Stereological study of organelle distribution in human oocytes at metaphase I

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Coelho, S (Author) Other; Pires Luis, AS (Author) Other; Oliveira, E (Author) Other; Alves, A (Author) Other; Leal, C (Author) Other; Cunha, M (Author) Other; Barreiro, M (Author) Other; barros, a (Author) FMUP; Sa, R (Author) Other; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Zygote

Vol. 28

Pages: 308-317

ISSN: 0967-1994

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-WKR

DOI: 10.1017/s0967199420000131

Abstract (EN): We have previously presented a stereological analysis of organelle distribution in human prophase I oocytes. In the present study, using a similar stereological approach, we quantified the distribution of organelles in human metaphase I (MI) oocytes also retrieved after ovarian stimulation. Five MI oocytes were processed for transmission electron microscopy and a classical manual stereological technique based on point-counting with an adequate stereological grid was used. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-WhitneyU-tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the means of relative volumes (Vv) occupied by organelles. In all oocyte regions, the most abundant organelles were mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) elements. No significant differences were observed in Vv of mitochondria, dictyosomes, lysosomes, or SER small and medium vesicles, tubular aggregates and tubules. Significant differences were observed in other organelle distributions: cortical vesicles presented a higher Vv (P= 0.004) in the cortex than in the subcortex (0.96% vs 0.1%) or inner cytoplasm (0.96% vs 0.1%), vesicles with dense granular contents had a higher Vv (P= 0.005) in the cortex than in the subcortex (0.1% vs 0%), and SER large vesicles exhibited a higher Vv (P= 0.011) in the inner cytoplasm than in the subcortex (0.2% vs 0%). Future stereological analysis of metaphase II oocytes and a combined quantitative data of mature and immature oocytes, will enable a better understanding of oocyte organelle distribution duringin vivomaturation. Combined with molecular approaches, this may help improve stimulation protocols andin vitromaturation methods.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10