Molecular determinants of the meiotic arrests in mammalian oocytes at different stages of maturation

ABSTRACT

Mammalian oocytes undergo two rounds of developmental arrest during maturation: at the diplotene of the first meiotic prophase and metaphase of the second meiosis. These arrests are strictly regulated by follicular cells temporally producing the secondary messengers, cAMP and cGMP, and other factors to regulate maturation promoting factor (composed of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1) levels in the oocytes. Out of these normally appearing developmental arrests, permanent arrests may occur in the oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), or metaphase II (MII) stage. This issue may arise from absence or altered expression of the oocyte-related genes playing key roles in nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Additionally, the assisted reproductive technology (ART) applications such as ovarian stimulation and in vitro culture conditions both of which harbor various types of chemical agents may contribute to forming the permanent arrests. In this review, the molecular determinants of developmental and permanent arrests occurring in the mammalian oocytes are comprehensively evaluated in the light of current knowledge. As number of permanently arrested oocytes at different stages is increasing in ART centers, potential approaches for inducing permanent arrests to obtain competent oocytes are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Oocyte arrest
• permanent arrest
• meiotic maturation
• gene expression
• female infertility
• developmental arrest

Introduction

A group of primordial germ cells (PGCs) initially appears in the endoderm of dorsal wall of yolk sac at the time periods of 3^th-4^th weeks of prenatal development in humans [1]. Then, PGCs migrate from primitive streak between yolk sac and developing allantois to the genital ridges by the way of hindgut. Meanwhile, these cells undergo many consecutive mitotic divisions during migration and colonization to the genital ridges as well 2. Following colonization, female PGCs differentiate into oogonial stem cells (OSCs) that participate in forming germ cell nests. The germ cell nests basically consist of a cluster of interconnected OSCs surrounded by pre-granulosa cells 3. Herein, OSCs experience a series of mitotic divisions in the developing ovaries and subsequently enter into meiotic division after that time they are defined as oocytes, arrested at the diplotene stage of the first meiotic prophase.

Before birth, most primordial follicles composed of the primordial oocyte arrested at the first meiotic division and surrounded by squamous pre-granulosa cells are formed, and this formation is completed at the early postnatal period [4]. In the process of folliculogenesis [5], a subset of primordial follicles is induced under control of gonadotropin-independent mechanism to generate primary follicles that have a layer of cuboidal follicular cells enclosing the primary oocyte. Following sequential mitotic divisions in the follicular cells, secondary follicles whose primary oocyte is covered by multiple layers of granulosa cells occur. Under control of gonadotropin-dependent mechanism [6], small spaces among granulosa cells, which are filled with follicular fluid, can be monitored in the preantral follicles. The preantral follicles include a germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte still arrested at the first meiosis, as former ones. Subsequently, these small spaces bring together to form a single antrum during antral follicles formation. The antral follicles are briefly characterized by having a big antrum and eccentrically localized GV oocyte, enclosed by specified granulosa cells described as cumulus cells [7]. Notably, the layers of granulosa cells surrounding the antral wall are specially defined as membrana granulosa or mural granulosa. By the process of ovulation taken place following luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) including the oocyte arrested at the metaphase II (MII) stage of second meiotic division (also known as secondary oocyte) and surrounded by cumulus cells are ovulated [8].

In more detail, meiotic maturation in oocytes from GV to MII stage includes many correctly programmed molecular intrinsic developmental programs and the gonadotropins secreted from pituitary [9]. Basically, there are two main events in the process of meiotic maturation: nuclear and cytoplasmic molecular maturation. Resumption of the first meiotic arrest with germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), chromatin condensation, extrusion of first polar body, and progressing to metaphase II stage of second meiosis is the main events of nuclear maturation [10]. Dynamic chromatin modifications in oocyte nucleus modulated by intracellular cascades and molecules are required for meiotic resumption [11]. During cytoplasmic maturation, the following events such as attaining fertilization features, reorganization of organelles, storages of mRNAs and transcription factors are taken place throughout oocyte growing [12]. Understanding the pathways and molecules implicating to the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes will contribute to defining the oocytes having high quality and developmental competence. Otherwise, the underlying molecular defects of the meiotic maturation-related imperfections that lead to producing incompetent oocytes and early embryos would not be defined.

Developmental arrest at the first meiotic division in oocytes

Developmental arrest in oocytes at the diplotene stage of the first meiotic prophase is initiated at embryonic day (E) 17.5 and completed until postnatal day 5 in the developing mouse ovaries [13]. In humans, this phenomenon occurs in the ovaries at the period from 8- to 28-week of fetal development [5]. In other words, oocytes localizing in the follicles from primordial to antral stages are maintained at an arrested state until LH surge in mammals. During folliculogenesis, the arrested oocytes sustain their developmental progression in three phases: (i) growing oocytes in the follicles from primordial to secondary stages cannot resume meiotic maturation when extruded from the follicles and cultured in vitro, (ii) medium-sized oocytes in preantral follicles, when undergone maturation in vitro, they commonly remain an arrested state at metaphase I (MI) stage, and (iii) fully grown oocytes in antral follicles are able to progress to MII stage through responding to gonadotropins upon cultured in vitro [14]. Indeed, only fully grown oocytes whose nucleoli are surrounded with a ring of condensed chromatin exhibit better maturation ability and development potential to reach blastocyst stage after fertilization [15]. In contrast, the oocytes with non-surrounded nucleoulus (NSN) can develop only to 2-4-cell embryonic stages [15]. Of note, if a condensed chromatin ring encloses the nucleolus-like body of fully grown oocytes, it is defined as surrounded nucleoulus (SN), displaying transcriptional repression [16]. On the other hand, nuclei of some oocytes are surrounded with a less condensed rim, which is described as NSN, showing transcriptional activation. It is known that transcriptional activity is ceased in the fully grown oocytes of antral follicles based on gonadotropin stimulation for successful early embryonic development [17].

In mammals, maturation-promoting factor (MPF, also known as cytoplasmic maturation-promoting factor) regulates the timing of meiotic progression from the first meiotic prophase to metaphase stage of the second meiosis [18]. MPF is composed of two heterodimeric proteins: the catalytic subunit, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and the regulatory subunit, cyclin B1 (CCNB1) [19]. As is known, CDK1 has a kinase activity, thereby enables to phosphorylate serine and threonine residues of target proteins after binding to CCNB1 [20]. For maintaining the first meiotic arrest in GV oocytes, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) continuously stimulates protein kinase A (PKA) that activates the nuclear kinases, G2 checkpoint kinase (WEE1), and myelin transcription factor 1 (MYT1) through phosphorylating them [21]. Then, both WEE1 and MYT1 phosphorylate CDK1 at threonine 14 and tyrosine 15 residues to inhibit its enzymatic activity. On the other hand, anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) decreases the CCNB1 levels in GV oocytes (Figure 1).

Figure 1. The first meiotic arrest in germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) with adenylyl cyclase (ADCY) by granulosa, theca and cumulus cells activates protein kinase A (PKA) that phosphorylates nuclear kinases, myelin transcription factor 1 (MYT1, abbreviated as M1) and G2 checkpoint kinase (WEE1; abbreviated as W1). Thus, cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) is remained in a phosphorylated state, and maturation promoting factor (MPF) composed of CDK1 and Cyclin B1 (CCNB1) is repressed. To ensure continuity of meiotic arrest, cAMP in the GV oocytes is holded at high levels via inhibiting phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity with the action of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is generated by mural granulosa and cumulus cells and then transferred though gap junctions (GJs). GPR, G protein-coupled receptor; Gs, G proteins; CSF, Cytostatic factor; CDC25B, Cell division cycle 25B; APC/C, Anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome; NPPC/NPR2, Natriuretic peptide precursor type C/Natriuretic peptide receptor 2; p, Phosphorylation. The GV is depicted by a gray circle at the upper-right site. The green and red arrows represent activation and repression, respectively.

The oocyte in Figure 1 is appearing in an eliptic format. Its original format is in a round format. Please, provide its appearance in a round format as in the word document i have sent a few days ago with e-mail.

To keep cAMP at high levels in GV oocytes, the constitutively active G protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) bound by a relative ligand interacts with G proteins (Gs) [22]. Subsequently, Gs activate adenylyl cyclase (ADCY) that converts AMP into cAMP. In other words, the ligands such as ions, peptides, hormones, and growth factors interact with GPR3 to stimulate the GPR3-Gs-ADCY cascade [23,24] (Figure [1]. As expected, lack of the Gpr3 gene leads to infertility in female mice because of its pivotal role in maintaining meiotic arrest in GV oocytes [25]. In addition, mouse oocytes without ADCY3 isoform [also known as adenylate cyclase 3 (AC3)] are largely unable to remain at the first meiotic arrest in vivo and exhibit accelerated spontaneous maturation in vitro [26]. In the Adcy3-null mice, the researchers also observed no GV oocytes in most early antral follicles, but some follicles included multinucleated oocytes and more than %50 of the oocytes resumed meiosis in vivo [26]. However, the subcellular distributions and potential roles of ADCYs during oocyte maturing remain still unknown, further studies are required on this subject.

In addition to being produced by oocytes, cAMP is generated by theca cells, mural granulosa cells, and cumulus cells and then transferred into oocytes to sustain MPF inactivation [reviewed in Ref. [24]]. For this purpose, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increases the permeability of gap junctions to cAMP through changing distribution of connexin 43 among granulosa cells [27]. As a result, the oocytes either in the growing or antral follicles are remained at the diplotene stage of the first meiotic prophase up to LH surge [28]. Another mechanism for maintaining the first meiotic arrest in the oocytes, protein kinase A (PKA) inactivates the phosphatase, cell division cycle 25B (CDC25B) via phosphorylating at Ser321 [29]. The basic function of CDC25B is to make dephosphorylation of CDK1 for its activation [30]. Moreover, the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) mediates degradation of CCNB1 to prevent formation of CDK1-CCNB1 complex so that first meiotic arrest continues during follicular development [31] (Figure 1). As an ubiquitin E3 ligase, APC/C performs CCNB1 ubiquitination for its degradation by the proteasome pathway [32].

The third way of holding cAMP at high levels in growing oocytes is the inhibition of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) action. For this purpose, cGMP is synthesized from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by guanylyl cyclase in the mural granulosa and cumulus cells of antral follicles, and it inhibits the hydrolytic activity of PDE3 on cAMP; thereby, meiotic arrest is maintained [33]. There is a close cooperation for cGMP generation: while mural granulosa cells synthesize the ligand, natriuretic peptide precursor type C (NPPC), the granulosa and cumulus cells generate its receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2; also known as NPR-B) [34]. Activation of NPPC/NPR2 in a way of ligand-receptor interaction stimulates cGMP production within granulosa cells and transfer of these cGMP molecules into oocytes through gap junctions contributes to blocking PDEs [34,35] (Figure 1). It is worth noting that eleven different PDE isoenzymes (PDE1-11) were defined in mammals [36]. Among them, PDE3 is exclusively present in the mouse [37], bovine [38], and porcine [39] oocytes, but it is absent in the somatic cells [37]. Expectedly, lack of the Pde3 gene ceases meiotic resumption in the mouse oocytes obtained in vitro or in vivo way [25]. It remains elusive that whether other PDE isoforms play any roles in meiotic repression during oogenesis.

Overall, there are three main mechanisms maintaining first meiotic arrest in oocytes until LH surge: (i) continuously producing cAMP molecules with the GPR3-Gs-ADCY pathway, (ii) prevention of cAMP degradation by inhibiting PDEs activity, and (iii) inactivation of CDK1 by phosphorylation, and degradation of CCNB1. Thus, MPF is kept at low levels.

Progression from first to second meiotic arrest

Estradiol secretion by fully grown follicles before ovulation contributes to producing LH hormone at high levels from the pituitary gland in mammals [40]. The LH surge leads to a predominant decrease in the permeability of the gap junctions between granulosa cells and oocytes to molecular transition so that cAMP is reduced to minimal levels in the GV oocytes of antral follicles [41]. It is worth noting that LH binds to own receptors on the outer granulosa cells of antral follicles [42] to promote epiregulin and amphiregulin releases [43]. Indeed, both factors activate epidermal growth factor receptors located on the mural granulosa cells in order to decrease the gap junction numbers by the way of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling [44]. As is well-known, MAPK is a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases and contributes to meiotic cell cycle progression in oocytes via implicating in activating GVBD, microtubule organization, MPF stabilization, and meiotic spindle assembly as well as maintaining MII arrest [45–47].

The level of intracellular cGMP involving in blocking meiotic progression in GV oocytes is rapidly reduced by three main mechanisms [41]: (i) repression of NPR2 guanylyl cyclase: the LH signaling in the granulosa cells results in inactivating NPR2 guanylyl cyclase activity by rapid dephosphorylation of its regulatory regions, and thereby cGMP is decreased to low levels in GV oocytes [33]. It is noteworthy that dephosphorylation of the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase is carried out by the activity of phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP)-family members, stimulated through LH signaling [48]; (ii) activation of the phosphodiesterase, PDE5, performing cGMP degradation [49]; and (iii) as gap junction numbers between oocytes and granulosa cells are predominantly reduced following LH surge [50], PDEs can no longer be repressed in the oocytes by cGMP [49]. Thus, transforming cAMP into AMP by PDEs does not only drop intracellular cAMP to minimal levels but also leads to loss of PKA activity. Decreases of cGMP and cAMP levels through these three mechanisms in GV oocytes promote meiotic resumption [24] (Figure 2).

Figure 2. The second meiotic arrest in metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Loss of the gap junctions (GJs) on the oolemma due to luteinizing hormone (LH) surge prevents entrance of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) into ooplasm. Meanwhile, intracellular cAMP is converted to AMP by the enzyme phosphodiesterase (PDE). The phosphatase cell division cycle 25B (CDC25B) dephosphorylates cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). Thus, maturation promoting factor (MPF) consisting of CDK1 and Cyclin B1 (CCNB1) passes through the nuclear region. GPR, G protein-coupled receptor; Gs, G proteins; CSF, Cytostatic factor; MYT1, Myelin transcription factor 1; cGMP, Cyclic guanosine monophosphate; PB, First polar body. The metaphase plate is depicted at the upper site. The green and red arrows represent activation and repression, respectively.

The oocyte in this figure should also be in a round format as in the word document i have sent in the last e-mail. Please, provide the oocyte in a round format, not in an eliptic format.

The CDC25B protein that normally resides in GV oocyte cytoplasm translocates into nucleus shortly before GVBD [51]. This translocation is associated with reduced PKA activity because lack of CDC25B phosphorylation at serine 321 results in decreased cytoplasmic maintenance [52]. Meanwhile, as a phosphatase, CDC25B makes dephosphorylation of CDK1 for facilitating meiotic progression (Figure 2). As a result of CDC25B action, MPF at low levels in GV oocytes is increased, and remains at high levels during progression from MI to telophase I stages and after that it is decreased again and kept at low levels in MII oocytes dependent on the functional interaction between CSF and APC/C [53]. As is known, CSF contributes maintenance of meiotic arrest at MII stage by the way of blocking formation of CDK1-CCNB1 complex or stabilizing MPF directly [54]. In case of fertilization, parthenogenetic activation, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), CSF is inactivated by a rapid increase of intracellular Ca⁺² amounts to complete the second meiotic division [55–58].

Critical roles of SAC and APP/C in meiotic progression

The SAC components including BUBR1, MAD1 and 2, BUB1 and 3, MPS1, and Aurora B/C kinase provide correct binding between kinetochores and bipolar spindles in mouse oocytes so that chromosome mis-segregation is prevented [59]. After binding of the spindles to sister kinetochores, the SAC system is switched off. Thus, the inhibitory effect of SAC on the APC^Cdc20 disappears, and oocytes proceeds to anaphase. It is important to note that if there are unattached kinetochores that form a platform, the SAC activation occurs [59]. As compared to somatic cells, SAC is unable to detect a single unattached kinetochore [59] that may be an explanation for the aneuploidies emerging in some oocytes.

The loss of the SAC components, BUB1 [60] and MPS1 [61], leads to an accelerated meiotic progression in oocytes. Upon lacking of BUBR1, MAD2 cannot interact with unattached kinetochores that result in producing aneuploidy [62]. The Bubr1 gene knocked out mouse models revealed that BUBR1 provides persistent SAC activity, duration of the first meiosis, and establishment of kinetochore-microtubule interactions; however, there is no effect on the first meiotic arrest in the oocytes [63]. Taken together, functional loss of SAC system causes chromosome missegregation, aneuploidy, changed first meiotic duration, and ultimately infertility [64].

Another meiotic progression controller, APC/C, is a multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and marks some proteins that will undergo degradation so that chromatids/chromosomes readily separate from each other [65]. APC/C also has CDC20 and CDH1 coactivators involved in the continual degradation of CCNB1 during first meiotic arrest [66]. Along with holding cAMP at a low concentration, CCNB1 degradation keeps MPF activity at low levels to maintain the first meiotic arrest [67]. As expected, loss of the Chd1 gene accelerates the first meiotic progression that causes missegregation of chromosomes and nondisjunction [68]. In the second arrest of meiosis, APC/C is repressed by CSF-EMI2, which undergoes inactivation dependent on intracellular Ca⁺² surge upon fertilization [69].

Overall, the SAC and APC/C complexes work in a coordination to prevent improper meiotic progression before establishing successful spindle-kinetochore interactions. Once an error is detected during meiotic division, both mechanisms become activated. To elucidate the functional importance and mechanistic roles of each component of these complexes in mammalian oocytes, further knockout or knockdown studies are required.

Molecular determinants of permanent arrest at GV stage in the first meiotic division

Functional loss of genes

It has been reported that some GV oocytes obtained from preantral or antral follicles of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) are unable to resume meiotic maturation even following IVM [70]. The same situation can also be observed in vivo because mouse oocytes collected following ovarian stimulation were not at the same developmental stages [71]. Although molecular background of this challenge is not yet fully understood, the most possible reasons of permanent arrests occurring during the first meiotic division either in vivo or in vitro are loss or altered expression of the genes playing crucial roles in meiotic maturation (Table 1). For example, the female mice lacking the Cdc25b gene can produce only GV oocytes, unable to achieve GVBD [30]. As CDC25B is required for MPF activation, the GV-arrested oocytes cannot succeed in nuclear maturation upon in vitro culturing. Similarly, lack of the Pde3a gene (encoding an inhibitor of ADCY) leads to an arrest at GV stage in the mouse oocytes [72]. Moreover, demonstrated that deficiency of ubiquitin B (UBB) in mice results in developmental arrest at GV or MI stage owing to defective meiotic progression [73]. These defects may arise from loss of the basic functions of UBB in the cellular processes including ubiquitin-proteasome pathway [74] and CDK1 inactivation for polar body extrusion [75].

Table 1. The potential factors leading to permanent meiotic arrests in mammalian germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes. ND, Not detected. The full names of all abbreviations were given in the text

Arrest stage	Lack of gene	Gene mutation	Down-regulation	Up-regulation	Inhibition	ART application	Chemical	Other factors
GV oocyte	Cdc25b Pde3a Ubb Marf1 Ccnb1/Ccnb2	PATL2	Ccno Plk4 Chk2 Orf1p Gdf9 Bmp15	ND	PDE3 CDK1 PLK1 Transcription Protein synthesis Hyaluronan synthesis	Mineral oil FSH/LH Ovarian stimulation	Caffeine Metformin Thiamethoxam	Absence of Ca^+2 channels DSBs Amino acid level
MI oocyte	Mlh1 Mlh3 Cks2 Mei1 Fmn2 Ccnb3	PATL2 TRIP13 TUBB8	H1foo Spindly Erk3 Syt1 Cep55 Ccnb3 Rasd1 Stau2 Chk1 Prkar2b Survivin Pkcβ1 Fbxo30 Mat2b	Ccnb1 Obox4 BubR1 Chk1 Orf1p Mad2 MPF Spc25 Survivin SPIN1	p38 MAPK CHK2 EZH2 PLD2 PAFAH1B3	Ovarian stimulation	Bisphenol A Thiamethoxam Doxorubicin Diethylstilbestrol Benzo[a]pyrene Nocodazole Cytochalasin		DNA damage Zinc deficiency SAC activation
MII oocyte	ND	ND	Emi2 Gas6	Ccnb1 Obox4 Spin1 UBE2S GPR3 EMI2	ND	ND	Paclitaxel	ND

Meiosis arrest female 1 (MARF1) plays key roles in regulating the first meiotic progression, cytoplasmic maturation, and genomic integrity in oocytes [76]. Expectedly, loss of the Marf1 gene results in permanent GV-stage arrest in the mouse oocytes [77]. Similarly, double knock out of the Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 genes in mouse oocytes causes permanent arrest at GV stage due to failure in elevating MPF activity [78]. It is noteworthy that Ccnb1-null oocytes enable to complete the first meiosis and extrude the first polar body by the way of increasing CCNB2 levels to activate CDK1. However, these oocytes exhibit interphase-like appearance in the second meiotic division and can not achieve metaphase II arrest. Thus, CCNB1 deficiency results in female infertility as is observed in the double knocked out mouse models [78]. In contrast, Brandeis ., (1998) revealed that Ccnb2-null mice are fertile and show a normal prenatal development [79]. Overall, lack of these genes implicating in nuclear maturation of oocytes is closely associated with permanent GV-stage arrest. More genes having this kind of effects upon their absence would be defined in the future studies because meiotic maturation is a complex process that requires many proteins working together.

Genetic mutations

Different gene mutations in women are found to be associated with permanent arrests in oocytes. For instance, homozygous nonsense or compound-heterozygous mutation in the PAT1 homolog 2 (PATL2) gene (encoding an RNA-binding protein that involves in translational repression) was detected in a consanguineous family, and these mutations lead to an arrest at GV stage [80]. The novel point mutations (c.1127 G > A; c.1225–2A > G; c.1282 G > T; c.1300 C > T; c.865delA) and one recurrent splicing mutation (c.223–14_223-2delCCCTCCTGTTCCA) in the PATL2 gene also cause an arrest in the GV oocytes [81].

The point mutations (c.G1249A, p.D417N; c.T1088C, p.M363T; c.G5A, p.R2K; c.G900A, p.M300I; c.G785A, p.R262Q; c.C527T, p.S176L) in the tubulin beta 8 class VIII (TUBB8, expressing β-tubulin) gene leads to MI-stage arrest [82]. Indeed, these mutations disrupt the formation of α/β-tubulin heterodimer and microtubule organization in the mouse and human oocytes [82]. A novel missense mutation (c.1054 G > T, p.A352S) was additionally characterized in the TUBB8 gene in a patient and her elder sister, who had first meiotic arrest in their oocytes [83]. In the recently published study, homozygous and compound heterozygous missense pathogenic variants (c.77A > G, p.His26Arg; c.518 G > A, p.Arg173Gln; c.907 G > A, p.Glu303Lys; c.592A > G, p.Ile198Val; c.739 G > A, p.Val247Met) in the thyroid receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) gene were reported to be associated with female infertility arising from meiotic arrest at MI stage [84]. Notably, TRIP13 encodes an AAA-ATPase, which is a key component of spindle assembly checkpoint. Based on literature analysis, there are a limited number of studies established a close relationship between genetic mutations and meiotic arrest. Therefore, further studies utilizing whole genome and exome sequencing technologies in the infertile women producing arrested oocytes would contribute to define novel variants.

Change of gene expression

Down- or up-regulation of some genes by using RNA interfering technology or other ways causes permanent arrests in the oocytes. Down-regulation of cyclin O (Ccno; implicating in meiotic resumption) by using short interfering RNA (siRNA) arrests mouse oocytes at GV stage because of repressing dephosphorylation of CDK1 (also known as CDC2) at Tyr15 [85]. However, it is worth noting that CCNB1 overexpression rescues this arrest by a yet undefined mechanism [85]. The polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase and participates in centriole biogenesis during cell division [86]. Its depletion by employing siRNA in the mouse oocytes leads to a meiotic arrest at GV stage [87]. This arrest most likely derives from inhibited CCNB1-CDK1 activity as well as reduced CDC25C levels. In line with the previous studies, down-regulation of the Orf1p mRNA levels entails an arrest at GV stage in the mouse oocytes due to reduced levels of the MPF components, CCNB1 and CDK1 [88]. As is known, the Orf1p gene encodes a LINE-1 protein which is required for LINE-1 retrotransposition [89].

The growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are oocyte-specific factors, both of which function in normal follicle and oocyte development [90]. Significant decreases of GDF9 and BMP15 levels in the canine GV oocytes result in an arrest at GVBD stage higher than that in controls [91]. This arrest may originate from their roles during folliculogenesis [90]. On the other hand, a previous study also demonstrated that GDF9 and BMP15 contribute to the transition from primordial to primary follicle stages and oocyte maturation process as well as modulating the levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), plasminogen activator, and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the follicles [92]. As meiotic progression from GV to MII stages requires temporal regulation of gene expression, analyzing these genes at mRNA and protein levels by using high throughput technologies such as next generation sequencing and proteomic analysis may allow for elucidating the molecular background of permanent arrest.

Use of inhibitors

In human oocytes, inhibition of PDE3 by utilizing Org9935 leads to an enhanced rate of meiotic arrest at GV stage, and this arrest treatment contributes to increasing the rates of oocyte maturation and fertilization after removing the inhibitor [93,94]. In a similar manner, CDK1 inhibition with RO-3306 causes meiotic arrest at GV stage in the porcine oocytes so that temporal usage of this inhibitor provides synchronized cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation for all oocytes, some of which have developmental delay [95]. Additionally, transcriptional repression in bovine oocytes [cultured with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB)] leads to meiotic arrest at GV stage [96]. Treating ovine oocytes with cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) also results in meiotic arrest at GV stage, and GVBD occurs after removing this inhibitor [97].

Roscovitine was also used as a CDK inhibitor to extend GV arrest timing and thereby improved the IVM success rates in the sheep COCs [98]. The polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) involves in modulating cell division as a serine/threonine protein kinase [99]. A recent study by Liao et al., (2018) revealed that inhibition of PLK1 by its specific inhibitor (GSK461364) in the porcine oocytes elevates the GVBD arrest rate when compared to the control [100]. Majority of the oocytes exhibited abnormally aligned chromosomes and spindle defects during the first meiotic division most likely due to loss of the kinase activity of PLK1.

The use of 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON, an inhibitor of hyaluronan synthase) during IVM also gives rise to a transient meiotic arrest in the porcine GV oocytes; therefore, nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of these oocytes can be enhanced by incubating with this inhibitor for ensuring synchronization [101]. In addition to these inhibitors, Soto-Heras et al., (2019) reported that cattle GV oocytes treated with C-type natriuretic peptide [CNP, functioning as an oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI)] plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX, inhibiting meiotic progression via increasing cAMP level) experience GV arrest [102]. It is worth noting that this culturing system before IVM not only improves cumulus-oocyte communications but also increases blastocyst formation rates.

In addition to GV arrest, some chemicals such as nocodazole at a low dose (400 nM for 3 h at 6 h after GVBD) arrest mouse oocytes transiently at MI stage and decrease polar body extrusion [103]. Nocodazole can inhibit the spindle formation via leading to spindle depolymerization and thereby prevents bipolar spindle formation [104]. Moreover, treating mouse oocytes with cytochalasin D (at a concentration of 10 μg/mL), a potent actin polymerization inhibitor, causes a large number of arrest at MI stage [105]. The same effect of cytochalasin D [106] and cytochalasin B [107] was also demonstrated in the porcine oocytes. Overall, the arrest of GV or MI oocytes in a short-term program by using the chemicals such as IBMX, hypoxanthine, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), milrinone, 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP), cytochalasin, and nocodazole [108] may increase the rates of MII oocytes and eventually early embryos in women producing a limited number of oocytes. On the other hand, it is important to note that more studies related to evaluating the short- and long-term of effects of these chemicals on the prenatal development processes are warranted before initiating use of them in routine ART applications.

Culture conditions

In a few studies, the potential effects of culture conditions on nuclear maturation of oocytes were evaluated. Crocomo ., (2015) demonstrated that overlaying GV oocytes with mineral oil during culturing is associated with arrest at GV stage in the sheep oocytes [109]. Moreover, exposure of bovine oocytes to high concentrations of gonadotropins (FSH and LH) leads to maturation arrest at GV stage [110]. As culture conditions are known to change the epigenetic status of oocytes [111], these GV arrests may derive from abnormally established epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation [112] and histone modifications [113,114], both of which participate in regulating gene expression during oocyte maturation. Thus, more studies related to determining potential impacts of the culture conditions including oxygen tension, IVM, and ovarian stimulation protocols being used in ART centers on the meiotic processes are required.

Other factors

A various types of factors including beverages, drugs, and environmental pollutants can also affect meiotic progression in the oocytes. An interesting work by Kren ., (2004) reported that treating porcine oocytes with caffeine causes arrest at GV stage in 95.5% of the treated oocytes after 24 h of culture, possibly due to enhanced intracellular cAMP levels and inhibition of both CDC2 and MAPK activities [115]. Withdrawal of caffeine results in progression of the GV-arrested oocytes to MII stage following 48 h culture; however, blastocyst formation rate of these oocytes is lower than control group [115].

On the other hand, exposure of bovine oocytes to metformin [an activator of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and being used for treating PCOS] ensues an arrest at GV stage [116]. This issue may originate from increased phosphorylation of PRKAA (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha) at Thr172 and reduced MAPK3/1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1) levels in both oocytes and cumulus cells. The decreased AURKA (aurora kinase A) and CCNB1 levels in the oocytes, which adversely influences nuclear maturation, are other potential factors of this arrest [116].

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, which is emitted from solid fuel combustion. BaP exposure caused meiotic arrest in the mouse MI oocytes and generated from GV oocytes after culturing 8 h [117,118]. This arrest likely originated from impaired meiosis-linked processes such as spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, and kinetochore-microtubule attachments [117,118]. Furthermore, thiamethoxam (TMX, an insecticide, detected on a variety of crops) ceased meiotic maturation in the cattle GV and MI oocytes via reducing CDC25 and CDK1 activities, and holding CCNB1 in the cytoplasm [119]. These findings suggest that externally exposing to these chemicals can influence the chance of obtaining highly competent oocytes.

In addition to the exogenous factors, several internal factors involving signaling molecules such as Ca⁺² and DNA damages can affect the meiotic progression. Lee ., (2004) revealed that most GV-arrested oocytes in mice do not have the Ca⁺² channels including P/Q-, N-, and L-type as not detected in the GVBD-arrested oocytes [120]. It is noteworthy that there is a uniform and localized distribution of these channel proteins in the GV and GVBD oocytes [120]. One of the commonly occurring DNA damages, double-strand breaks (DSBs) also lead to GV arrest in the human oocytes during nuclear maturation [121]. The potential effects of other DNA damages and inefficiency of the DNA repair mechanisms involving DSB repair on developing first meiotic arrest remain elusive.

As a result, current studies show that intracellular and extracellular factors to which oocytes are exposing during culturing are capable of impacting first meiotic progression. Most likely, new molecules associating with GV arrest will be defined in the future studies. These studies would increase the chance of producing high quality oocytes via removing or adjusting concentrations of those molecules. Also, potential biomarkers showing the oocytes having higher developmental capability may be characterized in these investigations. One of these investigations performed by Hemmings ., (2013) found that amino acid profiling contributes to predicting the developmental potential of human oocytes, in which arrested-GV oocytes use significantly more valine and isoleucine amino acids when compared to the GV oocytes progressed to MI or MII stage [122].

Molecular background of the permanent arrest at MI stage in the first meiotic division

Some MI oocytes undergo an arrest before extruding first polar body and display typical morphologic appearances such as homogenous cytoplasm and no visible nucleus. This arrest may occur due to intracellular defects (arising from endogenous and/or exogenous factors) in the oocytes and/or surrounding granulosa cells during folliculogenesis [105,123]. Loss or altered gene expression, impaired signal transduction pathways mediating meiotic progression, and abnormality in the meiotic spindles activating the SAC are frequently encountered intracellular defects [124].

Loss of genes

It has been reported that loss of certain genes involved in meiotic progression causes an arrest in oocytes at MI stage (Table 1). For example, lack of the MutL homolog 1 (Mlh1) [125] or 3 (Mlh3) [126] gene results in remarkably reduced meiotic recombination rates and increased maturation arrest at MI-like stage. These effects may give rise from functional loss of the MutL homologs, MLH1 and MLH3, in the formation and repair of the DSBs during crossing over [127]. As is known, there is a close relationship between unrepaired DSBs and permanent cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or cell death [128].

As is known, CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 (CKS2) involves in regulating CDK and MPF activation, GVBD, APC/C induction, and meiotic spindle assembly so that it contributes to meiotic maturation [129]. Consistently, Cks2^−/− mouse oocytes arrest at MI stage [130]. Additionally, lack of O-fucosylpeptide 3-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Lfng) gene (implicating in oocyte meiotic maturation) leads to first meiotic arrest in the mouse oocytes [131]. This outcome seems to derive from dysregulation of LFNG in the Notch signaling having crucial roles during folliculogenesis [132]. It is noteworthy that the Lfng gene is expressed in the granulosa and theca cells of the growing follicles from primary to preovulatory stages [131].

The MI-stage arrest also occurs in the absence of meiosis defective 1 (Mei1) gene in the mouse oocytes possibly due to loss of its functions in forming correct synapses as well as paring and proper organization of the chromosomes at metaphase plate [133]. Analogously, the lack of Fmn2 (Formin-2, implicating in chromosome organization as MEI1 does) gene results in arresting at MI stage [134]. This arrest originates from lacking fundamental role of FMN2, as an actin nucleation factor, in regulating asymmetric division via promoting formation and modulation of new actin filaments during nuclear maturation [135]. Expectedly, when Fmn2^−/− oocytes are fertilized with normal spermatozoa, the polyploid embryos are produced [134]. Knocking out of the Dcaf13 (DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 13) gene contributing to chromosome organization causes an arrest at prometaphase MI (pro-MI) stage in most mouse oocytes based on misaligned chromosomes at the equatorial plate and the SAC activation [136]. Taken together, as loss of these genes impedes successful meiotic progression that results in MI arrest, mutation analysis on these genes may help to address the molecular background of female infertility deriving from this arrest.

Genetic mutations

Some genetic mutations and down-regulation of several genes exhibit a close relationship with meiotic arrest at MI stage. The point mutations (two missense mutations: c.1528 C > A and c.1376 C > A) in the PAT1 homolog 2 (PATL2) gene lead to MI arrest as well as other phenotypes including morphological abnormalities [137]. In more detail, these mutations detected in the two consanguineous families entail a significant decrease in RNA binding ability of PATL2; therefore, it is unable to regulate posttranscriptional translation in a time-dependent manner.

Change of gene expression

Altered expression of the genes playing roles in intracellular signaling in oocytes was found be associated with meiotic arrest at MI stage. One of these genes, the Erk3 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3) gene is an atypical member of MAPK family and encodes ERK3 localizing to the spindles of mouse oocytes at MI or MII stage [138]. Depletion of Erk3 gene expression through morpholino injection results in MI stage-arrest in the mouse oocytes owing to abnormal spindles formation and impaired chromosome alignment [138]. The oocyte-specific homeobox 4 (Obox4) implicates in cAMP-dependent intracellular signaling cascades. Its overexpression by microinjecting dsRNA into GV oocytes results in MI arrest in 78% of the oocytes, and also there is MII arrest in the remained ones [139].

The ras-related dexamethasone induced 1 (RASD1) implicates in signal transduction pathways through both G proteins and G protein-coupled receptors. Once the Rasd1 gene expression was down-regulated in mouse GV oocytes, maturation arrest occurs at MI stage based on the defects both in meiotic spindles and chromosome alignment [140]. Another intracellular signaling-linked protein, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent type 2 regulatory subunit beta (PRKAR2B) contributes to modulating cAMP-dependent PKA activity. Similarly, its down-regulation leads to MI-stage arrest in the mouse oocytes, which likely results from abnormal spindle formation, chromosome aggregation, and impaired pentose phosphate metabolism [141]. Depletion of the f-box protein 30 (Fbxo30; participating in phosphorylation-dependent ubiquitination) gene expression also causes MI-stage arrest in the mouse oocytes, failing to achieve chromosome segregation, but there is no SAC over-activation [142]. It is important to note that in normal meiotic progression, Fbxo30 mRNA levels decrease predominantly following MI stage in mouse oocytes [142]. Overall, as there are many intracellular signaling pathways working during early phase of meiotic division in oocytes, much more genes whose expressional changes are related to meiotic arrest would be defined in the future studies.

Some studies have analyzed the potential effects of spindle-related proteins on the onset of MI arrest. One of them performed by Wassmann ., (2003) documented that overexpression of mitotic arrest deficient 2 (MAD2, a member of SAC complex) protein during early meiosis causes MI arrest, and dominant negative mutation on its gene impairs normally appearing spindle check point arrest [103]. Another study revealed that depletion of the Spindly (localizing to kinetochores where spindles bind) gene in the mouse oocytes leads to an arrest at pro-MI or MI stage due to chromosome-alignment defects and abnormal spindle morphology as wells as failure in entering anaphase stage and extruding first polar body [143]. As is known, BUBR1 is a member of SAC family and functions in kinetochore localization of other SAC components during cell division. Its up-regulation causes arrest of the mouse oocytes at MI or earlier stage, displaying chromosome alignment defects [144]. On the other hand, dominant-negative mutation or expressional depletion of the BubR1 gene enhances meiotic progression [144]. This issue may derive from stimulating meiotic process without undergoing spindle check point control in the absence of BUBR1.

A previous study also documented that SPC25 component of NDC80 kinetochore complex (SPC25) implicates in modulating kinetochore-microtubule attachments and the SAC process during cell division [145]. Its overexpression associates with meiotic arrest at pro-MI or MI stage in most mouse oocytes due to abnormal segregation of homologous chromosomes (Table 1). As is known, centrosomal protein 55 (CEP55) is a member of centrosomal protein family, and is detected in the oocytes from GV to MII stages [146]. Knockdown of the Cep55 gene expression in GV oocytes causes meiotic arrest at MI stage, most likely dependent on abnormal spindle formation and defective chromosome alignment as well as abundance of CCNB and SAC activation [146]. Moreover, a predominant decrease of the Syt1 (Synaptotagmin 1) gene expression results in pro-MI or MI arrest in the majority of mouse oocytes, that may originates from disrupted spindles, activation of the SAC component, BUB3, failure in homologous chromosome segregation, and abnormal chromosome alignment as well as from aberrant MTOC protein localization, and impaired γ-tubulin distribution in the cytoplasm [147]. It is noteworthy that SYT1 is known as a calcium sensor for exocytosis and contributes to localization and fusion of the vesicles to plasma membrane [148]. These findings indicate that changed spindle-related gene expression initially disrupts spindles function and their regulation that may lead to abnormal chromosome organization and eventually impaired progression of cell division.

As is acceptable, meiotic arrest largely depends on strictly controlling spatiotemporal distribution of the proteins directly or indirectly functioning in the cell cycle process. Therefore, abnormal expression of these genes may lead to permanent arrests. For instance, overexpression of the Ccnb1 gene in the bovine oocytes causes a meiotic arrest at MI or MII stage owing to non-disjunction of homologous chromosomes and defect in the first polar body extrusion [149], as is observed in the mouse oocytes [150]. In a recent study, Yi ., (2019) demonstrated that down-regulation of the protein kinase C βI (PkcβI, participating in regulation of cell cycle transition) gene expression results in an arrest at MI stage due to the SAC activation and failure of first polar body extrusion. On the other hand, its up-regulation delays G2/M transition in the mouse oocytes [151].

Another cyclin type, cyclin B3 (CCNB3), functions in inhibiting premature metaphase-anaphase transition, its down-regulation entails MI-arrest in the mouse oocytes [152]. It was also determined here that CCNB3 stimulates APC/C to facilitate metaphase-anaphase progression. Expectedly, lack of CCNB3 in female mice results in sterility due to blocking the transition from metaphase to anaphase stages in the first meiotic division [153,154]. The checkpoint 1 (CHK1) synthesized in GV and MII oocytes serves in DNA replication checkpoint and DNA damage response as well [155]. Its down-regulation results in meiotic arrest at MI stage in the porcine oocytes based on the chromosome misalignment, undegradation of CCNB1, and decrease in the mitotic arrest deficient 2-like 1 (MAD2L1; one of the SAC proteins) levels [156]. As revealed by Chen ., (2012), CHK1 localizes to the meiotic spindles of the mouse oocytes from pro-MI to MII stages [157]. Its overexpression after GVBD leads to the arrests at pro-MI or MI stage owing to the SAC activation and suppressed homologous chromosome segregation [157,158]. The Survivin protein [a component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) [159]] generated in the porcine oocytes at GV or GVBD stage [160] plays a role in cell division. A remarkable reduction in the Survivin gene expression leads to an arrest at MI stage in these oocytes most likely due to chromosome alignment abnormalities [160]. In parallel with its reduced expression, overexpression of the Survivin gene results in pro-MI or MI stage-arrest in the majority of mouse oocytes, having impaired chromosome alignment and the SAC activation [161]. Although a limited number of genes have been evaluated to determine their potential relationship with MI arrest in mammalian oocytes, the remained genes [162] implicating in meiotic cell cycle progression must also be analyzed.

The expressional changes in the genes playing roles in RNA binding, linker DNA interaction, cell proliferation, and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis were found to associate with developing MI arrest. The staufen 2 [STAU2) protein is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein and involves in mRNA metabolism and translation process. Cao ., (2016) reported that down-regulation of the Stau2 gene expression using a knockdown technology in the mouse oocytes leads to MI arrest in most of them [163]. This arrest seems to arise from the SAC activation, chromosome misalignment, and abnormalities in both spindle formation and microtubule-kinetochore interactions [163]. The spindlin 1 (SPIN1) also contributes regulation of maternal transcripts via interacting with RNA binding proteins. Its overexpression entails an arrest at MI stage probably because of impaired modulation of the CCNB1 levels [164]. The Orf1p gene participates in cell proliferation and cell death, and its enhanced expression by the way of mRNA microinjection ceases the meiotic progression at MI stage in the mouse oocytes [88]. As is known, H1FOO (H1 histone family member o oocyte specific) is a linker histone protein and acts in modulating gene expression and chromatin modification during oogenesis and early embryogenesis [165]. Although the precise cause is unknown, its down-regulation results in MI stage-meiotic arrest [165,166]. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that silenced expression of the methionine adenosyltransferase 2b (Mat2b) gene, catalyzing biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, causes MI arrest in the mouse oocytes, possibly arising from the microtubule assembly defects [167].

All findings on this subject indicate that successfully passing from MI stage requires temporal and strict regulation of gene expression. Otherwise, many abnormalities such as chromosome misalignment, SAC activation, and dysfunctional spindle formation in the oocytes arrested at MI stage may occur upon altering expression of the genes playing roles in cell cycle, intracellular signaling, and other cellular processes.

Use of inhibitors

In addition to down- or up-regulation of gene expression, there is a close relationship between functional inhibition of target proteins serving in cell cycle and meiotic arrest at MI stage. For instance, checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) playing roles in cell cycle regulation, replication checkpoint, and DNA damage repair localizes in the nucleus of GV oocytes and spindle poles of MI oocytes in mice [168]. Inhibition of the CHK2 activity in the mouse oocytes results in arresting at GV or MI stage or at the first cleavage of early embryonic development possibly due to disrupting cell cycle progression [169]. Additionally, Liu et al., (2017) reported that inhibition of phospholipase D2 (PLD2) in the mouse oocytes causes MI-stage arrest deriving from the spindle abnormalities [170]. It is worth noting that these abnormalities may originate from the fundamental roles of PLD2 in the cell cycle, cytoskeletal reorganization, transcriptional control, and cell migration [171].

Inhibiting phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (implicating in cell cycle regulation) with SB203580 compound in the cumulus cells of porcine oocytes leads to an increased rate of meiotic arrest at MI stage, but do not influence GVBD [172]. This arrest may derive from impairment in the well-known missions of p38 MAPK pathway in the cellular events such as cell cycle progression, gene expression, and apoptosis [173].

Some studies were additionally evaluated the potential effects of inhibiting other proteins having roles in several cellular events. One of those studies performed by Qu ., (2016) reported that ectopic expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) associates with meiotic maturation arrest at MI stage in the mouse oocytes, displaying chromosomal alignment defect and aneuploidy [174]. Of note, EZH2 is involved in the trimethylation of H3 lysine 27 and stability of the SAC protein, BUBR1. Inhibition of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b catalytic subunit 3 (PAFAH1B3; making platelet-activating factor hydrolysis) by using a selective inhibitor or a specific antibody causes MI arrest, showing abnormal spindle morphology, and these cattle oocytes are also unable to extrude the first polar body [175] (Table 1). Although a limited number of studies have examined functional loss of some proteins implicating in various types of cellular processes, more studies on this subject would define further proteins whose functional loss is related to meiotic arrest at MI stage.

Other factors

A recently published case report demonstrated that ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rhCG) enhanced the rates of permanent arrest at GV or MI stage when compared to the stimulation only with rhCG [176]. Similar results were also observed in the cancer patients who underwent ovarian stimulation had more arrested immature oocytes than in the non-stimulated group [177]. To the best of my knowledge, there are a limited number of investigations analyzed the potential effects of ART applications on MI-stage arrest. As many molecules are being used in ART centers, further studies are required for evaluating whether these molecules have any adverse effects on nuclear maturation of oocytes, especially on weak ones.

Some oocytes at MI stage are unable to reach MII stage based on negative effects of several environmental chemicals. One of these chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA; used in producing polycarbonate plastics), predominantly decreases meiotic progression from GV to MII stages and increases the degeneration and spontaneous activation rates in the exposed human oocytes [178]. In the mice, bisphenol AF (BPAF; an analogue of BPA) inhibits meiotic maturation from GV to MII stages and causes an arrest after GVBD through triggering the SAC [179]. Moreover, Nie ., (2019) revealed that thiamethoxam (TMX; being utilized as an insecticide) blocks meiotic progression at MI stage and also provokes chromosome abnormality by unknown mechanisms [119].

Doxorubicin (DOX) is employed to cure patients with malignancies, it leads to meiotic arrest at MI stage in the mouse oocytes because of enhanced DNA damages and the SAC activation [180]. It is well-known that use of the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol [DES), utilizing for triggering animal growing, can increase environmental estrogen levels. A recent study by Ding ., (2020) demonstrated that DES exposure of mouse oocytes during maturation resulted in meiotic arrest largely at MI stage possibly due to disturbed spindle assembly and chromosome misalignment [181]. Taken together, these findings suggest that women intending to conceive must be protected from the environmental agents during reproductive ages in order to preserve their oocytes from undergoing developmental arrest.

DNA damage is another factor closely related to developmental arrest appearing during oocyte maturation. Once mouse oocytes are treated with etoposide (a DNA damage-inducer agent), meiotic arrest occurs at MI stage due to the SAC activation [182]. Consistently, induction of DSBs in the porcine GV oocytes using the same agent results in meiotic arrest at MI stage, displaying abnormal spindle formation and chromosome misalignments [183]. It is noteworthy that the SAC activation based on DNA damage takes places independent of action of the DNA damage response kinase, ATM or ATR [184]. In contrast to the former studies, a recently published investigation documented that DNA damage in the human GV oocytes did not exhibit an arrest at MI or other stages, suggesting that meiotic progression to MII stage can be achieved despite of present DNA damage in humans [185]. This issue means that oocytes experiencing successful meiotic maturation may not include completely intact genomic DNA.

In addition to DNA damage, an appropriate amount of zinc in culture environment is essential for normal oocyte maturation and early embryo development as well [186]. As is known, the trace element zinc functions as a cofactor for enzyme activation and contributes to maintaining structural integrity of some proteins as well. Indeed, zinc deficiency during IVM leads to MI-stage arrest in the porcine oocytes [187]. Although these oocytes have a normal microtubule distribution, there is an abnormality in the microfilament formation, which may underlie this arrest [187].

In summary, the possible causes of MI stage-arrest in mammalian oocytes can be (i) incompetency of achieving meiotic maturation due to lack or altered gene expression directly or indirectly implicating meiotic progression, (ii) unsuccessful meiotic recombination normally appearing at pachytene stage. (iii) inability of GV oocytes in generating essential cell cycle regulators required to progress from G2 to M phases [14], (iv) failure in temporally degrading the p34^cdc2 and CCNB proteins as revealed in the oocytes from LT/Sv mice [188], (v) exposure to various types of endogenous or exogenous factors adversely affecting meiotic process. Despite all these causes, it is possible to conceive in a limited number of MI-arrested oocytes after applying a modified IVM process [189].

The potential factors leading to permanent arrest in the second meiotic division

Some MII oocytes undergo a permanent arrest in the second meiotic division, which are unable to produce zygotes with two pronuclei, and these oocytes cannot achieve decondensation of sperm chromatin following fertilization [24]. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that if further development does not occur following fertilization, there may be an arrest in the late meiotic stage [190,191].

Altered gene expression

Changes in expression of the genes playing crucial roles during meiotic maturation can cease developmental progression in the oocytes. For example, down-regulation of the early mitotic inhibitor 2 (Emi2) gene in mouse GV oocytes causes defects in establishing meiotic spindles and chromosome decondensation after anaphase I stage, eventually enter an interphase-like phase [192]. Notably, GVBD and polar body extrusion events take place normally in these oocytes. On the other hand, overexpression of the EMI2 gene but not EMI1 leads to meiotic arrest at MII stage in the porcine oocytes [193]. As is known, EMI2 implicates in inhibiting APC/C (functioning in the degradation of CCNB) to resume meiosis [194]. For keeping EMI2 at the required levels, the mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1), a downstream kinase of MOS-MAPK pathway, phosphorylates four Ser/Thr residues of the EMI2 protein in the mouse oocytes [195]. As a result, holding EMI2 in a stable level is important for successfully passing the MII stage. Otherwise, several defects related to formation of meiotic spindles and chromosome organization, and ultimately MII arrest occurs. While down-regulation of the GPR3 gene expression activates meiotic resumption, its overexpression enhances cGMP and cAMP levels and thus represses the meiotic maturation in the porcine oocytes [196]. Additionally, overexpression of another cell cycle-regulator gene, Cdc2b (cell division control protein 2 homolog b), inhibits Ca²⁺-induced exit from MII arrest so that permanent arrest appears in these oocytes [197] (Table 1).

The expressional changes in several genes functioning in various cellular events involving proliferation and differentiation, meiotic resumption, and ubiquitin-based protein degradation were also found to be associated with meiotic arrest. Repressing the growth arrest-specific gene 6 [Gas6; participating cellular proliferation and differentiation [198]] expression in the mouse GV oocytes by using RNAi technology entails MII arrest at 90% of the oocytes [199]. The down-regulation of SPIN1 gene (involving in meiotic resumption) in the pig MII oocytes decreased the MPF levels and MAPK activity which resulted in pronucleus formation independent of calcium activation [200]. In contrast, its overexpression inhibited the transition from metaphase to anaphase stages in the oocytes and early embryos possibly due to induced DNA damage response activation [200]. On the other hand, overexpression of the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 S (UBE2S) gene caused MII-stage arrest and even pronucleus formation in some oocytes at the second day of culturing porcine oocytes [201]. It is worth noting that UBE2S is a member of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family and implicates in poly-ubiquitination-based protein degradation in oocytes [202]. Taken together, down- or upregulation of certain genes regulating meiotic maturation results in permanent arrest at MII stage in mammalian oocytes (Table 1). In addition to down-regulation and overexpression analyses, knockout mouse models were created to understand the outcomes of functional loss of few genes in meiotic progression. The lack of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1 and 2) genes in the mouse oocytes caused abnormal spindle assembly and spontaneous extrusion of second polar body in the MII oocytes and eventually results in developmental arrest at metaphase III stage (MIII) owing to these defects [203]. The MIII stage is briefly defined as an arrest at metaphase phase following second polar body emission.

According to the literature analysis, there are a limited number of studies addressing the molecular background of permanent MII arrest formation. For instance, there is only one study examined the effect of ART application on developing MII arrest. Supplementation of vitrification media of mouse MII oocytes with 1 μM of paclitaxel (a microtubule stabilizer) increased the rate of MII arrest when compared to the control and 0.5 μM of paclitaxel-treated group [204]. Most studies have investigated the molecular determinants playing roles in normally appearing arrest at MII stage. Further studies in the aspects of alterated gene expression, ART conditions, and environmental factors are needed to ascertain the potential reasons for permanent MII arrest.

Rescuing oocytes from arrested state

Although molecular determinants underlying permanent arrests in mammalian oocytes are not fully elucidated, yet there are a few treatment options for rescuing these arrests. Meiotic spindle transfer (referred to GV or cytoplasmic replacement), increase in certain factor levels or addition of some chemical molecules to in vitro culture environment are possible interventions for inducing meiotic progression [205]. As revealed in the study by Zhang and Liu (2015), cytoplasm replacement of an arrested mouse or human GV oocyte, known as GV transfer, resumes meiosis and provides extrusion of the first polar body; thereby, mature MII oocytes are generated [206].

Increasing the AMPK levels through microinjecting its active form facilitates meiotic resumption in the mouse GV oocytes, arrested by treating with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), and following that these oocytes accomplish GVBD [207]. Moreover, overexpression of the exportin 1 (XPO1) gene by mRNA injection stimulates meiotic resumption in the porcine fully grown GV oocytes by the way of predominantly decreasing nuclear localization of WEE1B [208]. Notably, as an oocyte-specific kinase at the downstream of PKA, WEE1B plays a key role in maintaining meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes [209]. In the future studies, it should be considered that long term effects of these treatments especially on the early embryo development and onward need to be examined before routinely using them in ART centers.

The chemicals such as methylene blue, phenazine ethosulfate, and pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) perform oxidization of NADPH to NADP and induce NADP-dependent enzymes so that meiotic resumption in the cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes arrested by hypoxanthine exposure takes place following treated with either of these chemicals [210]. Once ribose-5-phosphate metabolizing to phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate is added to glucose-free medium, the arrested oocytes with hypoxanthine treatment are triggered for meiotic maturation regardless of presence of FSH [210]. Additionally, the PKC activator, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), stimulates GVBD in the cumulus cell-enclosed mouse oocytes treated with isobutylmethylxanthine or guanosine for maintaining in an arrested state [211, 212 further reported that addition of sterol and 4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14, 24-trien-3 beta-ol (FF-MAS) to culture media of mouse denuded oocytes arrested with hypoxanthine ensures meiotic activation [213]. The 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-d-ribofuranoside (AICA riboside; inducing AMPK) was found as a potent factor for meiotic resumption of denuded or cumulus cell-enclosed mouse GV oocytes arrested by dbcAMP or hypoxanthine treatment [214]. In the same investigation, it was also demonstrated that AMP enables to stimulate GVBD in the denuded GV oocytes, arrested through treating with dbcAMP or hypoxanthine.

The halogenated adenosine nucleosides but not native ones are capable of inducing meiosis when the mouse cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes arrested by hypoxanthine treatment are cultured [215]. Meiotic progression of denuded oocytes can also be carried out by treating with 8-bromo-adenosine (8-Br-Ado) or the adenosine analog, methylmercaptopurine riboside, independent of initially used inhibitor for maintaining meiotic arrest [215]. Moreover, as ionomycin is able to increase intracellular calcium levels, treatment of MI-arrested human oocytes with this chemical contributes to extruding the first polar body [216]. However, the MII oocytes produced by this way can not be fertilized or do not accomplish cleavage divisions following ICSI application. In a study by Yoon ., (2017), reported that the MI-arrested oocytes are matured into MII stage after providing intracellular Ca⁺² oscillations [217]. Although blastocysts could be produced from these MII oocytes, no pregnancy was reported possibly due to incompetent cytoplasmic maturation required for achieving a normal prenatal development.

An interesting study by Chen ., (2009) revealed that pulsatile production of cAMP with forskolin stimulates meiotic maturation in the denuded mouse oocytes by activating AMPK [218]. The potential factors such as forskolin [as an adenyl cyclase (AC) activator] [218] and metal zinc (mediating synchronization of the first meiotic arrest in cooperation with the MOS-MAPK pathway) [219] may be used in obtaining MII oocytes at a high rate. Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase by CP-640186 or soraphen A in the mouse cumulus cell-enclosed, denuded and follicle-enclosed oocytes, maintained at an arrested state resumes meiosis possibly by the way of stimulating fatty acid oxidation for activating PRKA [220]. Moreover, acute heat pulsing can trigger mouse GV oocytes arrested with dibutyryl cAMP, and subsequently GVBD occurs [221]. This meiotic progression may be carried out by activating PRKA since it functions as a stress response kinase [222].

As a result, all these studies contribute to creating a future perspective on inducing arrested oocytes by several activators or synchronizing these oocytes developmentally to increase the rate of meiotic progression. However, it should be kept in mind that there may be potential adverse effects of these inventions on oocyte aging and the later developmental terms. Therefore, after performing more studies to understand their biological reliability, embryologists can start to use them in the regular ART applications.

Conclusion

Based on literature analysis, there are many factors such as altered gene expression, genetic mutations, ART applications, and various types of chemicals that affect meiotic progression in the mammalian oocytes. Most probably, novel molecular determinants associating with permanent arrests in the oocytes at different developmental stages would be defined in the future studies. After defining these determinants, further studies will also be required to elucidate the molecular signaling mechanisms, directly or indirectly leading to meiotic arrests. Following characterization of these mechanisms, most effective treatment applications for meiotic resumption in the human oocytes should be determined for increasing the rate of early embryo production.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Robert Glen (PhD) for helpful comments and corrections on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.