Effects of FGF2, FGF10 and BMP15 on nuclear maturation of bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation

• Grant number: 13/00861-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: José Buratini Junior
• Grantee: Fernanda Fagali Franchi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The communication between the oocyte and surrounding somatic cells is essential for the differentiation of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). Oocyte secreted factors (OSFs), including fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15), are important mediators in the communication between the oocyte and cumulus cells. FGF10 is expressed in the oocyte and its receptors in bovine cumulus cells, suggesting its involvement in the differentiation of cumulus cells. The preovulatory surge of LH stimulates the expression of FGF2 in bovine cumulus cells, which receptors are expressed in granulosa, theca and cumulus cells, suggesting paracrine and autocrine actions in antral follicles and COC. In bovine follicles, BMP-15 is expressed exclusively in oocytes and regulates various aspects of the differentiation of cumulus cells. In mice, BMP15 and FGF8 interact to control cumulus metabolism and nuclear maturation. This project aims to assess the effects of FGF10, FGF2, BMP-15 and the interaction of these FGFs with BMP15 on meiosis progression during in vitro maturation of bovine COCs. (AU)