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Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 6, 1221-1228, June 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing abilities of mouse round/elongated spermatids and the developmental capacities of embryos from spermatid injection

Hiroyuki Yazawa1, Kaoru Yanagida and Akira Sato

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

To investigate differences in fertilization mechanisms and the potential clinical use of round/elongated spermatid, we conducted detailed studies of oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing abilities in these immature sperm cells and compared these abilities against those of mature spermatozoa. When round spermatids from B6D2F1 mice were injected, none of the oocytes was activated and no intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) increases were observed. Elongated spermatids could induce activation normally in 87% of injected oocytes, but Ca2+ oscillation could not be induced at all and most of the oocytes (94%) exhibited only several transient [Ca2+]i rises (transient patterns). Because normal offspring could be obtained when embryos through elongated spermatid injection were transferred to foster mothers, it seems that a normal oscillation pattern of [Ca2+]i is not essential for normal fertilization and embryo development. [Ca2+]i patterns of injected oocytes changed from transient patterns to oscillation patterns while the injected immature sperm cells were maturing to spermatozoa. Dissociations were seen between the timing of appearance of oocyte activation and that of Ca2+ oscillation-inducing abilities in maturing sperm cells. These dissociations may be due to differences in the thresholds to oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing factor for inducing oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation.

Key words: calcium oscillation/embryo development/intracytoplasmic spermatid injection/mouse/oocyte activation

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: h-yazawa{at}fmu.ac.jp


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