Sperm-Binding Assay Using an In Vitro 3D Model of the Mammalian Cumulus-Oocyte Complex.

Sperm-Binding Assay Using an In Vitro 3D Model of the Mammalian Cumulus-Oocyte Complex.
Curr Protoc Toxicol. 2020 Dec;86(1):e100
Authors: Hamze JG, Jiménez-Movilla M, Romar R
Abstract
We have recently described a new model to study gamete interaction in mammalian species. The model recreates the spherical surface of the oocyte by using magnetic Sepharose beads coated with a layer of a recombinant protein involved in gamete interaction (such as ZP2, or the IZUMO1 receptor JUNO) and an external layer of cumulus oophorus cells, thus mimicking, to some extent, a native cumulus-oocyte complex. Once generated, this 3D model can be used in a sperm-binding assay to obtain valuable information about the molecular basis of gamete interaction, since different recombinant proteins can be used to coat the bead surface, thus generating a variety of models to be used for several species. Furthermore, thanks to the ability of the model to decoy sperm, the physiological status of the bound sperm can be studied, making this a powerful tool to select sperm with high fertilizing capacity, to unmask subfertile animals in livestock breeding centers, or for toxicological studies. Here, we describe how to generate and use this model for sperm-binding assays, using porcine sperm as an example, and ZP2, a protein from zona pellucida, as the recombinant protein of interest. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generation of the in vitro 3D model A...

Source: Current Protocols in Toxicology - December 19, 2020 Category: Toxicology Tags: Curr Protoc Toxicol Source Type: research