The Roles of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) and P38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (p38 MAPK) in Aged Pig Oocytes

After reaching metaphase II, in vitro matured oocytes undergo the complex processes referred to as oocyte aging. Under our culture conditions, some aged oocytes remained at the stage of metaphase II, some underwent spontaneous parthenogenetic activation and others underwent cellular death, either through apoptosis (fragmentation) or lysis. We investigated the effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibition on pig oocyte aging and the activity of JNK and p38 MAPK during the aging period. Inhibition of JNK protected the oocytes from fragmentation (0% fragmented oocytes under JNK inhibition vs. 26% fragmented oocytes in the control group). Inhibition of p38 MAPK had no effect on fragmentation. Inhibition of JNK also had an influence on spontaneous parthenogenetic activation of aged oocytes. The ratio of activated JNK to total JNK decreased during aging of oocytes. However, exit from MII had no effect on it. The ratio of activated p38 MAPK to total p38 MAPK did not change significantly. The phosphorylated form of JNK is present in fragmented and activated oocytes, while lysed oocytes lack the active form of JNK. Based on our data, we can conclude that JNK plays an active role in fragmentation of pig oocytes and that p38 MAPK is not involved in this process.