# OOCYTE MATURATION--VITAL STAIN-VIDEO MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1994 · $146,724

## Abstract

Oogenesis culminates in the production of viable and developmentally
competent ova as a result of an intricate series of metabolic changes in
the cumulus-oocyte complex induced by hormones at ovulation.
Disturbances in oocyte maturation lead to reproductive failure, manifest
as infertility, spontaneous abortion, or birth defects, when errors in
chromosome segregation occur during meiosis or when the hormonal
requirements for the maturation process are not met.  This proposal seeks
to define important physiological aspects of oocyte maturation in mammals
with respect to protein metabolism, meiotic cell cycle control and
somatic cell-gamete interactions using a multidisciplinary approach.  The
major aims are:

(1)  To establish how changes in protein metabolism are regulated during
     meiotic maturation in the mouse oocyte.  Translational, and post-
     translational metabolic processes will be evaluated with respect to
     meiotic competence acquisition and meiotic resumption/completion.
     The role of the cytoskeleton in mRNA processing will be analyzed by
     a combination of biochemical, morphological and micromanipulation
     procedures.

(2)  To determine how components of Maturation-Promoting Factor (MPF)
     mediate meiotic cell cycle progression.  The role of centrosomes in
     activation of the M-phase kinase, localization of p34cdc2/cyclins
     and morphogenesis of the meiotic spindle will be analyzed using
     fluorescence digital imaging microscopy and biochemical techniques.

(3)  To define the physiological basis for information transfer between
     follicle cells and oocytes.  Compositional and functional
     parameters of junctional contact sites will be analyzed in mouse
     and cow oocytes during meiotic maturation using vital stain video,
     fluorescence ratio and confocal imaging light microscopic methods.

Information obtained from these studies will help to understand the
causes of infertility in women, provide new avenues for improving
assisted reproductive technologies, and open new directions for the study
of environmentally-based determinants of reproductive failure in mammals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197956
- **Project number:** 5R01HD020068-10
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID F ALBERTINI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $146,724
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1998-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197956

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197956, OOCYTE MATURATION--VITAL STAIN-VIDEO MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS (5R01HD020068-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197956. Licensed CC0.

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