Mitochondrial DNA Deletions as Indicators of Oocyte Aging in Rats. (Biological Science Section).* Kirk, S.P., S. Meredith and J.R. Penrod. Division of Agriculture, Natural Science and Mathematics, Lincoln University. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DELETIONS AS INDICATORS OF OOCYTE oocyte /oo·cyte/ (-sit) the immature female reproductive cell prior to fertilization; derived from an oogonium. It is a primary o. prior to completion of the first maturation division, and a secondary o. AGING IN RATS. Ovarian follicular changes occur rapidly in the human female relative to the other organs of the body. This common change in function occurs in a dramatic fashion around the menopausal period. Not only does this result from an age-related phenomena, but evidence has shown oxygen accumulation in the mitochondria leads to mtDNA mutations that encourage cellular senescence senescence /se·nes·cence/ (se-nes´ens) the process of growing old, especially the condition resulting from the transitions and accumulations of the deleterious aging processes. se·nes·cence n. . In this experiment we are examining the effects of aging on rat oocyte mtDNA. Vaginal smears were conducted between 08:00 and 10:00 hours daily on Holtzman rats. Rats exhibiting a minimum of two normal length (4-5 days) estrus estrus Period in the sexual cycle of female mammals, except the higher primates, during which they are in heat (ready to accept a male for mating). Some animals (e.g., dogs) have only one heat during a breeding season; others (e.g. cycles were killed with [CO.sub.2] at proestrus pro·es·trus n. The period immediately before estrus in most female mammals, characterized by development of the endometrium and ovarian follicles. proestrus the period of heightened follicular activity preceding estrus. . Individual oocytes were removed from the ovaries and stored as either single or groups of oocytes. DNA was isolated from the oocytes and amplified using polymerase chain reaction polymerase chain reaction (pŏl`ĭmərās') (PCR), laboratory process in which a particular DNA segment from a mixture of DNA chains is rapidly replicated, producing a large, readily analyzed sample of a piece of DNA; the process is (PCR). Primers developed to amplify a region containing a common 5kb deletion were used to compare oocytes from young and old rats as well as oocyte mtDNA and brain mtDNA. In undamaged (young) mtDNA these primers amplify a segment of nucleic acid 5,294 base pairs (bp) in length, while in aged rat tissues it has been shown to generate a fragment only 460 bp in size. Supported by HAMP. |
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