Effects of mitochondria-associated Ca 2+ transporters suppression on oocyte activation.

Oocyte activation deficiency leads to female infertility. [Ca ²⁺ ] _i oscillations are required for mitochondrial energy supplement transition from the resting to the excited state, but the underlying mechanisms are still very little known. Three mitochondrial Ca ²⁺ channels, Mitochondria Calcium Uniporter (MCU), Na ⁺ /Ca ²⁺ Exchanger (NCLX) and Voltage-dependent Ca ²⁺ Channel (VDAC), were deactivated by inhibitors RU360, CGP37157 and Erastin, respectively. Both Erastin and CGP37157 inhibited mitochondrial activity significantly while attenuating [Ca ²⁺ ] _i and [Ca ²⁺ ] _m oscillations, which caused developmental block of pronuclear formation. Thus, NCLX and VDAC are two mitochondria-associated Ca ²⁺ transporter proteins regulating oocyte activation, which may be used as potential targets to treat female infertility. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: NCLX and VDAC are two mitochondria-associated Ca ²⁺ transporter proteins regulating oocyte activation.
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