Ultrastructural Characterization of Porcine Growing and In Vitro Matured Oocytes
Michel Kere,
Pan-Chen Liu,
Yuh-Kun Chen,
Pei-Chi Chao,
Li-Kuang Tsai,
Ting-Yu Yeh,
Chawalit Siriboon,
Payungsuk Intawicha,
Neng-Wen Lo,
Hsing-I Chiang,
Yang-Kwang Fan,
Jyh-Cherng Ju
Affiliations
Michel Kere
Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Pan-Chen Liu
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Yuh-Kun Chen
Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Pei-Chi Chao
Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Li-Kuang Tsai
Bachelor Program of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, No. 250, Kuokuang Rd., Taichung 402, Taiwan
Ting-Yu Yeh
Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Chawalit Siriboon
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Payungsuk Intawicha
Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao, 19 Moo 2 Tambon Maeka Amphur Muang Phayao 56000, Thailand
Neng-Wen Lo
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Tunghai University, 181 Sec. 3 Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan
Hsing-I Chiang
Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Yang-Kwang Fan
Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Jyh-Cherng Ju
Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
This study aimed to investigate ultrastructural changes of growing porcine oocytes and in vitro maturated oocytes. Light microscopy was used to characterize and localize the primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles. During oocyte growth and maturation, the morphology of mitochondria was roundish or ovoid in shape depending on the differentiation state, whereas their mean diameters oscillated between 0.5 and 0.7 µm, respectively, from primary and secondary follicles. Hooded mitochondria were found in the growing oocytes of the tertiary follicles. In addition to the pleomorphism of mitochondria, changes in the appearance of lipid droplets were also observed, along with the alignment of a single layer of cortical granules beneath the oolemma. In conclusion, our study is apparently the first report to portray morphological alterations of mitochondria that possess the hooded structure during the growth phase of porcine oocytes. The spatiotemporal and intrinsic changes during oogenesis/folliculogenesis are phenomena at the ultrastructural or subcellular level of porcine oocytes, highlighting an in-depth understanding of oocyte biology and impetus for future studies on practical mitochondrion replacement therapies for oocytes.