Naito K, Daen F P, Toyoda Y
Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Biol Reprod. 1992 Jul;47(1):43-7. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod47.1.43.
Histone H1 kinase (H1K) activity was assayed during meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes matured in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (KRB) or in porcine follicular fluid (pFF) in vitro. Oocytes matured in KRB displayed lower male pronucleus formation ability, delayed first polar body emission, and a higher spontaneous activation rate than oocytes matured in pFF. In oocytes matured in pFF, H1K activity was low at the germinal vesicle stage and increased about 8-fold at first and second metaphases, with a transient depression at first anaphase and telophase. The H1K activity at second metaphase in oocytes matured in KRB was significantly lower than that in oocytes matured in pFF. These results suggest that the maturation medium used influences the fluctuation pattern of H1K activity and the biological characteristics of porcine oocytes cultured in vitro.