Coculture of human oviductal cells maintains mitochondrial function and decreases caspase activity of cleavage-stage mouse embryos

Fertil Steril. 2003 Jul;80(1):178-83. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(03)00570-3.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the mitochondrial function and caspase activity in mouse embryos after human oviductal cell coculture.

Design: Experimental laboratory study.

Setting: University gynecology unit.

Animal(s): MF-1 (female); BALB/c (male) mice.

Intervention(s): Mouse embryos were cocultured with human oviductal cells.

Main outcome measure(s): Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta psi(m)) and caspase activity.

Result(s): Compared to embryos after coculture in Chatot-Ziomek-Bavister (CZB) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/mL of BSA (CZB), Delta psi m of embryos cultured in CZB was significantly lower at the two-cell (CZB, 2.04 +/- 0.412; coculture, 4.34 +/- 0.563) and morula (CZB, 6.06 +/- 0.548; coculture, 7.12 +/- 0.568) stages. Cocultured embryos and in vivo developed embryos had comparable Delta psi m. Caspase activity was not detected in unfragmented cleavage-stage embryos and morula developed in vivo. In vitro cultured morula possessed caspase activity. The activity was significantly reduced in the cocultured morula.

Conclusion(s): Human oviductal cells maintained the mitochondria function in terms of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and decreased the caspase activity to improve the development of mouse embryo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzimidazoles / metabolism
  • Carbocyanines / metabolism
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspases / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology*
  • Fallopian Tubes / cytology
  • Fallopian Tubes / enzymology
  • Fallopian Tubes / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Membranes / physiology
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mitochondria / physiology*
  • Morula / cytology
  • Morula / physiology
  • Random Allocation

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Casp3 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspases