This study analyzed the presence of OCT-4 protein and transcript in pig oocytes after in vitro maturation. Oocytes were collected after slaughter and subjected to two analyses. First, mRNA was isolated from oocytes and reverse transcribed to cDNA, which was amplified via PCR using OCT-4 specific primers. This confirmed the presence of OCT-4 mRNA. Second, immunofluorescence staining with OCT-4 antibodies also confirmed the presence of the OCT-4 protein. The results showed that OCT-4 is present in pig oocytes, consistent with findings in other mammals.

1. Summary
Researches on oocytes bring many important informations about animal and human
development. Both before conception, as well as in the first moments after. It has been
denomstrated that for correct development of oocyte, expression of numerous of genes is
indispensable. Among them there is many transcription factors. One of proteins that are formed at
the time at many animals, is OCT-4. That protein belongs to the fifth class of transcription factors
family POU.
The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of OCT-4 protein and OCT-4 transcript in
swine oocytes after IVM procedure. Material for the study were oocytes, collected after
slaughtering. The Material were collected by aspiration of folicullar fluid.
Analysis of the presence of OCT-4 in oocytes were carried out in two ways. Firstly, mRNA
were isolated form oocytes to subject them to the procedure of reverse transcription. Collected
cDNA were amplified during PCR. Specyfic primers were used to amplify coding sequense of
OCT-4 protein. Second way to check the presence of the protein were immunofluorescence staining
with labeled protein-specific antibodies.
Both first way of checking as well as the second brought positive results. After amplifying
specyfic PCR product were detected, which confirms the presence of OCT-4 protein coding mRNA.
The study that used immunofluorescence staining also confirms the presence of OCT-4 protein in
cells.
Obtained results confirmed the presence of OCT-4 protein in the swine oocytes. The results
are similar to the results obtained in research on other mammals, among others mice. That fact is
probably due to similarities in oocytes development among most of mammals. Researches on the
oocytes on other development stages could bring addictional information.