Dual effects of hydrogen sulfide donor on meiosis and cumulus expansion of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 1;9(7):e99613. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099613. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been revealed to be a signal molecule with second messenger action in the somatic cells of many tissues, including the reproductive tract. The aim of this study was to address how exogenous H2S acts on the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes, including key maturation factors such as MPF and MAPK, and cumulus expansion intensity of cumulus-oocyte complexes. We observed that the H2S donor, Na2S, accelerated oocyte in vitro maturation in a dose-dependent manner, following an increase of MPF activity around germinal vesicle breakdown. Concurrently, the H2S donor affected cumulus expansion, monitored by hyaluronic acid production. Our results suggest that the H2S donor influences oocyte maturation and thus also participates in the regulation of cumulus expansion. The exogenous H2S donor apparently affects key signal pathways of oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion, resulting in faster oocyte maturation with little need of cumulus expansion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cumulus Cells / cytology
  • Cumulus Cells / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gasotransmitters / pharmacology*
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / pharmacology*
  • Maturation-Promoting Factor / metabolism
  • Meiosis / drug effects*
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Sulfides / pharmacology*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Gasotransmitters
  • Sulfides
  • Maturation-Promoting Factor
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • sodium sulfide
  • Hydrogen Sulfide

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Agency of Agriculture Sciences (NAZV QI 101A166), the Czech ministry of Agriculture (MZeRO 0714) and the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (CIGA 20122038, CIGA 20122034, CIGA 20132035). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.