The germinal vesicle of the mouse oocyte contains elements of the phosphoinositide cycle: what is their role at meiosis resumption?

The role of the nuclear phosphoinositide (PI) cycle during meiotic resumption in mouse oocytes was examined. First, using indirect immunofluorescence staining with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against elements of this cycle, the presence of inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) (IP3R-1 or IP3R-3) or phosphoinositide-phospholipase (PLC) isoforms (PLC beta 1 or PLC gamma 1) was monitored in the germinal vesicle (GV). Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we analysed the effects of the nuclear microinjection of these antibodies on both spontaneous nuclear calcium oscillations and meiosis resumption. Immunostainings showed that IP3R-1 and PLC beta 1 isoforms were both present in the GV, whereas IP3R-3 and PLC gamma 1 isoforms were not. The anti-IP3R-1 mAbs or the anti-PLC beta 1 mAbs microinjected into the GV, induced inhibition of both the nuclear Ca2+ oscillations and the meiotic process, whereas the anti-IP3R-3 mAbs and the anti-PLC gamma 1 mAbs did not. We concluded that a specific nuclear PI cycle is present in the mouse oocyte and meiosis resumption requires a specific nuclear phosphoinositide-dependent Ca2+ signal.