NEW: Stunning Detail in Human MI and MII Oocyte Images Seen in New Downloadable PDF
Non-invasively reveal the spindle and zona pellucida in living oocytes
The CRi Oosight Imaging System is a next-generation, improved version of CRi's own, original, industry-leading SpindleView system. Use the system for assisted reproductive technology applications for imaging the meiotic and mitotic spindle, the three-layered zona pellucida, and other birefringent structures. Assess the quality of living oocytes. Non-invasively locate and position the spindle for ICSI. Monitor changes in spindle parameters from oocyte to oocyte. Remove the spindle in nuclear transfer techniques without using Hoechst dye DNA staining, thus minimizing damage to vital cytoplasmic organelles. Track the changing molecular organization of the zona pellucida through embryo development.
Oosight image of an oocyte prior to injection, spindle is identified by the white arrow.
Hoffman Modulation Contrast (HMC) image of an oocyte during injection. Note: no spindle is visible.
NEW: Stunning Detail in Human MI and MII Oocyte Images Seen in New Downloadable PDF
This Downloadable PDF Image Gallery (10 MB) shows stunning detail of the meiotic spindle and trilaminar zona pellucida both in MI anaphase/telophase oocytes as well as in MII oocytes. Images courtesy of RMANJ and RBA, Atlanta.
Movie of the enucleation of a Rhesus monkey oocyte, using CRi's Oosight system

Click here to download the movie. Be patient if you do not have a broadband Internet connection, since it is of high quality and large (10.8 MB). Windows users should be able to play the movie using the latest version of Microsoft's MediaPlayer. If your browser will not play the movie directly, right-click on the link and choose Save Target As to save the movie to your desktop. Then try opening the AVI file with your movie player of choice. Notice how easy to use the Oosight software is, and how clearly the spindle appears in the Live Oosight view. This movie was acquired in real-time using third-party screen-capture software. Oosight movies can be exported directly from CRi's software, but this particular movie shows the entire program interface.
The multi-step process of cloning is very inefficient, with yields of a few percent or less. In the BioTechniques® 2007 Protocol Guide, we describe the use of the Oosight system to improve enucleation precision and to assess oocyte quality to increase overall cloning success. Click here to download the full protocol (.pdf).
System Details
Format
- Microscope-based system (microscope not included)
Components
- Oosight software for direct viewing, image capture and retardance calculations
- Liquid crystal universal compensator
- Circular polarizer
- 546-nm interference filter
- Scientific-grade CCD camera with fast USB 2.0 interface
- Computer system and 17" LCD Monitor (optional)


