Effects of Ferrocenyl 4-(Imino)-1,4-Dihydro-quinolines on Prophase I - Arrested Oocytes: Survival and Hormonal-Induced M-Phase Entry.

oocytes were used as cellular and molecular sentinels to assess the effects of a new class of organometallic compounds called ferrocenyl dihydroquinolines that have been developed as potential anti-cancer agents. One ferrocenyl dihydroquinoline compound exerted deleterious effects on oocyte survival after 48 h of incubation at 100 μM. Two ferrocenyl dihydroquinoline compounds had an inhibitory effect on the resumption of progesterone induced oocyte meiosis, compared to controls without ferrocenyl groups.

Hydrogen Sulfide Impairs Meiosis Resumption in Oocytes.

The role of hydrogen sulfide (HS) is addressed in oocytes. Three enzymes involved in HS metabolism, cystathionine β-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, were detected in prophase I and metaphase II-arrested oocytes and drove an acceleration of oocyte meiosis resumption when inhibited. Moreover, meiosis resumption is associated with a significant decrease in endogenous HS.

Nitric oxide donor s-nitroso-n-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) alters meiotic spindle morphogenesis in Xenopus oocytes.

Nitric Oxide (NO) has been involved in both intra- and extra-cellular signaling pathways in a wide range of organisms, and can be detected in some reproductive tissues. Based upon previous results reporting that NO-donor SNAP (s-nitroso-n-acetyl penicillamine) promoted the release from the metaphase II-anaphase II block in amphibian eggs, the aim of the present study was to assess the influence of SNAP on the activation of the molecular mechanisms triggering meiotic resumption of Xenopus oocytes, analogous to G2/M transition of the cell cycle. A high concentration of SNAP (2.

Nitric oxide-donor SNAP induces Xenopus eggs activation.

Nitric oxide (NO) is identified as a signaling molecule involved in many cellular or physiological functions including meiotic maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mammalian oocytes. We observed that nitric oxide donor SNAP was potent to induce parthenogenetic activation in Xenopus eggs. NO-scavenger CPTIO impaired the effects of SNAP, providing evidence for the effects of the latter to be specific upon NO release.

Xp42(Mpk1) activation is not required for germinal vesicle breakdown but for Raf complete phosphorylation in insulin-stimulated Xenopus oocytes.

Fully grown G2-arrested Xenopus oocytes resume meiosis in vitro upon exposure to hormonal stimulation. Progesterone triggers oocyte meiosis resumption through a Ras-independent pathway that involves a p39Mos-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Insulin also triggers meiosis resumption through a tyrosine kinase receptor that activates a Ras-dependent pathway leading to the MAP kinases activation.