H. Shitara et al., Non-invasive visualization of sperm mitochondria behavior in transgenic mice with introduced green fluorescent protein (GFP), FEBS LETTER, 500(1-2), 2001, pp. 7-11
Using high sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), me previously demonst
rated that selective elimination of sperm mitochondrial DNA occurred during
early embryogenesis in mouse. To analyze the process morphologically in mo
re detail, a non-invasive, real-time observation of sperm mitochondria,vas
used. Transgenic mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) exclusiv
ely in mitochondria (mtGFP-tg mice) were generated. The fluorescence in mtG
FP-tg mice was strong and stable enough to carry out repeated observations
under confocal laser scanning microscopy. In these mtGFP-tg mice it was rev
ealed that the sperm mitochondria mere selectively eliminated from egg cyto
plasm during the two-cell stage of early embryogenesis. Therefore, mtGFP-tg
mice should contribute to studies on sequential or repeated analysis of mi
tochondria, (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Publishe
d by Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.