Ooplasmectomy has no influence on FSH-induced expansion of bovine cumulus investment in vitro.

Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes with or without attached pieces of the mural stratum granulosum were matured with or without FSH in vitro for 24 h. Some complexes were ooplasmectomized (removal of ooplasm) at the onset of culture or after 9 h of culture, and in others the complete oocyte, including the zona pellucida, was removed. At the end of culture, the degree and morphology of corona and cumulus expansion were determined by a subjective scoring system, transmission electron microscopy followed by computerized image analysis, or scanning electron microscopy. In the absence of FSH no expansion was seen. In the presence of FSH, hyaluronidase-sensitive cumulus expansion was observed in intact complexes and complexes ooplasmectomized after 9 h of culture. In complexes ooplasmectomized at the start of culture, hyaluronidase-insensitive expansion of the corona compartment was seen as well. A similar reaction was found in free corona and cumulus cell masses cultured in the presence or absence of oocytes. Mural granulosa in intact and ooplasmectomized complexes expanded only slightly under the influence of FSH and exhibited no hyaluronidase sensitivity. Ooplasmectomy at the start of culture increased the frequency of ruffled cell membranes and decreased the occurrence of intercellular bridges as compared with unmanipulated complexes cultured under corresponding conditions. It is concluded that FSH-induced cumulus expansion and hyaluronidase-sensitive extracellular mucus production of bovine cumulus investment in vitro are not dependent on the oocyte, except for minor changes in the surface morphology of the cumulus cells.