Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 10, 947-955,
October 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Ovary and oogenesis |
Characterization of telomerase activity in the human oocyte and preimplantation embryo*
1 Technology Development Center and 2 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Abstract
Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, has been described as an essential component of highly proliferative cells as it stabilizes the telomeres and avoids cellular senescence. The objective of this study was to modify the polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol to detect telomerase activity in the single cell and to characterize the activity expressed in the human oocyte through to the blastocyst stage embryo. A comparative evaluation of telomerase activity and developmental stage was conducted using discarded or donated human oocytes and embryos. Telomerase activity was detected in all developmental stages evaluated from immature oocytes through to blastocyst stage embryos. Immature oocytes and blastocysts had similar levels of telomerase activity; however, both groups had significantly (P < 0.05) higher activity than zygote through to pre-morula stage embryos. Seventy-five thawed zygotes were cultured to day 3, biopsied by removing 1–2 cells, and the biopsied embryos were cultured to blastocyst stage. There was no difference (P < 0.05) in telomerase activity between cells biopsied from embryos that reached the blastocyst stage and cells from those that arrested in growth. This study has shown that human oocytes through to blastocyst stage embryos express telomerase activity, but that the level of telomerase activity in biopsied blastomeres, of the day 3 cleavage stage embryo, is not predictive of embryonic growth potential.
embryo/human/oocyte/telomerase/TRAP
Notes
* Presented at the meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, San Diego, California, USA, 2000.
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Vincent Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Service, In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street – VBK 225, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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