Mechanical Characterization of Murine Oocytes by Atomic Force Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Reproductive Science

Background:

• Oocyte quality, essential for fertilization and development to the blastocyst stage, is linked to mechanical properties.
• Traditional methods like micropipette aspiration offer insights into oocyte cortical tension but are low-throughput and induce significant cell deformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a detailed protocol for characterizing oocyte mechanical properties using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
• To establish AFM as a minimally invasive, high-throughput alternative for measuring oocyte cortical tension.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) for precise, local measurements of oocyte mechanical properties.
• Employed electron microscopy grids to immobilize oocytes, ensuring reproducible measurements.
• Measured cortical tension in murine oocytes during meiotic divisions.

Main Results:

• AFM provided minimally invasive characterization of oocyte mechanical properties.
• The protocol demonstrated high throughput and reproducibility.
• AFM-derived cortical tension values were consistent with those obtained via micropipette aspiration.

Conclusions:

• The developed AFM protocol offers a robust method for assessing oocyte biophysical properties.
• This technique is valuable for fundamental research and medical applications involving oocytes and other large, nonadherent cells.