Publication Date
2016
Journal or Book Title
Scientific Reports
Abstract
The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are a family of cationic ion channels widely distributed in mammalian tissues. In general, the global genetic disruption of individual TRP channels result in phenotypes associated with impairment of a particular tissue and/or organ function. An exception is the genetic ablation of the TRP channel TRPM7, which results in early embryonic lethality. Nevertheless, the function of TRPM7 in oocytes, eggs and pre-implantation embryos remains unknown. Here, we described an outward rectifying non-selective current mediated by a TRP ion channel in immature oocytes (germinal vesicle stage), matured oocytes (metaphase II eggs) and 2-cell stage embryos. The current is activated by specific agonists and inhibited by distinct blockers consistent with the functional expression of TRPM7 channels. We demonstrated that the TRPM7-like channels are homo-tetramers and their activation mediates calcium influx in oocytes and eggs, which is fundamental to support fertilization and egg activation. Lastly, we showed that pharmacological inhibition of the channel function delays pre-implantation embryo development and reduces progression to the blastocyst stage. Our data demonstrate functional expression of TRPM7-like channels in mouse oocytes, eggs and embryos that may play an essential role in the initiation of embryo development.
DOI
10.1038/srep34236
Volume
6
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Funder
I.C. is recipient of a Carlsberg Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013_01_0438), and was further supported by a grant from the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF) (PUMPKIN DNRF85 to KLH). These studies were supported in part by a NIH grant HD 51872 to R.A.F.
Recommended Citation
Carvacho, Ingrid; Ardestani, Goli; Lee, Hoi Chang; McGarvey, Kaitlyn; Fissore, Rafael A.; and Lykke-Hartment, Karin, "TRPM7-like Channels are Functionally Expressed in Oocytes and Modulate Post-Fertilization Embryo Development in Mouse" (2016). Scientific Reports. 2.
10.1038/srep34236
Supplementary Materials