116 TAUROURSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID PREVENTS ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS-INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN PREIMPLANTATION PIG EMBRYOS

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
J.-S. Kim ◽  
K.-S. Lee ◽  
B.-S. Song ◽  
J.-Y. Zhang ◽  
Y.-K. Choo ◽  
...  

Apoptosis is an important determinant for the normal development of preimplantation embryos in vitro. Recently, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis has been extensively investigated in a wide variety of diseases. The efficient functioning of the ER is essential for most cellular activities and survival. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an endogenous bile acid, has been reported to attenuate ER stress-mediated cell death by interrupting classic pathways of apoptosis. Therefore, we explored the anti-apoptotic effect of TUDCA on ER stress-induced apoptosis in preimplantation porcine embryos. Also, TM (tunicamycin; an ER stress inducing chemical reagent) was used to investigate the effect of ER-stress on pig embryo development. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, presumptive porcine embryos were cultured in NCSU23 medium supplemented with 200 μ g mL–1 TUDCA or 1 μg mL–1 (TM) for 6 days at 39°C, 5% CO2 in air. All data were analyzed by using Duncan test of ANOVA by Statistical Analysis System (SAS). When treated with TM during culture, only 8.2% (8/97) of the embryos developed to the blastocyst stage compared with 27.4% (28/102) of the embryos in the control group (P < 0.05). We also confirmed that TM stimulates up-regulation of ER stress response genes, such as XBP-1 mRNA, and induces a high rate of apoptosis. Whereas the frequency of blastocyst formation in the TUDCA-treated group was increased compared with that in the control group (32.8%, 49/149 v. 22.2%, 32/144), P < 0.05). Furthermore, the blastocyst cell number was enhanced (30.6 v. 39.5) and apoptosis reduced (TUNEL positive nuclei number, 6.0 v. 3.2) by TUDCA treatment in pig embryos. As the result of real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis, the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xl gene was increased in the blastocyst stage by TUDCA treatment, whereas expression of pro-apoptotic Bax was decreased. In addition, we also confirmed that TUDCA decreases the rate of TM-induced apoptosis in preimplantation stage pig embryos. Our results indicate that TUDCA improves the developmental competence of porcine embryos by modulating the ER stress-induced apoptosis during preimplantation stage.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqi Yuan ◽  
Yao Fang ◽  
Mengling Tang ◽  
Zhiqiang Hu ◽  
Chenglong Rao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Burkholderia pseudomallei, a facultative intracellular bacterium, is the aetiological agent of melioidosis that is responsible for up to 40% sepsis-related mortality in epidemic areas. However, no effective vaccine is available currently, and the drug resistance is also a major problem in the treatment of melioidosis. Therefore, finding new clinical treatment strategies in melioidosis is extremely urgent. Results We demonstrated that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a clinically available endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor, can promote B. pseudomallei clearance both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of TUDCA on the survival of melioidosis mice, and found that treatment with TUDCA significantly decreased intracellular survival of B. pseudomallei. Mechanistically, we found that B. pseudomallei induced apoptosis and activated IRE1 and PERK signaling ways of ER stress in RAW264.7 macrophages. TUDCA treatment could reduce B. pseudomallei-induced ER stress in vitro, and TUDCA is protective in vivo. Conclusion Taken together, our study has demonstrated that B. pseudomallei infection results in ER stress-induced apoptosis, and TUDCA enhances the clearance of B. pseudomallei by inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that TUDCA could be used as a potentially alternative treatment for melioidosis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
C. Kubota ◽  
T. Kojima ◽  
T. Nagai ◽  
X. Tian ◽  
X. Yang

The timing of IVM–IVF–IVC is restricted by the onset of oocyte maturation, and sometimes oocytes must be treated at midnight. If we could regulate the timing of IVM of oocytes without decreasing their developmental competence, the IVM–IVF–IVC system could be a more applied technology. The present study was performed to examine the effects of in vitro storage of bovine oocytes in simple media prior to maturation culture to manipulate the start of IVM. Bovine follicular fluid (bFF), Dulbecco&apos;s PBS (PBS), M199 Earle salts (M199), and Earle salts supplemented with 5 mM NaHCO3 (M199A) were used as the fundamental media, after an addition of antibiotics, for in vitro storage of bovine cumulus&ndash;oocyte complexes (COCs) collected from ovaries obtained at the slaughterhouse. The fundamental media except for bFF were supplemented with 10&percnt; fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 1 mg mL&minus;1 polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). COCs were collected from follicles (3&ndash;8 mm in diameter) and washed twice in each medium; then approximately 50 COCs were submerged in 1 mL of each medium in cryotubes (Falcon #2812, 2.5 mL; Becton Dickinson Labware, Lincoln, NJ, USA), which were stored in a container kept at 38.5&deg;C for 22 h under air-closed condition (in vitro storage: IVS). Subsequently, the stored COCs were in vitro-matured (IVM) for 22 h in M199 with 10&percnt; FBS and 20 &micro;g mL&minus;1 estradiol, fertilized (IVF), and cultured in CR1aa (IVC) for examination of their development to the blastocyst stage (Kubota et al. 1998 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51, 281&ndash;286). Fresh oocytes without IVS were used as controls. The nuclear status of oocytes after IVS&ndash;IVM was compared to that of control oocytes by aceto-orcein stain. Their developmental rates to the blastocyst stage after IVM&ndash;IVF&ndash;IVC were compared between experimental and control groups. The experiment was repeated more than 3 times, and results were statistically analyzed using Student&apos;s t-test. When bFF and PBS supplemented with FBS or PVA were used for IVS, the rates of survived COCs after IVS and the development to the blastocyst stage after IVM&ndash;IVF&ndash;IVC (bFF (n &equals; 87): 0&percnt;, 0&percnt;; PBS/FBS (n &equals; 72): 84&percnt;, 1&percnt;; and PBS/PVA (n &equals; 81): 89&percnt;, 6&percnt;, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the control group (n &equals; 406; 97&percnt; and 29&percnt;, respectively). On the other hand, when M199A supplemented with FBS or PVA was used for IVS, the survival rate after IVS and the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage after IVS&ndash;IVM&ndash;IVF (M199A/FBS (n &equals; 97): 82&percnt;, 28&percnt;; and M199A/PVA (n &equals; 111): 98&percnt;, 31&percnt;, respectively) did not differ from those of the control group. After IVS, cumulus expansion was not seen and most of the oocyte nuclei reached the GVBD stage. These results suggest that the nuclear maturation progress of bovine oocytes can be regulated for at least 22 h in M199A without any deleterious influence on the number of oocytes surviving at an immature state after the storage and their subsequent development to the blastocyst stage after IVM&ndash;IVF&ndash;IVC. The delayed maturation allows a flexible fertilization schedule which is advantageous in research and industrial applications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
L. Landeo ◽  
R. S. Molina ◽  
M. E. Zuñiga ◽  
T. R. Gastelu ◽  
C. Sotacuro ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro developmental competence of alpaca embryos bisected at different embryonic stages. Gametes were obtained from ovaries and testes collected from a local abattoir. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were recovered (n = 120) by aspiration of ovarian follicles using a 5-mL syringe with an 18-gauge needle. Then, COC with at least 3 layers of cumulus cells and a homogeneous cytoplasm were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS, FSH (0.02 IU [JM1] [P2] [P3]), and 0.01 mg mL−1 oestradiol 17β [JM4] for 26 h at 38.5°C and 5% CO2 in air. After in vitro maturation, COC were placed in a 30-mL Petri dish containing FERT-TALP solution for 30 min. Then, epididymal alpaca spermatozoa (3 × 106 mL−1) were added to the dish and co-incubated with the COC for 20 h at 38.5°C and 5% CO2 in air. Motile epididymal sperm were selected by swim-up method centrifuged for 15 min at 350 × g in 2 mL of SPERM-TALP supplemented with 6 mg mL−1 of fatty-acid-free BSA. Sperm pellet was extended and culture in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C for 45 min. Thirty-three viable embryos at different stages [2-cells (n = 6), 8-cells (n = 15), and morulae (n = 12)] were bisected into approximately equal halves using a micro-surgical blade. The embryos were previously treated with 2 mg mL−1 of protease from Streptomyces griseus (P 8811, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) for 2 min to remove the zona pellucida. After bisection, the demi-embryos were cultivated in in vitro culture (IVC) medium containing 0.036 mg mL−1 sodium pyruvate, 0.146 mg mL−1 l-glutamine, 1% essential amino acids, 0.5% nonessential amino acids, and supplemented with 10% FCS using the well-of-the-well system. The demi-embryos were incubated for 7 days (changing the media every 48 h) in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. Additional embryos (n = 60) were obtained using the same conditions described above and used as a control group (unmanipulated). We obtained 66 demi-embryos [2-cells (n = 12), 8-cells (n = 30), and morulae (n = 24)] after bisection that were considered for IVC. From 12 demi-embryos bisected at 2-cell and 30 bisected at 8-cell stages, 3 (25%) and 30 (100%) reached the morula stage respectively. However, they did not develop any further. Interestingly, 18 demi-embryos bisected in morula reached the blastocyst stage (80%). For unmanipulated embryos, we obtained 42% (25/60), 35% (21/60), 32% (19/60), and 28% (17/60) of cleavage, morulae, and blastocyst and hatched blastocyst rates, respectively. In conclusion, alpaca embryos bisected at earlier stages (less than 8-cell) are not suitable to produce blastocysts. The earliest stage to produce blastocyst from bisected alpaca embryos is the morula stage.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorit Kalo ◽  
Zvi Roth

Programmed cell death via the sphingomyelin pathway has been suggested to underlie heat-shock disturbance of oocyte developmental competence. A series of experiments were performed to characterise the role of the sphingolipid ceramide in heat-shock-induced apoptosis, and to determine whether ceramide formation can be regulated. Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from ovaries collected in the cold season (November–April), in vitro-matured, fertilised and cultured for 8 days. Exposure of COCs to heat shock (41°C) during maturation reduced cleavage rate and blastocyst formation relative to the control group (38.5°C). Annexin-V binding (V-FITC assay), which is associated with the early apoptotic event of membrane phosphatidylserine turnover, was higher in oocytes exposed to short-term versus long-term heat shock, suggesting that heat-shock-induced apoptosis involves membrane alterations. Similar to heat exposure, oocyte maturation with C2-ceramide had a dose-dependent deleterious effect on the first cleavages and subsequent embryonic development in association with increased annexin-V binding. Blocking endogenous ceramide generation with fumonisin B1, a specific inhibitor of dihydroceramide synthase (i.e. de novo formation), moderated, to some extent, the effects of heat shock on oocyte developmental competence, suggesting that ceramide plays an important role in heat-shock-induced apoptosis.


Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 367
Author(s):  
Reem Hasaballah Alhasani ◽  
Mohammad Almarhoun ◽  
Xinzhi Zhou ◽  
James Reilly ◽  
Steven Patterson ◽  
...  

Retinal degeneration is characterized by the dysfunction of retinal cells. Oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of retinal degeneration. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) has been demonstrated to have protective effects in in vitro and in vivo retinal degeneration models. To fully understand the molecular mechanisms of TUDCA’s protection, we first treated human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, ARPE-19, with H2O2 or H2O2 plus TUDCA for 24 h. RPE cells co-exposed to TUDCA had higher cell viability and lower cell death rate compared to cells exposed to H2O2 alone. TUDCA significantly increased antioxidant capacity in H2O2-treated RPE cells by decreasing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), upregulating the expression of antioxidant genes, and increasing the generation of glutathione (GSH). TUDCA also inhibited inflammation in H2O2-challenged RPE cells by decreasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, TUDCA suppressed thapsigargin-induced ER stress in RPE cells, as demonstrated by decreased the expression of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and apoptosis. Our present study suggests that TUDCA can protect RPE cells against oxidative damage, inflammation, and ER stress and may benefit patients with retinal degeneration.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
M. Ozawa ◽  
J. Noguchi ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
K. Ohnuma ◽  
...  

The present study investigated the ability of in vitro-matured (IVM) porcine oocytes to be fertilized in vitro after vitrification. Oocytes matured in vitro for 46 h according to Kikuchi et al. (2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041) were cryopreserved by solid surface vitrification (SSV; Dinnyes et al. 2000 Biol. Reprod. 63, 513–518) or subjected to the steps of SSV without cooling (toxicity control, TC). Oocyte viability was assessed 2 h after treatment by morphology and fluorescein diacetate staining. Live oocytes were in vitro-fertilized (IVF) and cultured (IVC) for 6 days according to Kikuchi et al. (2002). Fertilization and pronuclear development of oocytes were assessed 10 h after IVF by aceto-orcein staining. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were recorded during IVC. Glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide levels in oocytes were analyzed by DTNB-glutathione disulfide reductase recycling assay and 20,70-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence assay, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and paired t-test. The rate of live oocytes after SSV was lower compared to the control and the TC groups (54.4%, 100%, and 100%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Sperm penetration rates of SSV oocytes were lower than those of the control group (51.9% and 67.8%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Significantly fewer penetrated oocytes in the SSV group formed male pronuclei than those in the control and the TC groups (66.7%, 96.5%, and 98.5%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). There were no differences in second polar body extrusion and monospermy rates between the treatment groups. The cleavage rate of SSV oocytes was significantly lower than that of the control and the TC groups (13.3%, 46.6%, and 47.7%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Blastocyst rates of control and TC oocytes were similar (20.7% and 23.6%, respectively), whereas only a single embryo developed to the blastocyst stage in the SSV group. GSH content of SSV oocytes was significantly lower than that of the control oocytes (7.3 pM and 10.5 pM, respectively), whereas the peroxide level was higher in SSV oocytes than in the control oocytes (59.0 and 50.5 FIU, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Our results reveal a cryopreservation-related drop of intracellular GSH level in oocytes, which may cause their decreased ability to form a male pronucleus and their increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. These factors might contribute to the low developmental competence of vitrified oocytes. This work was supported by a grant-in-aid for the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers (P05648) and the Bilateral Scientific and Technological Collaboration Grant between Hungary and Japan (TET, no. JAP-11/02).


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
D. X. Zhang ◽  
X. H. Shen ◽  
X. S. Cui ◽  
N.-H. Kim

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (~22 nucleotides) non-coding RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression by base-pairing with fully or partially sequence-complementary target mRNAs. Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified in various multicellular organisms and many miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved. While miRNAs play an important role in animal development, little is known about their biological function during early mammalian development. In order to obtain insight into the role of miRNAs in early embryogenesis, we first determined the expression levels of three apoptosis-related miRNAs, miR-15a, -16, and -21 in mouse preimplantation embryos using TaqMan� MicroRNA Assays. Five embryos of each developmental stage were snap-frozen and amplified by stem-loop RT primer and TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems Inc., Foster City, CA, USA). The miRNA concentrations (10–X) in embryo samples were calculated by standard curve from synthetic lin-4 miRNA and the absolute copy number per embryo was obtained based on the formula of 6.02 � 10(8–X). All three miRNAs had low expression levels from the zygote to the 8-cell stage and were up-regulated thereafter. In general, among the three miRNAs, miR-15a exhibited the lowest expression in preimplantation embryos, while miR-16 exhibited the highest. Because of the low levels of miRNA-15a, we determined developmental ability and apoptosis of embryos following microinjection of miRNA-15a. The microinjection of miR-15a into zygotes did not affect embryo development up to the blastocyst stage (miR-15a, 90 � 4.5% v. buffer 94.6 � 5.8%); however, it did induce a significant degree of apoptosis (P < 0.05; Tukey's multiple range test). Furthermore, the expression levels of miR-15a and -16 were increased in microinjected blastocysts compared to the control group (copy number per blastocyst, miR-15a, 6991 � 1223 v. 3098 � 592; miR-16, 196216 � 958 v. 133514 � 6059). Real-time RT-PCR data showed that the gene expression levels of the housekeeping gene GAPDH, the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL, and the miRNA pathway-related genes GW182 and Dicer remained unchanged in miR-15a-injected blastocysts compared to the control group. In contrast, the expression of the stem cell-specific transcriptional factor Oct-4 (fold change, 1.451 � 0.12), the pro-apoptotic gene Bax (1.418 � 0.12), and Caspase 3 (1.314 � 0.19) were significantly increased in microinjected blastocysts. In addition, treatment of 2-cell embryos with 600 µm H2O2 induced apoptosis and increased the expression level of miR-16 at the blastocyst stage (P < 0.05). Taken together, the changes in the expression levels of miR-15a, -16, and -21 in various embryonic developmental stages indicate a possible role for them in early embryogenesis. Furthermore, the high expression levels of miR-15a and miR-16 seem to be linked to apoptosis in blastocyst-stage embryos; this may be due to an increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic genes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (5) ◽  
pp. G773-G782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ersin Seyhun ◽  
Antje Malo ◽  
Claus Schäfer ◽  
Christopher A. Moskaluk ◽  
Ralf-Thorsten Hoffmann ◽  
...  

In acute pancreatitis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress prompts an accumulation of malfolded proteins inside the ER, initiating the unfolded protein response (UPR). Because the ER chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is known to inhibit the UPR in vitro, this study examined the in vivo effects of TUDCA in an acute experimental pancreatitis model. Acute pancreatitis was induced in Wistar rats using caerulein, with or without prior TUDCA treatment. UPR components were analyzed, including chaperone binding protein (BiP), phosphorylated protein kinase-like ER kinase (pPERK), X-box binding protein (XBP)-1, phosphorylated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (pJNK), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologues protein, and caspase 12 and 3 activation. In addition, pancreatitis biomarkers were measured, such as serum amylase, trypsin activation, edema formation, histology, and the inflammatory reaction in pancreatic and lung tissue. TUDCA treatment reduced intracellular trypsin activation, edema formation, and cell damage, while leaving amylase levels unaltered. The activation of myeloperoxidase was clearly reduced in pancreas and lung. Furthermore, TUDCA prevented caerulein-induced BiP upregulation, reduced XBP-1 splicing, and caspase 12 and 3 activation. It accelerated the downregulation of pJNK. In controls without pancreatitis, TUDCA showed cytoprotective effects including pPERK signaling and activation of downstream targets. We concluded that ER stress responses activated in acute pancreatitis are grossly attenuated by TUDCA. The chaperone reduced the UPR and inhibited ER stress-associated proapoptotic pathways. TUDCA has a cytoprotective potential in the exocrine pancreas. These data hint at new perspectives for an employment of chemical chaperones, such as TUDCA, in prevention of acute pancreatitis.


Dose-Response ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 155932581878263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Yanmin Wang

Introduction: We aimed to test the mechanism of protective effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on cardiovascular disease using cultured cardiomyocytes. Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were isolated and cultured and then the cells were divided into 4 groups based on the treatments: control group (cells treated with culture medium), H2O2/thapsigargin (TG) group (cells treated with oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum [ER] stress inducer), TUDCA group, and H2O2/TG + TUDCA group. The treated NRCMs were then subjected to serial analyses including flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. Results: Tauroursodeoxycholic acid significantly attenuated H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species generation and lactate dehydrogenase release and restored H2O2-induced reductions of glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels in NRCMs. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid also alleviated H2O2-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis, as well as the Bax/Bcl2 ratio compared with that of H2O2 treated alone. In addition, TUDCA suppressed TG-induced ER stress as reflected by inversing cell viability and the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa and C/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein. Conclusion: Our data indicated that TUDCA-mediated inhibition on H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cardiomyocytes apoptosis was through suppressing ER stress, and TUDCA possesses the potential to be developed as therapeutic tool in clinical use for cardiovascular diseases.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
F. Berlinguer ◽  
A. Gonzalez-Bulnes ◽  
S. Succu ◽  
G. Leoni ◽  
I. Rosati ◽  
...  

The use of a single dose of GnRH antagonists during the progestagen treatment prior to superovulatory treatment protocols in sheep increases the number of smaller follicles able to grow and ovulate in response to the exogenous FSH treatment (Lopez-Alonso C et al. 2004 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 233). The aim of our study was to test if such treatment affects the in vitro developmental competence of oocytes collected by ovum pick up (OPU) from GnRH-antagonist treated sheep during an ovarian by perstimulation protocol. Adult Sarda sheep (n = 18) were synchronized by the insertion of intravaginal sponges (Day 0) which were left in situ for 12 days; on Day 7, group A (n = 10) received a single dose of 3 mg of Antarelix (Teverelix, Europeptides, France) s.c., while group B (n = 8) served as control. All animals received 96 IU of FSH (Ovagen, ICP, New Zealand) administered in 4 equal doses given i.m. every 12 h starting on Day 10. Twelve hours after the last FSH administration oocytes were collected by OPU technique. Follicular growth was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography from Day 7 to Day 11. Collected oocytes were matured, fertilized, and cultured in vitro up to blastocyst stage under standard conditions used in our laboratory (Berlinguer F et al. 2004 Theriogenology 61, 1477–1486). After IVF, uncleaved oocytes were stained with acetolacmoid to evaluate chromatin configuration, while the cleaved ones were cultured in SOF + 0.4% BSA up to the blastocyst stage. Data were analyzed by ANOVA statistical analysis after arcsine transformation of the value percentages. Ultrasonographic monitoring showed a significant increase in the number of follicles (mean ± SEM) present in the ovaries from Day 8 to Day 11 of treatment in group A compared to group B (Day 8: 19 ± 5.1 vs. 13 ± 3.4, P > 0.05; Day 9: 20.1 ± 4.6 vs. 14.1 ± 2.4, P > 0.001; Day 10: 22.5 ± 6.1 vs. 14.7 ± 2.7, P > 0.001; Day 11: 25.3 ± 5.1 vs. 20.5 ± 4.1, P > 0.05), thus confirming that GnRH antagonist administration enhances ovarian response to exogenous FSH stimulation. On the other hand, oocytes collected from untreated sheep lead to a higher blastocyst output (P = 0.014), as illustrated in the table. These results indicated that although GnRH antagonist administration caused a significant increase in the ovarian response to the hormonal treatment, the final blastocyst output was significantly lower compared to that of the control group. This finding seems to suggest an impairment in the developmental competence of treated sheep oocytes. Table 1. In vitro maturation, fertilization, and developmental capacity of oocytes collected from follicles of GnRH antagonist-treated (group A) and untreated (group B) sheep This work was supported by funds from the Spanish MEC (projects SC 00-051-C3.1 and HI2002-0004) and the Italian MIUR (cofin).


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