Oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing abilities of mouse round/elongated spermatids and the developmental capacities of embryos from spermatid injection

To investigate differences in fertilization mechanisms and the potential cl inical use of round/elongated spermatid, rye conducted detailed studies of oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing abilities in these immature sperm cells and compared these abilities against those of mature spermatoz oa, When round spermatids from B6D2F1 mice were injected, none of the oocyt es was activated and no intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+](i)) increases were obser ved. Elongated spermatids could induce activation normally in 87% of inject ed oocytes, but Ca2+ oscillation could not be induced at all and most of th e oocytes (94%) exhibited only several transient [Ca2+](i) rises (transient patterns). Because normal offspring could be obtained when embryos through elongated spermatid injection were transferred to foster mothers, it seems that a normal oscillation pattern of [Ca2+](i) is not essential for normal fertilization and embryo development. [Ca2+](i) patterns of injected oocyt es changed from transient patterns to oscillation patterns while the inject ed immature sperm cells were maturing to spermatozoa, Dissociations were se en between the timing of appearance of oocyte activation and that of Ca2+ o scillation-inducing abilities in maturing sperm cells. These dissociations may be due to differences in the thresholds to oocyte activation and Ca2+ o scillation-inducing factor for inducing oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillat ion.