John J. Eppig

Bio: John J. Eppig is an academic researcher from Novo Nordisk. The author has contributed to research in topics: Oocyte & Germinal vesicle. The author has an hindex of 80, co-authored 173 publications receiving 22164 citations.

Development in vitro of mouse oocytes from primordial follicles.

Abstract: The objective of these studies was to achieve complete oocyte development in vitro beginning with the oocytes in the primordial follicles of newborn mouse ovaries. A two-step strategy was developed: first the ovaries of newborn mice were grown in organ culture for 8 days, and then the developing oocyte-granulosa cell complexes were isolated from the organ-cultured ovaries and cultured for an additional 14 days. The oocytes of primordial follicles are approximately 4190 microns3 in volume (20 microns in diameter), and this volume increased by approximately 53,810 microns3 to a final size of 58,000 microns3--a 13.8-fold increase--during the 8 days of organ culture. In the first experiment the oocyte-granulosa cell complexes were grown in control medium or in medium supplemented with FSH (0.5 ng/ml), epidermal growth factor (EGF; 1.0 ng/ml), or EGF plus FSH. Only 50-60% of the complexes cultured in control medium or in medium supplemented with FSH were recovered at the end of the 14-day culture period. In contrast, more than 90% of the complexes cultured in medium supplemented with EGF were recovered. The median size of the oocytes grown in control medium was 176,800 microns3 (69-microns diameter), while the median size of those grown in medium supplemented with EGF was slightly smaller (136,400-microns3 volume; 63-microns diameter), due to the survival of more smaller-size oocytes in EGF-containing medium. Thirty percent of the oocytes recovered after development in FSH-containing medium were competent to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB). In the second set of experiments, oocyte-granulosa cell complexes isolated from organ-cultured ovaries were cultured in medium supplemented with either 0.5 or 5.0 ng/ml FSH or with these same concentrations of FSH plus 1.0 ng/ml EGF. Again, increased oocyte recovery was observed in the groups cultured with EGF. There was no difference among the groups in the percentage of the oocytes that acquired competence to undergo GVB (32%) or in the percentage of GVB oocytes that produced a polar body, thus indicating progression of meiosis to metaphase II (22%). When the mature oocytes were inseminated, 21% underwent fertilization and cleavage to the 2-cell stage in the groups without EGF during oocyte development, while 42% underwent fertilization and cleavage to the 2-cell stage in the groups cultured with EGF. Less than 2% of the 2-cell-stage embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in any of the groups. One hundred and ninety 2-cell-stage embryos were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant females; two females produced one pup each; one was living and the other had apparently died recently. The results reported here clearly show that complete development of oocytes in vitro from the primordial follicle stage is possible and establish the framework for further studies using oocytes from laboratory animals as model systems for the development of oocytes from humans as well as from animals of agricultural and zoological importance.

Intercellular Communication in the Mammalian Ovary: Oocytes Carry the Conversation

Abstract: The production of functional female gametes is essential for the propagation of all vertebrate species. The growth of oocytes within ovarian follicles and their development to mature eggs have fascinated biologists for centuries, and scientists have long realized the importance of the ovarian follicle's somatic cells in nurturing oogenesis and delivering the oocyte to the oviduct by ovulation. Recent studies have revealed key roles of the oocyte in folliculogenesis and established that bidirectional communication between the oocyte and companion somatic cells is essential for development of an egg competent to undergo fertilization and embryogenesis. The challenge for the future is to identify the factors that participate in this communication and their mechanisms of action.

Capacity of mouse oocytes from preantral follicles to undergo embryogenesis and development to live young after growth, maturation, and fertilization in vitro.

Abstract: A system is described here by which live mice can be produced from oocytes isolated from 12-day-old mice, be grown, matured, andfer:ilized in vitro, and then be transferred to pseudopregnantfensales. These oocytes were, at the time of isolation from preantralfollicles, in about mid-growth phase and incompetent of undergoing germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) without further development. The developmental competence of mouse oocytes that grew and underwent maturation in vitro was compared to oocytes that grew in vivo and underwent maturation in vitro. After isolation from mice 16 through 28 days old, oocytes were found to increase in size and to sequentially acquire the ability to undergo GVB, produce a polar body, cleave to the 2-cell stage after insemination, and develop to the blo_stocyst stage. Moreover, the nwnber of cells per blastocyst increased with the age of the mice from which the immature oocytes were isolated. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes isolated from 12-day-old mice were cultured for 10 days. A: the end of the culture period, the oocytes had grown to a size equivalent to oocytes isolated from 16-day-old mice, and 87% of the in-vitro-grown (IVG) oocytes underwent GVB; 79% of these produced a clearly visible polar body when maturation occurred in the presence offollicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The PIG oocytes cleaved to the 2-cell stage after insemination in vitro with a frequency equivalent to superovulated ova and ova that matured in vitro after isolation from 22-day-old mice. Twenty-four percent of the 2-cell embryos den ved from PIG oocytes developed to the expanded blastocyst stage. This frequency was equivalent to thai by 2-cell embryos derived from oocytes isolated from 18-day-old mice. The blastocysts derived from PIG oocytes contained the same number of cells as the blastocysts derived from oocy:es isolated from 18- and 20-day-old mice. Live young were produced by the transfer of 2- or 4-cell embryos derived from PIG oocytes, but ata lowfrequency (5.1%). These results demonstrate for the first time that oocytesfrompreantralfollicles of mice can complete growth and acquire full developmental competence in vitro so that live young can be produced after maturation and fertilization in vitro and transfer to foster mothers.

A Revised Protocol for In Vitro Development of Mouse Oocytes from Primordial Follicles Dramatically Improves Their Developmental Competence

Abstract: The objective of this study was to improve the conditions for oocyte development in vitro beginning with the primordial follicles of newborn mice. Previous studies showed that oocytes competent of meiotic maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation could develop in vitro from primordial follicles. However, the success rates were low and only one live offspring was produced (0.5% of embryos transferred). A revised protocol was compared with the original protocol using oocyte maturation and preimplantation development as end points. The percentage of oocytes maturing to metaphase II and developing to the blastocyst stage was significantly improved using the revised protocol. In addition, we compared the production of offspring from two-cell stage embryos derived from in vitro-grown and in vivo-grown oocytes. Of 1160 transferred two-cell stage embryos derived from in vitro-grown oocytes, 66 (5.7%) developed to term and 7 pups (10.6%) died at birth. The remaining 59 pups (27 females, 32 males) survived to adulthood. By comparison, of 437 transferred two-cell stage embryos derived from in vivo-grown oocytes, 76 (17.4%) developed to term and 4 (5.3%) died at birth. The remaining 72 pups (35 females, 37 males) survived to adulthood. These studies provide proof of the principle that fully competent mammalian oocytes can develop in vitro from primordial follicles and present a significant advance in oocyte culture technology.

Interactions between somatic cells and germ cells throughout mammalian oogenesis.

Abstract: Oocytes and their companion somatic cells maintain a close association throughout oogenesis and this association is essential for normal oocyte and follicular development. This review summarizes current concepts of the role of the somatic cells in the regulation of mammalian oocyte growth, the maintenance of meiotic arrest, the induction of oocyte maturation, and the acquisition of full embryonic developmental competence during oocyte maturation in vitro. Gap junctions appear to mediate these regulatory processes. The regulatory interaction of oocytes and somatic cells, however, is not unidirectional; the oocyte participates in the proliferation, development, and function of the follicular somatic cells. The oocyte secretes factors that enable the cumulus cells to synthesize hyaluronic acid and undergo cumulus expansion in response to hormonal stimulation. In addition, the oocyte produces factors that promote the proliferation of granulosa cells. These interactions in vitro do not appear to require the mediation of gap junctions. The oocyte also promotes the differentiation of granulosa cells into functional cumulus cells, but this function of the oocyte appears to require the continued presence and close association of the oocyte and granulosa cells. Therefore, oocytes and follicular somatic cells are interdependent for development and function.

Full-term development of mice from enucleated oocytes injected with cumulus cell nuclei

Abstract: Until recently, fertilization was the only way to produce viable mammalian offspring, a process implicitly involving male and female gametes. However, techniques involving fusion of embryonic or fetal somatic cells with enucleated oocytes have become steadily more successful in generating cloned young. Dolly the sheep was produced by electrofusion of sheep mammary-derived cells with enucleated sheep oocytes. Here we investigate the factors governing embryonic development by introducing nuclei from somatic cells (Sertoli, neuronal and cumulus cells) taken from adult mice into enucleated mouse oocytes. We found that some enucleated oocytes receiving Sertoli or neuronal nuclei developed in vitro and implanted following transfer, but none developed beyond 8.5 days post coitum; however, a high percentage of enucleated oocytes receiving cumulus nuclei developed in vitro. Once transferred, many of these embryos implanted and, although most were subsequently resorbed, a significant proportion (2 to 2.8%) developed to term. These experiments show that for mammals, nuclei from terminally differentiated, adult somatic cells of known phenotype introduced into enucleated oocytes are capable of supporting full development.

The Biology of Chromatin Remodeling Complexes

Abstract: The packaging of chromosomal DNA by nucleosomes condenses and organizes the genome, but occludes many regulatory DNA elements. However, this constraint also allows nucleosomes and other chromatin components to actively participate in the regulation of transcription, chromosome segregation, DNA replication, and DNA repair. To enable dynamic access to packaged DNA and to tailor nucleosome composition in chromosomal regions, cells have evolved a set of specialized chromatin remodeling complexes (remodelers). Remodelers use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move, destabilize, eject, or restructure nucleosomes. Here, we address many aspects of remodeler biology: their targeting, mechanism, regulation, shared and unique properties, and specialization for particular biological processes. We also address roles for remodelers in development, cancer, and human syndromes.

Driver mutations in histone H3.3 and chromatin remodelling genes in paediatric glioblastoma

Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal brain tumour in adults and children. However, DNA copy number and gene expression signatures indicate differences between adult and paediatric cases. To explore the genetic events underlying this distinction, we sequenced the exomes of 48 paediatric GBM samples. Somatic mutations in the H3.3-ATRX-DAXX chromatin remodelling pathway were identified in 44% of tumours (21/48). Recurrent mutations in H3F3A, which encodes the replication-independent histone 3 variant H3.3, were observed in 31% of tumours, and led to amino acid substitutions at two critical positions within the histone tail (K27M, G34R/G34V) involved in key regulatory post-translational modifications. Mutations in ATRX (α-thalassaemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked) and DAXX (death-domain associated protein), encoding two subunits of a chromatin remodelling complex required for H3.3 incorporation at pericentric heterochromatin and telomeres, were identified in 31% of samples overall, and in 100% of tumours harbouring a G34R or G34V H3.3 mutation. Somatic TP53 mutations were identified in 54% of all cases, and in 86% of samples with H3F3A and/or ATRX mutations. Screening of a large cohort of gliomas of various grades and histologies (n = 784) showed H3F3A mutations to be specific to GBM and highly prevalent in children and young adults. Furthermore, the presence of H3F3A/ATRX-DAXX/TP53 mutations was strongly associated with alternative lengthening of telomeres and specific gene expression profiles. This is, to our knowledge, the first report to highlight recurrent mutations in a regulatory histone in humans, and our data suggest that defects of the chromatin architecture underlie paediatric and young adult GBM pathogenesis.

Physiological concentrations of purines and pyrimidines.

Abstract: The concentrations of bases, nucleosides, and nucleosides mono-, di- and tri-phosphate are compared for about 600 published values. The data are predominantly from mammalian cells and fluids. For the most important ribonucleotides average concentrations ±SD (μM) are: ATP, 3,152±1,698; GTP, 468±224; UTP, 567±460 and CTP, 278±242. For deoxynucleosidestriphosphate (dNTP), the concentrations in dividing cells are: dATP, 24±22; dGTP, 5.2±4.5; dCTP, 29±19 and dTTP 37±30. By comparison, dUTP is usually about 0.2 μM. For, the 4 dNTPs, tumor cells have concentrations of 6–11 fold over normal cells, and for the 4 NTPs, tumor cells also have concentrations 1.2–5 fold over the normal cells. By comparison, the concentrations of NTPs are significantly lower in various types of blood cells. The average concentration of bases and nucleosides in plasma and other extracellular fluids is generally in the range of 0.4–6 μM; these values are usually lower than corresponding intracellular concentrations. For phosphate compounds, average cellular concentrations are: Pi, 4400; ribose-1-P, 55; ribose-5-P, 70 and P-ribose-PP, 9.0. The metal ion magnesium, important for coordinating phosphates in nucleotides, has values (mM) of: free Mg2+, 1.1; complexed-Mg, 8.0. Consideration of experiments on the intracellular compartmentation of nucleotides shows support for this process between the cytoplasm and mitochondria, but not between the cytoplasm and the nucleus.