-like effect, where diluted miRNAs engage targets but are not abundant enough for significant repression. Low-miRNA concentrations were observed in rat, hamster, porcine and bovine oocytes, arguing that miRNA inactivity is not mouse-specific but a common mammalian oocyte feature. Injection of 250,000 miRNA molecules was sufficient to restore reporter repression in mouse and porcine oocytes, suggesting that miRNA inactivity comes from low-miRNA abundance and not from some suppressor of the pathway.

• MeSH
• buňky 3T3 MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• křečci praví MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oocyty cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• oogeneze * MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• skot MeSH
• teoretické modely MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• křečci praví MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• myši MeSH
• skot MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH

Genes influencing oocyte maturation may be valuable for predicting their developmental potential, as well as discerning the mechanistic pathways regulating oocyte development. In the presented research microarray gene expression analysis of immature and in vitro matured porcine oocytes was performed. Two groups of oocytes were compared in the study: before (3 × n = 50) and after in vitro maturation (3 × n = 50). The selection of viable oocytes was performed using the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test. Furthermore, microarrays and RT-qPCR was used to analyze the transcriptome of the oocytes before and after IVM. The study focused on the genes undergoing differential expression in two gene-ontology groups: "Cellular response to hormone stimulus" and "Cellular response to unfolded protein", which contain genes that may directly or indirectly be involved in signal transduction during oocyte maturation. Examination of all the genes of interest showed a lower level of their expression after IVM. From the total number of genes in these gene ontologies ten of the highest change in expression were identified: FOS, ID2, BTG2, CYR61, ESR1, AR, TACR3, CCND2, EGR2 and TGFBR3. The successful maturation of the oocytes was additionally confirmed with the use of lipid droplet assay. The genes were briefly described and related to the literature sources, to investigate their potential roles in the process of oocyte maturation. The results of the study may serve as a basic molecular reference for further research aimed at improving the methods of oocyte in vitro maturation, which plays an important role in the procedures of assisted reproduction.

• Klíčová slova
• Microarray, Mitochondrial activity, Oocyte maturation, Pig,
• MeSH
• eosin chemie   MeSH
• hematoxylin chemie   MeSH
• hormony genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• IVM techniky * MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lipidy analýza   MeSH
• oocyty růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• oxaziny chemie   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Brilliant Cresyl Blue MeSH Prohlížeč
• eosin MeSH
• hematoxylin MeSH
• hormony MeSH
• lipidy MeSH
• oxaziny MeSH

Oocyte maturation is essential for proper fertilization, embryo implantation and early development. While the physiological conditions of these processes are relatively well‑known, its exact molecular mechanisms remain widely undiscovered. Oocyte growth, differentiation and maturation are therefore the subject of scientific debate. Precious literature has indicated that the oocyte itself serves a regulatory role in the mechanisms underlying these processes. Hence, the present study performed expression microarrays to analyze the complete transcriptome of porcine oocytes during their in vitro maturation (IVM). Pig material was used for experimentation, as it possesses similarities to the reproductive processes and general genetic proximities of Sus scrofa to human. Oocytes, isolated from the ovaries of slaughtered animals were assessed via the Brilliant Cresyl Blue test and directed to IVM. A number of oocytes were left to be analyzed as the 'before IVM' group. Oocyte mRNA was isolated and used for microarray analysis, which was subsequently validated via RT‑qPCR. The current study particularly focused on genes belonging to 'positive regulation of transcription, DNA‑dependent', 'positive regulation of gene expression', 'positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process' and 'positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter' ontologies. FOS, VEGFA, ESR1, AR, CCND2, EGR2, ENDRA, GJA1, INHBA, IHH, INSR, APP, WWTR1, SMARCA1, NFAT5, SMAD4, MAP3K1, EGR1, RORA, ECE1, NR5A1, KIT, IKZF2, MEF2C, SH3D19, MITF and PSMB4 were all determined to be significantly altered (fold change, >|2|; P<0.05) among these groups, with their downregulation being observed after IVM. Genes with the most altered expressions were analyzed and considered to be potential markers of maturation associated with transcription regulation and macromolecule metabolism process.

• Klíčová slova
• pig, oocyte, rna, transcription, in vitro maturation,
• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace genetika   MeSH
• energetický metabolismus * MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• genové regulační sítě MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• metabolomika MeSH
• oocyty cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• oogeneze genetika   MeSH
• ovarium metabolismus   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• výpočetní biologie metody   MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

BACKGROUND: The full maturational capability of mammalian oocytes is accompanied by nuclear and cytoplasmic modifications, which are associated with proliferation and differentiation of surrounding cumulus cells. These events are regulated on molecular level by the expression of target genes involved in signal transduction pathways crucial for folliculogenesis and oogenesis. Transforming growth factor beta signaling includes several molecules that are involved in the regulation of oogenesis and embryo growth, including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). However, the BMP-related gene expression profile in oocytes at different maturational stages requires further investigation. METHODS: Oocytes were isolated from pubertal crossbred Landrace gilts follicles, selected with a use of BCB staining test and analyzed before and after in vitro maturation. Gene expression profiles were examined using an Affymetrix microarray approach and validated by RT-qPCR. Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) software was used for the extraction of the genes belonging to a BMP-signaling pathway ontology group. RESULTS: The assay revealed 12,258 different transcripts in porcine oocytes, among which 379 genes were down-regulated and 40 were up-regulated. The DAVID database indicated a "BMP signaling pathway" ontology group, which was significantly regulated in both groups of oocytes. We discovered five up-regulated genes in oocytes before versus after in vitro maturation (IVM): chordin-like 1 (CHRDL1), follistatin (FST), transforming growth factor-beta receptor-type III (TGFβR3), decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4), and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of CHRDL1, FST, TGFβR3, SMAD4, and ID1 transcripts before IVM suggested a subordinate role of the BMP signaling pathway in porcine oocyte maturational competence. Conversely, it is postulated that these genes are involved in early stages of folliculogenesis and oogenesis regulation in pigs, since in oocytes before IVM increased expression was observed.

• Klíčová slova
• In vitro maturation, Microarray, Oocytes, Pig,
• MeSH
• IVM techniky * MeSH
• kostní morfogenetické proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kumulární buňky cytologie   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• mikročipová analýza MeSH
• oocyty cytologie   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• oogeneze genetika   MeSH
• prasata genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce genetika   MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kostní morfogenetické proteiny MeSH