This is one of 4 grouped time lapse movies (CIL 11958-11962) revealing the responses of a meiotic oocyte spindle to various forms of micromanipulation by a glass microneedle. The needle is inserted, from below, through the egg cortex to the inner pole of the metaphase spindle. The spindle and its orientation are made visible by the use of polarizing optics, and in this sequence, rotation of the spindle causes a temporary reversal of its contrast from bright to dark. When the needle is withdrawn, the spindle returns to its original position, but the opposite pole is now attached to the cortex.