Figure 3

Cortical granule exocytosis in oocytes exposed to a cyclic RGD peptide. ZP-free mouse oocytes were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of cyclic RGD or nonRGD peptides for 60 min and stained with LCA-biotin/Texas red-streptavidin 2 hr later. A) Representative photomicrographs of cortical granules localized in the cortex and corresponding chromosomes of a MII oocyte (a, c) and an oocyte exposed to the RGD peptide (b, d). Final magnification, ×1250. B) Histogram showing CG loss in oocytes exposed to cyclic RGD or nonRGD peptides. The results here represent the average of 3 experiments per peptide concentration ± S.E.M. and a total of 60–80 inseminated oocytes per experimental point. Bar = 10 μm. Means with different letters are statistically different (P < 0.05).