Characterization of cumulus expansion-inhibiting factor (CEIF) in goat follicles.

Studies suggest that oocyte cumulus expansion is regulated by both cumulus expansion-enabling factor (CEEF) and cumulus expansion-inhibiting factors (CEIF). Many reports on CEEF have appeared, but CEIF has rarely been studied. By cumulus expansion assays using mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and oocytectomized complexes, the present study demonstrated that whereas follicular fluid (FF) from medium (diameter, 2-4 mm) goat follicles contained both CEEF and CEIF activities, FF from large (diameter, 5-6 mm) abattoir or large (diameter, 5-7 mm) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated follicles contained neither.

Caffeine can be used for oocyte enucleation.

The removal of chromosomes from recipient oocytes is one of the key steps in nuclear transfer cloning. Although microtubule interrupters have been successfully used for oocyte enucleation, their potential side effect on oocyte developmental potential should be considered, and less harmful drugs should be explored for chemical-assisted enucleation. Based on our previous findings that any maturation promoting factor-activating agent induces ooplasmic protrusion without disrupting microtubules, we have studied the feasibility to use caffeine or MG132 for chemical-assisted enucleation.

Developmental and hormonal regulation of cumulus expansion and secretion of cumulus expansion-enabling factor (CEEF) in goat follicles.

The objective of this article was to study the developmental and hormonal regulation of cumulus expansion and secretion of cumulus expansion-enabling factor (CEEF) in goat follicles. M-199 medium was conditioned for 24 hr with cumulus-denuded oocytes (DOs), oocytectomized complexes (OOXs), or mural granulosa cells (MGCs) from goat follicles of different sizes. Mouse OOXs and eCG were added to culture drops of the conditioned medium and cumulus expansion was scored at 18 hr of culture to assess CEEF production.