HEPARAN SULFATE EXPRESSION IN MURINE OOCYTES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Buenos Aires

Jornada; XII Jornadas Multidisciplinarias de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2010

Sociedad Argentina de Biologia

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated the role ofHeparan sulfate (HS) as decondensing agent of human spermatozoain vitro and its presence in mature mouse oocytes. The aim ofthis study was to determine at what time in follicular developmentthe oocyte begins to express HS. Eight weeks old female CF1 micewere stimulated with PMSG and hCG (7.5 UI for both) to recovermature oocytes (MII) or with PMSG alone to retrieve immatureoocytes. MII were recovered from the oviduct and cumulus cellswere removed. Immature oocytes were recovered puncturing theovary. In both cases, zona pellucida was removed and oocytes werefixed and permeabilized with formaldehyde and Tween-20. Immunocytochemistrywas performed using anti-HS (monoclonal) as firstantibody, anti-mouse IgM as second and propidium iodide to labelDNA. Fluorescent label was observed both in MII and immatureoocytes. Results demonstrate that HS is already present at earlystages of follicular development.