Anima Tripathi

Meiotic cell cycle arrest in mammalian oocytes.

Meiotic cell cycle in mammalian oocytes is a dynamic process that involves several stop/go channels. The cell cycle arrest in oocyte occurs at various stages such as diplotene, metaphase‐I (M‐I), metaphase‐II (M‐II), and so called metaphase‐like arrest (M‐III). Leutinizing hormone surge induces meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest in follicular microenvironment by overriding several factors responsible for the maintenance of meiotic arrest. The inhibitory factors are synthesized in oocyte or in the associated follicular somatic cells and transferred to the oocyte. The major factors include hypoxanthine, cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′‐monophosphate, cyclic guanosine 3′, 5′‐monophosphate, reactive oxygen species, protein kinase A, and protein kinase C. In the presence of active protein kinases, epidermal‐like growth factors are produced that activate mitogen‐activated protein kinase in cumulus granulosa cells. The maturation promoting factor, cytostatic factors, and spindle assembly checkpoint proteins are also involved in that maintenance of arrest at various stages of meiotic cell cycle in mammalian oocytes. In this review, we briefly summarize the role of these factors in the maintenance of meiotic cell cycle arrest in mammalian oocytes. J. Cell. Physiol. 223:592–600, 2010.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest in mammalian oocytes

Mammalian ovary is metabolically active organ and generates by‐products such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) on an extraordinary scale. Both follicular somatic cells as well as oocyte generate ROS and RNS synchronously and their effects are neutralized by intricate array of antioxidants. ROS such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and RNS such as nitric oxide (NO) act as signaling molecules and modulate various aspects of oocyte physiology including meiotic cell cycle arrest and resumption. Generation of intraoocyte H2O2 can induce meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest probably by the activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase A (PRKA)—or Ca2+‐mediated pathway. However, reduced intraoocyte NO level may inactivate guanylyl cyclase‐mediated pathway that results in the reduced production of cyclic 3′,5′‐guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The reduced level of cGMP results in the activation of cyclic 3′,5′‐adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)‐phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A), which hydrolyses cAMP. The reduced intraoocyte cAMP results in the activation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) that finally induces meiotic resumption. Thus, a transient increase of intraoocyte H2O2 level and decrease of NO level may signal meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest in mammalian oocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 521–528, 2010.

Intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in oocytes at various stages of meiotic cell cycle and apoptosis

The objective was to find out the functional roles of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) during various stages of meiotic cell cycle and apoptosis in rat oocytes. For this purpose, 30 oocytes from each stage such as diplotene, metaphase-I (M-I), metaphase-II (M-II) and apoptosis were collected and intracellular H2O2, total nitrite level and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were analysed. This study demonstrated that generation of a tonic level of H2O2 induces meiotic resumption in diplotene-arrested oocytes and further increase may lead to apoptosis. Conversely, reduction in iNOS expression and total nitrite level are associated with meiotic resumption in diplotene-arrested oocytes, but induce apoptosis in aged oocytes. These results suggest that generation of a tonic level of H2O2, reduced iNOS expression and total nitrite level are associated with meiotic resumption, while more generation of H2O2 and sustained reduced total nitrite level are linked with oocyte apoptosis in rat.

Changes in signal molecules and maturation promoting factor levels associate with spontaneous resumption of meiosis in rat oocytes

The present study was aimed to find out changes in signal molecules and maturation promoting factor (MPF) levels during meiotic cell cycle progression from diplotene and metaphase‐II (M‐II) arrest, a period during which oocyte achieves meiotic competency. Data suggest that high levels of adenosine 3′‐5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), guanosine 3′‐5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), and nitric oxide (NO) are associated with diplotene arrest, while reduction in their levels correlates with reduced MPF level and meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest. On the other hand, increased intracellular NO, calcium (Ca2+) as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels correlate with decreased cAMP, Thr‐161 phosphorylated cyclin‐dependent kinase‐1 (Cdk1) as well as cyclin B1 levels. The decreased Thr‐161 phosphorylated Cdk1 and cyclin B1 level reduce MPF level leading to exit from M‐II arrest in oocytes cultured in vitro. These data suggest that the decrease of cAMP level and increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ as well as H2O2 levels associate with the reduced MPF level and meiotic resumption from diplotene arrest. On the other hand, increase of NO, cGMP, Ca2+ as well as H2O2 levels are associated with reduced MPF and spontaneous exit from M‐II arrest in rat oocytes cultured in vitro.

Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) leaf extract deteriorates oocyte quality by inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis in mammals

Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) leaf has been widely used in ayurvedic system of medicine for fertility regulation for a long time. The molecular mechanism by which neem leaf regulates female fertility remains poorly understood. Animal studies suggest that aqueous neem leaf extract (NLE) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) - mediated granulosa cell apoptosis. Granulosa cell apoptosis deprives oocytes from nutrients, survival factors and cell cycle proteins required for the achievement of meiotic competency of follicular oocytes prior to ovulation. Under this situation, follicular oocyte becomes more susceptible towards apoptosis after ovulation. The increased level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) inside the follicular fluid results in the transfer of H2O2 from follicular fluid to the oocyte. The increased level of H2O2 induces p53 activation and over expression of Bax protein that modulates mitochondrial membrane potential and trigger cytochrome c release. The increased cytosolic cytochrome c level induces caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities that trigger destruction of structural and specific proteins leading to DNA fragmentation and thereby oocyte apoptosis. Based on these animal studies, we propose that NLE induces generation of ROS and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis both in granulosa cells as well as in follicular oocyte. The induction of apoptosis deteriorates oocyte quality and thereby limits reproductive outcome in mammals.

Melatonin protects against clomiphene citrate-induced generation of hydrogen peroxide and morphological apoptotic changes in rat eggs.

The present study was aimed to determine whether clomiphene citrate-induces generation of hydrogen peroxide in ovary, if so, whether melatonin could scavenge hydrogen peroxide and protect against clomiphene citrate-induced morphological apoptotic changes in rat eggs. For this purpose, forty five sexually immature female rats were given single intramuscular injection of 10 IU pregnant mares serum gonadotropin for 48 h followed by single injections of 10 IU human chorionic gonadotropin and clomiphene citrate (10 mg/kg bw) with or without melatonin (20 mg/kg bw) for 16 h. The histology of ovary, ovulation rate, hydrogen peroxide concentration and catalase activity in ovary and morphological changes in ovulated eggs were analyzed. Co-administration of clomiphene citrate along with human chorionic gonadotropin significantly increased hydrogen peroxide concentration and inhibited catalase activity in ovary, inhibited ovulation rate and induced egg apoptosis. Supplementation of melatonin reduced hydrogen peroxide concentration and increased catalase activity in the ovary, delayed meiotic cell cycle progression in follicular oocytes as well as in ovulated eggs since extrusion of first polar body was still in progress even after ovulation and protected against clomiphene citrate-induced egg apoptosis. These results clearly suggest that the melatonin reduces oxidative stress by scavenging hydrogen peroxide produced in the ovary after clomiphene citrate treatment, slows down meiotic cell cycle progression in eggs and protects against clomiphene citrate-induced apoptosis in rat eggs.

An increase of granulosa cell apoptosis mediates aqueous neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract‑induced oocyte apoptosis in rat

Objective: Neem plant (Azadirachta indica) has been extensively used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for female fertility regulation for a long time, but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Hence, the present study was aimed to determine whether an increase of granulosa cell apoptosis is associated with aqueous neem leaf extract (NLE)-induced oocyte apoptosis. Materials and Methods: Sexually immature female rats of 20 days old were fed NLE (50 mg/day) for 10 days and then subjected to superovulation induction protocol. The morphological changes in cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), rate of oocyte apoptosis, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total nitrite, and cytochrome c concentrations, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cytochrome c, p53, Bcl2 and Bax expressions, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, and estradiol 17β level in granulosa cells collected from preovulatory COCs were analyzed. Results: Aqueous NLE increased H2O2 concentration and decreased catalase activity, increased iNOS expression and total nitrite concentration, increased p53, Bax, and p53 expressions but decreased Bcl2 expression, increased cytochrome c concentration and induced DNA fragmentation in granulosa cells. An increased granulosa cell apoptosis resulted in reduced estradiol 17β concentration and induced apoptosis in ovulated oocytes. Conclusion: We conclude that aqueous NLE-induced granulosa cell apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated pathway, reduced estradiol 17β concentration and induced apoptosis in ovulated oocytes. Thus, granulosa cell apoptosis mediates NLE-induced oocyte apoptosis during female fertility regulation in rat.

Extracellular calcium protects against verapamil-induced metaphase-II arrest and initiation of apoptosis in aged rat eggs.

Non‐specific L‐type calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil (≥50 μM), induce metaphase‐II (M‐II) arrest and apoptosis in aged rat eggs cultured in Ca2+‐deficient medium. However, the effects of extracellular Ca2+ on verapamil‐induced M‐II arrest and apoptosis have not yet been reported. We have demonstrated that postovulatory aging induced exit from M‐II arrest by extruding a second polar body, a morphological sign of spontaneous egg activation (SEA). Verapamil inhibited SEA and induced egg apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner in Ca2+‐deficient medium. The initiation of apoptotic features was observed at 50 μM of verapamil. Extracellular Ca2+ (1.80 mM) reduced intracellular H2O2 level, bax protein expression, caspase‐3 activity, DNA fragmentation and protected against 50 μM, but not higher concentrations of ≥100 μM in verapamil‐induced egg apoptosis. These results suggest that extracellular Ca2+ ions have a role during SEA and protect against verapamil‐induced apoptosis in aged rat eggs.

Roscovitine inhibits extrusion of second polar body and induces apoptosis in rat eggs cultured in vitro

BACKGROUND Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) may result in meiotic cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in rat eggs in vitro. We aimed to find out whether roscovitine, a Cdk inhibitor, inhibits extrusion of second polar body (II PB) and induced egg apoptosis in vitro. METHODS The metaphase-II (M-II) arrested eggs were collected from oviduct and exposed to various concentrations of roscovitine for 3h in vitro. The morphological changes, phosphorylation status of Cdk1, cyclin B1 level, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), p53, Bax, Bcl2 and cytochrome c expressions, caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation were analyzed. RESULTS We showed that the lower concentrations of roscovitine significantly reduced Thr-161 phosphorylated Cdk1 level and inhibited extrusion of II PB. The higher concentrations of roscovitine significantly reduced Thr-161 phosphorylated Cdk1 level but total Cdk as well as cyclin B1 levels remained high. Higher concentrations of roscovitine increased H2O2 level and expressions of p53, Bax and cytochrome c in treated eggs. The increased proapoptotic factors induced capsase-3 activity and thereby DNA fragmentation that finally resulted in cytoplasmic fragmentation, a morphological apoptotic feature. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that roscovitine inhibited II PB extrusion possibly by reducing Thr-161 phosphorylated Cdk1 level and induced apoptosis through mitochondria-caspase-mediated apoptotic pathway in rat eggs cultured in vitro.