Tropomodulin-3 is essential in asymmetric division during mouse oocyte maturation.

The dynamic polymerization and depolymerization of actin filaments is essential for various cellular processes such as cell migration, rotation, cytokinesis, and mammalian oocyte maturation. Tropomodulin 3 (Tmod3) binds to the slow-growing (pointed) ends of the actin filament, thereby protecting the filament from depolymerization. However, the roles of Tmod3 in mammalian oocyte maturation remain elusive.

Non-muscle tropomyosin (Tpm3) is crucial for asymmetric cell division and maintenance of cortical integrity in mouse oocytes.

Tropomyosins are actin-binding cytoskeletal proteins that play a pivotal role in regulating the function of actin filaments in muscle and non-muscle cells; however, the roles of non-muscle tropomyosins in mouse oocytes are unknown. This study investigated the expression and functions of non-muscle tropomyosin (Tpm3) during meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes. Tpm3 mRNA was detected at all developmental stages in mouse oocytes.

Actin-capping proteins play essential roles in the asymmetric division of maturing mouse oocytes.

Actin polymerization is essential for various stages of mammalian oocyte maturation, including spindle migration, actin cap formation, polar body extrusion and cytokinesis. The heterodimeric actin-capping protein is an essential element of the actin cytoskeleton. It binds to the fast-growing (barbed) ends of actin filaments and plays essential roles in various actin-mediated cellular processes.

Development of a method of vitrification, thawing, and transfer of mammalian blastocysts using a single closed cryo-straw.

Background: There are different methods for cryopreservation of mammalian embryos with variable degrees of success. These methods require specific vessels for embryo vitrification, thawing, and transfer.

Objective: Here, we report a simple and inexpensive way to vitrify, thaw and transfer mammalian blastocysts in one straw.

A specific inhibitor of CDK1, RO-3306, reversibly arrests meiosis during in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

CDK1 plays pivotal role in meiotic progression of oocytes from G2 to metaphase II (MII) stage. In this study, we investigated the possibility of utilizing a selective inhibitor of CDK1, RO-3306, as a novel agent for the synchronization of oocyte maturation. Two groups of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were treated with 10 μM RO-3306.

Vitrification of immature mouse oocytes by the modified-cut standard straw method.

The feasibility of using the modified-cut standard straw (M-CSS) method for the vitrification of immature mouse oocytes has been tested. The effects of different vitrification methods on oocyte survival, cytoskeletal organization, the distribution of cortical granules (CGs), and apoptosis have also been compared. Immature mouse oocytes were vitrified-thawed using electron microscope grid or M-CSS method, and cultured to meiosis II (MII) stage.