198 RESVERATROL SUPPLEMENTATION DURING IN VITRO MATURATION AND FERTILISATION ENHANCES DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF BOVINE OOCYTES

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 230
Author(s):  
P. Kordowitzki ◽  
S. M. Bernal ◽  
D. Herrmann ◽  
P. Aldag ◽  
H. Niemann

Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin identified in various plant species, particularly in grapevine peel. It is a strong antioxidant, induces mitochondrial biogenesis and enhances Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity by inhibiting phosphodiesterase. SIRT1 belongs to the family of NAD+-dependent histone deacetylates and has been shown to regulate several key cellular processes, including transcriptional silencing, aging, chromatin remodeling, and genomic stability, via deacetylation of p53, FoxO transcription factors, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). The aim of this study was to determine whether supplementation of the maturation and fertilisation medium with resveratrol influences bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development and whether these effects are mediated via SIRT1 pathway. Three different resveratrol concentrations were used during in vitro maturation (IVM) and IVF. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 2878) were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and subjected to IVM medium supplemented with 0.2 µM, 1 µM, or 20 µM resveratrol® (Sigma-Aldrich, Buchs, Switzerland) for 24 h followed by IVF with the same concentrations of resveratrol for 19 h. The IVM and IVF medium without resveratrol (controls) and dimethyl sulfoxide supplementation as vehicle control were also included. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro until Day 8 to assess embryo development, and maturation rates, cleavage, and blastocyst formation were evaluated. Maturation rates as determined by polar body extrusion (0.2 µM: 64.2% ± 7; 1 µM: 82.3% ± 4; 20 µM: 68.8% ± 2; control: 74.6% ± 5 and vehicle control: 70.2% ± 6, respectively; P ≤ 0.05) did not differ dramatically. Oocytes in 1 µM resveratrol supplemented maturation medium showed distinct detachment of cumulus cells in comparison with those in the other treatment and control groups. Cleavage rates were reduced in the 0.2 µM and 20 µM group compared with controls (0.2 µM: 44.21% ± 2; 1 µM: 58.4% ± 3; 20 µM: 40.9% ± 5; control: 56.6% ± 2 and vehicle control: 55.2% ± 6, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Blastocyst rates were impaired in the low and high resveratrol concentration groups compared to all other groups (0.2 µM: 11.3% ± 1; 1 µM: 33.4% ± 3; 20 µM: 8.2% ± 4; control: 26.7% ± 4 and vehicle control: 20.8% ± 2, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Relative mRNA abundance of SIRT1 in matured oocytes from the 1 µM group did not differ significantly compared to the controls. Results so far indicate that very low and high concentrations of resveratrol impair development to the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, a 1 µM resveratrol supplementation during IVM and IVF seems to improve the developmental competence of oocytes, which is reflected not only in the elevated blastocyst rates but also in higher degree of expansion of cumulus cells after IVM and maturation rates.

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
R. Oishi ◽  
Y. Isaji ◽  
H. Imai ◽  
M. Yamada

The high level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which is provided to the oocytes from cumulus cells via gap junctional complexes in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs), is known to contribute to meiotic arrest at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage of CEOs. However, whether intraoocyte cAMP during the period of in vitro maturation (IVM) affects postfertilization developmental competence of mouse oocytes still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of FSH or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) treatment during IVM on in vitro development of mouse oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Whether a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte would be essential for a cytoplasmic maturation-promoting effect was also examined. CEOs were isolated from and eCG-primed 3-week-old ICR mouse by rupturing preovulatory follicles with needles in M16 medium with 5% FCS and essential and nonessential amino acids (basal medium). IVM media used were basal medium without (control) or with 100 µm dbcAMP or 1 IU mL–1 FSH. Carbenoxolone (100 µm, CBX), an inhibitor of gap junction, was used to inhibit a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte. Denuded oocytes (DOs) were prepared by repeatedly pipetting in basal medium with 0.2% hyaluronidase. CEOs and DOs were cultured in IVM media at 37�C under 5% CO2 in air for 16.5 h, and then transferred to TYH medium (a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium) containing 0.4% BSA, followed by insemination with capacitated sperm. After 6 h of IVF, inseminated oocytes were cultured in KSOM medium with 0.3% BSA. Development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages was estimated at 24 h and 120 h after IVF, respectively. All experiments were done in 3 replicates, and the statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA and Fisher's protected least-squares difference (PLSD) test. When CEOs were matured in IVM media, the rates of postfertilization development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages of oocytes matured in the control medium were very low(29% and 13%, respectively), whereas those of oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 61% and 52%, dbcAMP: 63 and 57%, respectively, v. control; P < 0.05). Next, when CEOs were matured in basal medium with 1 IU mL–1 FSH and 100 µm CBX, the developmental rate to the 2-cell stage (56%) was similar to that in medium with FSH alone (61%) but the rate to the blastocyst stage (40%) was little lower compared with that in medium with FSH alone (52%), although not significantly different (P > 0.05). Furthermore, when DOs were matured in IVM media, the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage after IVF of the oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 25%, dbcAMP: 15%; P < 0.05) compared with those in control medium (7%). Taken together, it is suggested that increasing the concentration of intraoocyte cAMP during the IVM period is important to improve the developmental competence after IVF of mouse oocytes, and that the competence is acquired in part in a cumulus-oocyte junctional communication-independent manner.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
P. Ferré ◽  
K. X. Nguyen ◽  
T. Wakai ◽  
H. Funahashi

This experiment was undertaken to assess the meiotic and developmental competences of oocytes derived from different sized follicles and denuded of cumulus cells 0, 20, and 44 h after the start of culture for in vitro maturation (IVM). Groups of 60 oocyte-cumulus complexes from small- (SF; <3 mm) and medium-sized follicles (MF; 3–6 mm) were cultured for IVM in porcine oocyte medium with 50 μM β-mercaptoethanol supplemented with 1 mM dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate, 10 IU mL−1 of eCG, and 10 IU mL−1 of hCG for 20 h at 39°C and 5% CO2 in air. Then, after washing, they continued culture in fresh β-mercaptoethanol without dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and gonadotropins under the same conditions for another 24 h. At 0, 20, and 44 h of IVM, cumulus cells were removed with 0.1% (wt/vol) hyaluronidase and the denuded oocytes continued IVM culture following the protocol. Mature oocytes with the first polar body were selected, parthenogenetically activated with a single electrical pulse (DC: 1.2 kV/cm, 30 µs), incubated with 4% (wt/vol) BSA and 5 μM cytochalasin B for 4 h, and cultured in porcine zygote medium for 5 days. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were observed on Day 2 and 5, respectively. Blastocysts were stained with 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole for cell count assessment. The experiment was replicated 5 times and analysed with a 1- or 2-way ANOVA. If P < 0.05 in ANOVA, a Tukey multiple comparisons test was performed. Regardless of the time of cumulus cell removal, oocytes from MF had significantly higher in rates of maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates, as compared with those from SF, whereas there were no significant differences in the cell number of blastocysts between SF and MF (32 v. 34 cells, respectively). When oocytes were denuded before IVM culture, rates of oocyte maturation (37.6% in SF and 50.8% in MF), and blastocyst formation (2.7% in SF and 27.3% in MF) were significantly lower than controls (51.2% in SF and 76% in MF; 25.8% in SF and 48.5% in MF, respectively). When oocytes were denuded 20 h after the start of IVM, oocyte maturation rates were significantly increased (64.1% in SF and 82.5% in MF) as compared with controls, whereas no significant differences were observed in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates in comparison with controls. These results conclude that removing cumulus cells from oocyte-cumulus complexes 20 h after the start of IVM improves the meiotic competence of oocytes derived from both SF and MF, without any reduction of developmental competence of the oocytes following parthenogenetical activation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
C. Diez ◽  
M. Carbajo ◽  
L. Fernandez ◽  
C.O. Hidalgo ◽  
S. de la Varga ◽  
...  

Mammalian oocytes remain one of the most difficult cell types to successfully cryopreserve. The in vitro-maturation protocols (IVM) have a large impact on the oocyte maturation. Consequently, inhibition of meiosis has been used to improve developmental competence of oocytes without reducing blastocyst rates. Moreover, the meiotic stage influences the ability of oocytes to survive cryopreservation. This work analyzes the effect of the inhibition of meiosis (prematuration) on the freezability of the bovine oocyte. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries. Inmature oocytes (I) with compact cumulus and evenly granulated cytoplasm were selected. Prematuration (PM) was performed by incubating COCs for 22h in TCM199 NaHCO3 and roscovitine 25μM. IVM was accomplished in TCM199 NaHCO3, 10% FCS, FSH-LH and 17β-estradiol. Oocytes were subjected to 5 treatments prior the vitrification (see table). COCs were partially denuded from cumulus cells and vitrified/warmed using the OPS system (Vajta et al. 1998 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51, 53–58). Warmed oocytes were fertilized (Day 0) and presumptive zygotes having a normal morphological appearance were cultured in SOFaa+5% of FCS (Day 3); elements with degenerated appearance were discarded and recorded. Fresh oocytes submitted to IVM (c-M) or prematured and matured (c-PM+M) were fertilized and cultured as controls. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test and expressed as LSM±SE. Developmental data are referred to the zygotes cultured. Only oocytes vitrified after IVM reached the blastocyst stage, but at lower rates than fresh controls. However, no differences were found between treatments at any developmental stage. Oocytes vitrified both as prematured+matured and immature oocytes showed increased proportions (P&lt;0.01) of degenerated oocytes (37.3±5.9 and 49.9±5.9, respectively), as compared with oocytes matured before vitrification (17.6±5.9). These results show that effects induced by incubation with roscovitine (Lonergan et al. 2003 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 64, 369–378) in combination with cryodamage compromise the oocyte developmental ability. Supported by CICYT, AGL2001-379.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
H. J. Kim ◽  
S. R. Cho ◽  
C. Y. Choe ◽  
S. H. Choi ◽  
D. S. Son ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to examine the selection effects of in vitro matured porcine follicular oocytes with polar body extrusion and early cleavage as a non-invasive marker to know the developmental competence in advance. Porcine oocytes matured for 48 h and then examined for polar body extrusion. The examined oocytes were matured for an additional 16–18 h, activated with 7% ethanol, and cultured in 5 µg mL–1 cytochalasin B for 5 h for diploid formation. The treated oocytes were examined for cleavage after 48 h and continued culturing for 5 days. Each treatment was replicated by 3–4 times. Oocytes of 21.9% (70/320) were discarded in morphological selection, and 32.1% (167/520) oocytes were discarded by failure of first polar body extrusion. The selected oocytes were matured and activated, and after 48 h, the cleavage rate was examined. In morphologically selected oocytes, 15.8% (30/190) were not cleaved, 52.6% (100/190) were normally cleaved (consisted of 2–7 cells), and 31.6% (60/190) were hyper-cleaved (consisted of 8 cells or more) at 48 h after activation. However, in the first polar body extruded oocytes, 7.1% (18/253) were not cleaved, 73.1% (185/253) were normally cleaved, and 19.8% (50/253) were hyper-cleaved. From the morphologically selected oocytes, 16.7% (10/60) were developed up to blastocyst stage from those in which cleavage selection was not performed and 31.7% (19/60) from those in which cleavage selection was performed. From the polar body extruded oocytes, 39.0% (39/100) were developed up to blastocyst stage from those in which cleavage selection was not performed and 49.0% (49/100) from those in which cleavage selection was performed. Cleavage was examined within 12 h interval after activation (0 = time of activation) up to 48 h. At 0–12, 12–24, 24–36, and 36–48 h intervals, 4.1% (9/220), 68.6% (151/220), 19.1% (42/220), and 2.3% (5/220) oocytes were cleaved, respectively, and 5.9% (13/220) oocytes were not cleaved at 48 h after activation. The cleaved embryos in each interval were cultured and developed up to blastocyst with 0 (0/9), 39.1 (59/151), 9.5 (4/42), and 0% (0/5), respectively. This result suggests that the polar body extruded and cleaved at 12–36 h embryo has higher developmental potential than the others.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
N. T. Uoc ◽  
F. de Rennis ◽  
N. H. Duc ◽  
L. C. Bui ◽  
N. V. Hanh ◽  
...  

Reproductive activity in swamp buffalo is characterized by a clearly demonstrated anestrus season. The aim of the present study was to evaluate season effect on the oocyte collection, in vitro maturation, and somatic cell nuclear transfer. The ovaries collected from a slaughterhouse were divided into 3 groups according to the collection period: (1) G1: from January to April; G2: from May to August, which is characterized by higher climate temperature and low reproductive activity; and G3: from September to December. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles 2-6 mm in diameter using an 18-gauge needle, washed in HEPES-buffered TCM-199 (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA), and classified following 3 different quality levels: A (with 4–6 layers of cumulus cells), B (with 2–3 layers of cumulus cells), and C (few or without cumulus cells). The oocytes of A and B categories were used for IVM in maturation media currently used in cattle (TCM-199 medium + 10% fetal bovine serum) with an increase of FSH concentration (30 �g mL-1) and estradiol-17β (3 �g mL-1). Maturation was carried out at 39�C in a water-saturated incubator, under 5% CO2 for 22 h. The oocytes were observed for the cumulus expanding and the presence of polar body (PB). The oocytes with PB were used for further enucleation and cell nuclear transfer using buffalo quiescent fibroblast cells and the technique described previously (Nguyen et al. 2000 Theriogenology 53, 235). The percentages of intact and fused oocytes as well as reconstructed embryos developed to blastocyst stage were compared for the oocytes from G1 and G2. The results indicated that the average number of good quality COCs collected per ovary for the G1, G2, and G3 period were 6.00 � 4.08 (n = 426), 2.93 � 2.55 (n = 346), and 4.78 � 1.05 (n = 445), respectively. The percentages of A and B oocytes were 62.4% (1.58 � 0.51 vs. 2.17 � 1.54), 63.2% (0.90 � 0.32 vs. 0.95 � 0.50), and 54.7% (1.12 � 0.25 vs. 1.49 � 0.53), respectively; the maturation rate was 55.08%, 56.28%, and 52.16%, respectively. There were no significant differences between G1 and G2 in the percentage of intact and fused oocytes (93.7% and 59% for G1; 100% and 60% for G2, respectively), but the rate of embryos developed to blastocyst stage was higher for oocytes from G1 (18.5% vs. 10.2%). In conclusion, in swamp buffalo, the hot season affected significantly the number of oocytes collected per animal and the subsequent results of somatic cell nuclear transfer. The optimal period for working with buffalo oocyte is from January to April. This work was aupported by a grant from the Vietnam-Italy 3AB3 Project.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 658-664
Author(s):  
G Ashour ◽  
Ashraf El-Sayed ◽  
M Khalifa ◽  
Nasser Ghanem

The deleterious effect of heat stress on cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) competence is well recognized in different livestock species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of physiologically relevant heat stress on the developmental competence of camel COCs during in vitro maturation (IVM). A total of 1548 COCs were divided into six groups in this study. The groups were named K1 and K2 representing good and low-quality COCs incubated at 38.5oC for 30 hours. While K3 and k4 represent good and low-quality COCs exposed to 41oC for the first 6 hours of IVM. Finally, K5 and k6 represent the groups of good and low-quality COCs exposed to 42oC for the first 6 hours of IVM. After exposure of COCs to heat stress at 41°C and 42°C during the first 6 hours of in vitro maturation, the COCs were incubated at 38.5°C for 24 hours of IVM. The in vitro matured COCs were activated to cleave using ethanol followed by 4 mM 6-DMAP and developed embryos were cultured in vitro for 7 days post parthenogenetic activation. The results of this study indicated that heat stress at 42oC significantly decreased the Pb (polar body) extrusion rate in K4 and K6, compared to other groups. Additionally, the embryo cleavage rate was significantly lower for good and low-quality oocytes exposed to heat stress (K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6), compared to good quality COCs of the control group (K1). The cleavage rate was lower for low quality (K2; 63 ± 1.28) than good quality COCs (K1; 53 ± 1.85). The percentages of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage were lower for K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6 than K1. Moreover, the blastocyst rate was lower for K2 (9 ± 0.22) than K1 (15 ± 0.22). The results of this study indicated that exposure of camel oocytes to heat stress for 6 hours during in vitro maturation severely reduced extrusion of polar body, cleavage, and blastocyst rates. The low-quality camel COCs were reduced developmental capacity than good quality oocytes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
N.R. Mtango ◽  
T. Kono

Nuclear reprogramming is characterized by functional modification(s) of the transferred nucleus that allows it to direct normal embryo development with the potential to grow to term. The aim of our study was to investigate the process of nuclear changes in reconstructed and activated embryos as well as their developmental competence. All chemicals used were from Sigma Chemicals (St. Louis, MO, USA). Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries of prepurbetal gilts and matured for 42 h in vitro. The cumulus cells were removed by adding in 1 mg mL −1 hyaluronidase in TLP-HEPES. For the NT experiment, oocytes with first polar body were cultured in 0.4 μg mL−1 demecolcine for 1 h. A protruding membrane was removed by micromanipulator and a single donor nucleus from fetal fibroblast was injected subzonally. Fusion was conducted immediately after transfer in 0.3 M mannitol, 0.5 mM HEPES, 0.1% PVA, and 0.1 mM MgCl2 in a fusion chamber with parallel electrodes set 1 mm apart using a singe DC pulse of 125 V mm−1 for 80 s. Activation was done 2–4 h after fusion in the same medium as fusion but with 0.1 mM CaCl2 added; embryos were cultured in 5 μg mL−1 cytochalasin B and 10 μg mL−1 cyclohexamide for 6 h. The embryos were cultured in glucose-free NCSU-37 containing 4 mg mL−1 BSA as basic medium supplemented with 0.17 mM sodium pyruvate and 2.73 mM sodium lactate from Days 0 to 2, and then in basic medium with 5.55 mM D-glucose from Days 2–6 (Kikuchi K et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041). Non-manipulated oocytes (PA) were electrically activated as stated above. For observing the changes of donor cells, some reconstructed oocytes were fixed 2 h after fusion, prior to activation, and some 12 h after activation in acetic acid:ethanol (1:3) and stained in 1% orcein. The activated oocytes were fixed at 12 h and stained as stated above. There were 47.5% (38/80) of reconstructed oocytes with premature chromosome condensation (PCC), and 23.7% (19/80) with nuclear swelling two hours after fusion. Pronuclear like formation 12 h after activation was 45% (27/60) and 83.3% (50/60) in NT and PA, respectively. The blastocyst rate was 8.3% (5/60) and 46% (69/150) for NT and PA, respectively. The results suggest that porcine oocyte cytoplasm can successfully reprogram somatic cell nuclei and support the development of NT embryos to the blastocyst stage.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Shin ◽  
T. Otoi ◽  
D.C. Kraemer ◽  
M.E. Westhusin

In order to establish an activation protocol for somatic cloning in the domestic cat, we evaluated the developmental competence of cat embryos derived from in-vitro matured ova after parthenogenetic activation treatment. The quality of parthenogenetic embryos was assessed by D3 cleavage rates, D8 rates of blastocyst formation and total nucleus numbers in expanded/hatching blastocysts. Parthenogenetic activation treatments were as follows;; Treatment I: 3.0kVcm−1 (25μs, twice) in 0.3M mannitol containing 0.1mM CaCl2· 2H2O and 0.1mM MgSO4, administered to matured cat oocytes and followed by 10μgmL−1 cycloheximide +5μgmL−1 cytochalasin B in TCM 199-Earle’s salt supplemented with 0.3% BSA for 6–7h. Treatment II: The first electric stimulation was performed as described for treatment I except that the activation medium consisted of 0.3M mannitol containing Mg, but without Ca. Two hours later, pre-pulsed MII oocytes were electropulsed by applying 1.0kVcm−1 (50μs, twice, 5s apart) in 0.3M mannitol containing Ca and Mg for additional activation, followed by culture in 10μgmL−1 cycloheximide +5μgmL−1 cytochalasin B treatment in TCM 199-Earle’s salt supplemented with 0.3% BSA for 6–7h. Immature cat oocytes were obtained from ovaries by mincing/dissection and matured in vitro for 26–30h as previously described (Gomez et al., 2001, Therigenology, 55, 472). Only MII oocytes with a 1st polar body were utilized for the activation procedure after removal of cumulus cells with 0.1% hyaluronidase by gentle pipetting. A total of 1120 oocytes were collected and the overall maturation rate was 49.8% (551/1120). After parthenogenetic activation of the MII oocytes, the embryos were cultured in vitro as described previously (Pope et al., 2000, Theriogenology, 53, 163–174). The results are shown in Table 1. Treatment II resulted in significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) D3 cleavage rates;; however, there were no significant differences in D8 blastocyst formation and total nucleus numbers. These data suggest that an additional electric activation (Treatment II) may increase the in vitro cleavage rates compared to using a fusion and electrical stimulation simultaneously (Treatment I). In addition, we demonstrated the developmental competence of domestic cat embryos derived from in vitro maturation, activation, and culture for development to the pre-implantation stage. By using these procedures for SCNT, several pregnancies were established and a healthy cloned kitten resulted in our laboratory (Shin et al., 2002, Nature, 415, 859). Therefore, this protocol can be useful, not only for prediction of the developmental competence of domestic cat oocytes matured in vitro, but also when used with SCNT to produce cloned cats. Comparison of cleavage rates and developmental competence to blastocyst stage following parthenogenetic activation treatments in domestic cat oocytes matured in vitro


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Á Martíne. Moro ◽  
I Lamas-Toranzo ◽  
L González-Brusi ◽  
A Pérez-Gómez ◽  
P Bermejo-Álvarez

Abstract Study question Does cumulus cell mtDNA content correlate with oocyte developmental potential in the bovine model? Summary answer The relative amount of mtDNA content did not vary significantly in oocytes showing different developmental outcomes following IVF What is known already Cumulus cells are closely connected to the oocyte through transzonal projections, serving essential metabolic functions during folliculogenesis. These oocyte-supporting cells are removed and discarded prior to ICSI, thereby constituting an interesting biological material on which to perform molecular analysis aimed to predict oocyte developmental competence. Previous studies have positively associated oocytés mtDNA content with developmental potential in both animal models and women. However, it remains debatable whether mtDNA content in cumulus cells could be used as a proxy to infer oocyte developmental potential. Study design, size, duration Bovine cumulus cells were allocated into three groups according to the developmental potential of the oocyte: 1) oocytes developing to blastocysts following IVF (Bl+Cl+), 2) oocytes cleaving following IVF but arresting their development prior to the blastocyst stage (Bl-Cl+), and 3) oocytes not cleaving following IVF (Bl-Cl-). Relative mtDNA content was analysed in 40 samples/group, each composed by the cumulus cells from one cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). Participants/materials, setting, methods Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained from slaughtered cattle and individually matured in vitro (IVM). Following IVM, cumulus cells were removed by hyaluronidase treatment, pelleted, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at –80 ºC until analysis. Cumulus-free oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro individually and development was recorded for each oocyte. Relative mtDNA abundance was determined by qPCR, amplifying a mtDNA sequence (COX1) and a chromosomal sequence (PPIA). Statistical differences were tested by ANOVA. Main results and the role of chance Relative mtDNA abundance did not differ significantly (ANOVA p &gt; 0.05) between the three groups exhibiting different developmental potential (1±0.06 vs. 1.19±0.05 vs. 1.11±0.05, for Bl+Cl+ vs. Bl-Cl+ vs. Bl-Cl-, mean±s.e.m.). Limitations, reasons for caution Experiments were conducted in the bovine model. Although bovine folliculogenesis, monoovulatory ovulation and early embryo development exhibit considerable similarities with that of humans, caution should be taken when extrapolating these data to humans. Wider implications of the findings: The use of molecular markers for oocyte developmental potential in cumulus cells could be used to enhance success rates following single-embryo transfer. Unfortunately, mtDNA in cumulus cells was not found to be a good proxy for oocyte quality. Trial registration number Not applicable


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hussein ◽  
R. B. Gilchrist ◽  
J. G. Thompson

Paracrine factors secreted by the oocyte (oocyte-secreted factors, OSFs) regulate a broad range of cumulus cell functions including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The capacity of oocytes to regulate their own microenvironment by OSFs may in turn contribute to oocyte developmental competence. The aim of this study was to determine if OSFs have a direct influence on bovine oocyte developmental competence during in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained by aspiration of >3-mm follicles from abattoir-derived ovaries. IVM was conducted in Bovine VitroMat (Cook Australia, Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, Australia) supplemented with 0.1 IU/mL rhFSH for 24 h under 6% CO2 in air at 38.5�C. In the first experiment, COCs were co-cultured with denuded oocytes (DOs, 5/COC in 10 �L) beginning at either 0 or 9-h of IVM. To generate the 9-h DO group, COCs were first cultured intact for 9-h and then denuded. In the second experiment, specific OSFs, recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), were prepared as partially purified supernatants of transfected 293H cells, and used as 10% v/v supplements in Bovine VitroMat. Treatments were: (1) control (no supplement), (2) BMP-15, (3) GDF-9, (4) BMP-15 and GDF-9, and (5) untransfected 293H control. Following maturation, in vitro production of embryos was performed using the Bovine Vitro system (Cook Australia) and blastocysts were examined on Day 8 for development. Developmental data were arcsine-transformed and analyzed by ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test. Cell numbers were analyzed by ANOVA. Co-culturing intact COCs with DOs from 0 or 9 h did not affect cleavage rate, but increased (P < 0.001) the proportion of cleaved embryos that reached the blastocyst stage post-insemination (50.6 � 1.9 and 61.3 � 1.9%, respectively), compared to COCs cultured alone (40.7 � 1.4%). Therefore, paracrine factors secreted by DOs increased the developmental competence of oocytes matured as COCs. OSFs also improved embryo quality, as co-culture of COCs with DOs (0 or 9 h) significantly increased total cell (156.1 � 1.3 and 159.1 � 1.3, respectively) and trophectoderm (105.7 � 1.3 and 109.8 � 0.4, respectively) numbers, compared to control COCs (total = 148 � 1.2, trophectoderm = 98.2 � 0.8, P < 0.001). BMP-15 alone or with GDF-9 also significantly (P < 0.001) increased the proportion of oocytes that reached the blastocyst stage post insemination (57.5 � 2.4% and 55.1 � 4.5%, respectively), compared to control (41.0 � 0.9%) and 293H-treated (27.1 � 3.1%) COCs. GDF-9 also increased blastocyst yield (49.5 � 3.9%) but not significantly. These results are the first to demonstrate that OSFs, and particularly BMP-15 and GDF-9, directly affect bovine oocyte developmental competence. These results have far-reaching implications for improving the efficiency of IVM in domestic species and human infertility treatment, and support the role of OSF production by oocytes as a diagnostic marker for developmental competence.


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