Journal article
Fertilization of Xenopus oocytes using the Host Transfer Method
Journal of Visualized Experiments, Vol.45, e1864
2010
DOI: 10.3791/1864
PMCID: PMC3048584
PMID: 21085101
Abstract
Studying the contribution of maternally inherited molecules to vertebrate early development is often hampered by the time and expense necessary to generate maternal-effect mutant animals. Additionally, many of the techniques to overexpress or inhibit gene function in organisms such as Xenopus and zebrafish fail to sufficiently target critical maternal signaling pathways, such as Wnt signaling. In Xenopus, manipulating gene function in cultured oocytes and subsequently fertilizing them can ameliorate these problems to some extent. Oocytes are manually defolliculated from donor ovary tissue, injected or treated in culture as desired, and then stimulated with progesterone to induce maturation. Next, the oocytes are introduced into the body cavity of an ovulating host female frog, whereupon they will be translocated through the host's oviduct and acquire modifications and jelly coats necessary for fertilization. The resulting embryos can then be raised to the desired stage and analyzed for the effects of any experimental perturbations. This host-transfer method has been highly effective in uncovering basic mechanisms of early development and allows a wide range of experimental possibilities not available in any other vertebrate model organism.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Fertilization of Xenopus oocytes using the Host Transfer Method
- Creators
- Patricia N Schneider - Department of Biology, University of IowaAlissa M Hulstrand - Department of Biology, University of IowaDouglas W Houston - Department of Biology, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Visualized Experiments, Vol.45, e1864
- Publisher
- MyJove Corporation
- DOI
- 10.3791/1864
- PMID
- 21085101
- PMCID
- PMC3048584
- ISSN
- 1940-087X
- eISSN
- 1940-087X
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9983991944202771
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