Decondensation of the mouse sperm nucleus within the interphase nucleus.

ABSTRACT

Sperm nuclei incorporated into the cytoplasm (ooplasm) of fertilised mouse eggs at the pronuclear stage remain condensed, whereas those injected into male or female pronuclei decondense. Similarly, sperm nuclei injected into germinal vesicles of immature oocytes or the nuclei of 2-cell embryos decondense, while those entering the cytoplasm of these oocytes/embryos do not. These facts seem to suggest that factors necessary for the decondensation of sperm nucleus are present in interphase nuclei and are released into the ooplasm during nuclear envelope breakdown. Nucleoplasmin, which is synthesised in the cytoplasm and accumulated within the nucleus, is likely a major candidate for these factors.