A 3D analysis revealed complexe mitochondria morphologies in porcine cumulus cells
Date
2022
Authors
Lounas, Amel
Lebrun, Ariane
Laflamme, Isabelle
Vernoux, Nathalie
Savage, Julie
Tremblay, Marie-Ève
Germain, Marc
Richard, François J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Reports
Abstract
In the ovarian follicle, a bilateral cell-to-cell communication exists between the female germ cell and
the cumulus cells which surround the oocyte. This communication allows the transit of small size
molecules known to impact oocyte developmental competence. Pyruvate derivatives produced by
mitochondria, are one of these transferred molecules. Interestingly, mitochondria may adopt a variety
of morphologies to regulate their functions. In this study, we described mitochondrial morphologies
in porcine cumulus cells. Active mitochondria were stained with TMRM (Tetramethylrhodamine,
Methyl Ester, Perchlorate) and observed with 2D confocal microscopy showing mitochondria of
different morphologies such as short, intermediate, long, and very long. The number of mitochondria
of each phenotype was quantified in cells and the results showed that most cells contained elongated
mitochondria. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed at nanoscale resolution the
different mitochondrial morphologies including round, short, intermediate, and long. Interestingly,
3D visualisation by focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) revealed different
complex mitochondrial morphologies including connected clusters of different sizes, branched
mitochondria, as well as individual mitochondria. Since mitochondrial dynamics is a key regulator
of function, the description of the mitochondrial network organisation will allow to further study
mitochondrial dynamics in cumulus cells in response to various conditions such as in vitro maturation.
Description
Keywords
Cell biology, Physiology, Reproductive biology
Citation
Lounas, A., Lebrun, A., Laflamme, I., Vernoux, N., Savage, J., Tremblay, M., . . . Richard, F. (2022). “A 3D analysis revealed complexe mitochondria morphologies in porcine cumulus cells.” Scientific Reports, 12(15403). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19723-2