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Effects of delayed excision of oviducts/ovaries on mouse oocytes and embryos
De-Qiang Miao1, Suo-Feng Ma, Xin-Yong Liu
1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, PR China.
Abstract:
To achieve the best and reproducible results of experiments, effects of delayed excision of oviducts/ovaries on mouse ovarian/ovulated oocytes and embryos have been studied. Oviducts/ovaries were excised at different times after death of mice and effects of the postmortem interval on ovarian/ovulated oocytes and embryos were analyzed. When oviduct excision was delayed 10 min, many ovulated oocytes lysed or underwent in vitro spontaneous activation, and this postmortem effect aggravated with the extension of postmortem interval and oocyte aging. Oocytes from different mouse strains responded differently to delayed oviduct removal. Delayed oviduct excision did not cause lysis of zygotes or embryos but compromised their developmental potential. When ovaries were excised at 30 min after death, percentages of atretic follicles increased while blastocyst cell number declined significantly after oocyte maturation in vitro. Preservation of oviducts in vitro, in intact or opened abdomen at different temperatures and histological analysis of oviducts from different treatments suggested that toxic substance(s) were secreted from the dying oviducts which induced oocyte lysis and spontaneous activation and both this effect itself and the sensitivity of oocytes to this effect was temperature dependent. It is concluded that a short delay of oviduct/ovary removal had marked detrimental effects on oocytes and embryos. This must be taken into account in experiments using oocytes or embryos from slaughtered animals. The data may also be important for estimation of the time of death in forensic medicine and for rescue of oocytes from deceased valuable or endangered mammals.
Insights
Delayed removal of mouse oviducts/ovaries after death harms oocytes and embryos. This postmortem interval impacts experimental reproducibility and has implications for forensic science and mammalian oocyte rescue.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Postmortem Interval Studies
Background:
- Reproducible experimental results are crucial in biological research.
- Understanding the impact of postmortem intervals on gametes and embryos is essential for accurate data collection.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the specific effects of delayed excision on mouse oocytes and embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detrimental effects of delayed oviduct/ovary excision on mouse oocytes and embryos.
- To analyze the influence of postmortem interval on oocyte quality and embryonic development.
- To identify the mechanisms behind oocyte damage and activation following death.
Main Methods:
- Oviducts/ovaries were excised at varying times postmortem in mice.
- Ovarian/ovulated oocytes and embryos were analyzed for viability, activation, and developmental potential.
- In vitro preservation of oviducts at different temperatures was performed.
- Histological analysis of oviducts was conducted.
Main Results:
- Delayed oviduct excision (≥10 min) led to oocyte lysis and in vitro spontaneous activation, worsening with extended postmortem intervals.
- Mouse oocyte strain influenced sensitivity to delayed oviduct removal.
- Delayed excision did not lyse zygotes/embryos but reduced their developmental potential.
- Delayed ovary excision (≥30 min) increased atretic follicles and decreased blastocyst cell number.
- Toxic substances secreted from dying oviducts, influenced by temperature, induced oocyte damage.
Conclusions:
- Even short delays in oviduct/ovary removal significantly harm oocytes and embryos.
- These findings necessitate careful consideration in experiments using gametes from slaughtered animals.
- The data may aid in forensic estimations of death time and in rescuing oocytes from deceased mammals.
