This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tesarík, J. Articles by Mandelbaum, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tesarík, J. Articles by Mandelbaum, J.

Activation of nucleolar and extranucleolar RNA synthesis and changes in the ribosomal content of human embryos developing in vitro

J. Tesaík, V. Kopen, M. Plachot and J. Mandelbaum

Summary. RNA synthetic activity of human 2–16-cell embryos developing in vitro was studied by [³H]uridine light-microscope autoradiography. Parallelly cut thin sections were examined in the electron microscope. The first extranucleolar RNA synthesis was detected in 4-cell embryos, but nucleoli were never labelled until the 3rd cleavage (6–8-cell embryos). In 6-cell embryos the nucleolar labelling was mostly confined to a narrow peripheral zone. In later cleavage stages most of the blastomeres showed intensive labelling of nucleoli and extranucleolar chromatin. However, rather low levels of extranucleolar RNA synthesis and the absence of nucleolar activity were often seen even in blastomeres of fully compacted morulae. The activation of nucleolar RNA synthesis entailed a noticeable increase in the number of ribosomes (estimated by electron microscope morphometry) that followed a marked drop during the period between the 2-cell and 8-cell stages. The results indicate that the concentration of ribosomes in the preovulatory oocyte is a major factor of its developmental potential.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Said, A. Agarwal, S. Grunewald, M. Rasch, T. Baumann, C. Kriegel, L. Li, H.-J. Glander, A. J. Thomas Jr., and U. Paasch Selection of Nonapoptotic Spermatozoa As a New Tool for Enhancing Assisted Reproduction Outcomes: An In Vitro Model Biol Reprod, March 1, 2006; 74(3): 530 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Wells, M.G. Bermudez, N. Steuerwald, A.R. Thornhill, D.L. Walker, H. Malter, J.D.A. Delhanty, and J. Cohen Expression of genes regulating chromosome segregation, the cell cycle and apoptosis during human preimplantation development Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2005; 20(5): 1339 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Cauffman, H. Van de Velde, I. Liebaers, and A. Van Steirteghem Oct-4 mRNA and protein expression during human preimplantation development Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2005; 11(3): 173 - 181. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Noci, B. Fuzzi, R. Rizzo, L. Melchiorri, L. Criscuoli, S. Dabizzi, R. Biagiotti, S. Pellegrini, A. Menicucci, and O.R. Baricordi Embryonic soluble HLA-G as a marker of developmental potential in embryos Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 138 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Tesarik, E. Greco, and C. Mendoza Late, but not early, paternal effect on human embryo development is related to sperm DNA fragmentation Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2004; 19(3): 611 - 615. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. Los, D. Van Opstal, and C. van den Berg The development of cytogenetically normal, abnormal and mosaic embryos: a theoretical model Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2004; 10(1): 79 - 94. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-C. Huang, W.-S.A. Wun, J.S. Goldsby, I.C. Wun, S.M. Falconi, and K.K. Wu Prostacyclin enhances embryo hatching but not sperm motility Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2003; 18(12): 2582 - 2589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.D. Schramm, A. M. Paprocki, and C. A. VandeVoort Causes of developmental failure of in-vitro matured rhesus monkey oocytes: impairments in embryonic genome activation Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2003; 18(4): 826 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Martinez, L. Rienzi, M. Iacobelli, F. Ubaldi, C. Mendoza, E. Greco, and J. Tesarik Caspase activity in preimplantation human embryos is not associated with apoptosis Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1584 - 1590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Tesarik, C. Mendoza, and E. Greco Paternal effects acting during the first cell cycle of human preimplantation development after ICSI Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2002; 17(1): 184 - 189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hansis, Y. Tang, J. A. Grifo, and L. C. Krey Analysis of Oct-4 expression and ploidy in individual human blastomeres Mol. Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2001; 7(2): 155 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Steuerwald, J. Cohen, R. J. Herrera, and C. A. Brenner Analysis of gene expression in single oocytes and embryos by real-time rapid cycle fluorescence monitored RT-PCR Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 1999; 5(11): 1034 - 1039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.D. Schramm and B.D. Bavister A macaque model for studying mechanisms controlling oocyte development and maturation in human and non-human primates Hum. Reprod., October 1, 1999; 14(10): 2544 - 2555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Schramm and B. D. Bavister Onset of Nucleolar and Extranucleolar Transcription and Expression of Fibrillarin in Macaque Embryos Developing In Vitro Biol Reprod, March 1, 1999; 60(3): 721 - 728. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. S. Krüssel, H.-Y. Huang, C. Simón, B. Behr, A. R. Pape, Y. Wen, P. Bielfeld, and M. L. Polan Single Blastomeres within Human Preimplantation Embryos Express Different Amounts of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid for {beta}-Actin and Interleukin-1 Receptor Type I J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1998; 83(3): 953 - 959. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Chia, R. Winston, and A. Handyside EGF, TGF-alpha and EGFR expression in human preimplantation embryos Development, January 2, 1995; 121(2): 299 - 307. [Abstract] [PDF]