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Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. suppl_2, pp. 189-198, 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Mitochondrial distribution and function in oocytes and early embryos

Barry D. Bavister1,2,4 and Jayne M. Squirrell1,3

1 Department of Animal Health & Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin USA

Correspondence: 4To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Freeport-McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center, 14001 River Road, New Orleans, LA 70131, USA. E-mail: bbavister{at}acres.org

Active mitochondria relocate during oocyte maturation or fertilization in several species. Detailed studies with hamster oocytes and early embryos reveal a pattern of active mitochondria migrating to surround the pronuclei to form a pattern that persists through the early cleavage stages. Although the functional significance of this relocation is unknown, it appears to be an important part of normal development in hamsters. Treatments that disrupt embryo development in vitro (such as the presence of inorganic phosphate or alteration of intracellular pH) also disrupt the normal pattern of mitochondrial distribution. Active mitochondria also reorganize during maturation in bovine oocytes and during fertilization in rhesus monkey oocytes. Examination of these changes in mitochondrial organization may provide insights into the regulation of normal embryo development and might serve as predictors of oocyte or embryo developmental competence.

Key words: embryo development/ion homeostasis/metabolism/mitochondria/oocyte maturation

2 Present address: Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Freeport-McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center, 14001 River Road, New Orleans, LA 70131, USA

3 Present address: Department of Molecular Biology, 1525 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI 53706, USA


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