Expression of α6 integrin subunit in bovine oocyte and its potential role during fertilization

Roseli Fernandes Gonçalves, Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla, Cássia Maria Barroso Orlandi, Valquiria Hyppolito Barnabe

Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, S?o Paulo University, S?o Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, S?o Paulo Federal University, S?o Paulo, Brazil.
Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology, College of Veterinary Medicine, S?o Paulo State University, Ara?atuba, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/abb.2013.45081                

Abstract

Fertilization in mammals requires the successful completion of a sequence of steps, starting with the transport of gametes in the reproductive tract and ending with sperm-egg membrane fusion to produce a zygote. Although some integrin subunits are known to be associated with the plasma membrane of some mammalian oocytes and spermatozoa, the presence of α₆ integrin on bovine oocytes with intact zona pellucida has not been reported. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of α₆ integrin subunit in bovine oocyte and to determine if in vitro binding to the zona pellucida and fertilization were affected by treating oocytes with α₆ integrin subunit antibody. The α₆ integrin subunit was identified on the bovine oocyte by immunocytochemistry. In vitro fertilization was significantly decreased when in vitro matured bovine oocytes were pre-incubated with α₆ integrin subunit antibody at concentration 5 and 20 μg/mL, and spermoocyte binding increased. These studies demonstrated the presence of α₆ integrin subunit on bovine oocyte, and its importance in fertilization and polyspermy.

Keywords

Integrins; Bovine Oocytes; Fertilization; Sperm-Oocyte Binding

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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