This study was conducted to investigate stimulatory effect of epidermal growth
factor (EGF) on nuclear maturation and the expression level of EGF-receptor
(EGFR), GM-130 (a marker of Golgi apparatus), transport protein Sec61 subunit
beta (Sec61β), and coatomer protein complex subunit gamma 2 (COPG2) in porcine
oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from follicle with 3-6 mm
in diameter. They were incubated in medium with/without EGF for 22 h (IVMⅠ) and
subsequently incubated hormone-free medium with/without EGF for 22 h (IVMⅡ).
Nuclear maturation state was checked by aceto-orcein stain. Protein expression
of EGFR, GM-130, Sec61β, and COPG2 were measured by immunofluorescence. In
results, nuclear maturation of oocytes in EGF non-treated oocytes were
significantly lower than EGF-treated groups at IVMⅠ or IVMⅡ stage
(P<0.05), whereas maturational rate in EGF treatment
groups at both of IVM stage was higher in among the all treatment groups
(P<0.05). EGFR, GM-130, Sec61β and COPG2 were expressed
in the cytoplasm of oocytes. Especially, GM-130 and EGFR were strongly
expressed, but Sec61β and COPG2 were weakly expressed in cortical area of
cytoplasm. The protein level of GM-130, Sec61β, and COPG2 were significantly
higher in the EGF-treated groups (P<0.05). However EGFR was
no difference between non EGF-treated groups and control. In conclusion, EGF
plays an important role in the systems for oocyte maturation with endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In addition, the protein levels of Sec61β and
COPG2 could be changed by EGF in the porcine oocytes during maturation.