Non-invasive visualization of sperm mitochondria behavior in transgenic mice with introduced green fluorescent protein (GFP)

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.