Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
09:53
Studying Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Drosophila Ovaries
Published on: January 4, 2017
25.0K
Dynamic changes in mitochondrial distribution in human oocytes during meiotic maturation.
Yuki Takahashi1, Shu Hashimoto2, Takayuki Yamochi1
1IVF Namba Clinic, 1-17-28 Minamihorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka, 550-0015, Japan.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|April 28, 2016
Summary
Mitochondria distribution in human oocytes changes dynamically during meiotic maturation, concentrating near the nucleus before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and spreading throughout the cytoplasm at GVBD. This process is cytoskeleton-dependent.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Reproductive Biology
- Mitochondrial Dynamics
Background:
- Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy production and function.
- Understanding mitochondrial distribution is vital for assessing oocyte quality and reproductive potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in mitochondrial distribution within human oocytes during meiotic maturation.
- To assess the role of cytoskeleton in regulating mitochondrial localization.
Main Methods:
- Live cell imaging of fluorescence-labeled mitochondria in human oocytes.
- Confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed.
- Oocytes were treated with tubulin and actin inhibitors (colchicine and cytochalasin B) to assess cytoskeleton involvement.
Main Results:
- Mitochondrial cytoplasmic area decreased transiently before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and increased significantly at GVBD.
- Mitochondria accumulated near the nucleus before GVBD and distributed homogeneously after GVBD.
- Changes in mitochondrial distribution were influenced by colchicine and cytochalasin B, indicating cytoskeleton dependence.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial distribution in human oocytes undergoes significant, dynamic changes during meiotic maturation.
- Cytoskeleton-dependent mechanisms regulate mitochondrial localization, impacting oocyte quality.
- These findings contribute to understanding human oocyte developmental competence.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
73.7K
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
73.7K
01:45Mitochondrial Membranes
17.7K
A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
17.7K
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
10.0K
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
10.0K
02:02Meiosis II
51.5K
Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
51.5K
02:07Oogenesis
71.1K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
71.1K
01:36What is Meiosis?
261.4K
Meiosis is the process by which diploid cells divide to produce haploid daughter cells. In humans, each diploid cell contains 46 chromosomes, half from the mother and half from the father. Following meiosis, the resulting haploid eggs or sperm only contain 23 chromosomes; however, each of these chromosomes contains a unique combination of parental information that results from the meiotic process of crossing over.
261.4K