scholarly journals Abilities of cumulus and granulosa cells to enhance the developmental competence of bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation period are promoted by midkine; a possible implication of its apoptosis suppressing effects

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ikeda ◽  
K Saeki ◽  
H Imai ◽  
M Yamada

We previously reported that when midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth differentiation factor was used inin vitromaturation (IVM) culture of bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs), their developmental competence to the blastocyst stage afterin vitrofertilization (IVF) was enhanced and the effect of MK might be mediated by its action upon mural granulosa cells and cumulus cells that closely surround the oocyte. In the present study, when denuded oocytes (DOs) were matured in IVM medium with or without MK (200 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of isolated cumulus cell masses and subjected to IVF, the enhancing effects of MK on the developmental competence of DOs to the blastocyst stage after IVF were exerted only in the presence of cumulus cells. In addition, we prepared the conditioned media of granulosa cells cultured with or without 200 ng MK/ml (CMMK+ or CMMK− respectively) and examined their effects on the IVM of DOs in terms of their developmental competence to the blastocyst stage after IVF. The supplementation of CMMK+ into IVM medium at 40% (v/v) significantly enhanced the blastocyst development compared with the no additive control and the CMMK− supplemented groups. Furthermore, the effects of MK during IVM of bovine CEOs on the cumulus cell apoptosis were investigated. CEOs were cultured up to 24 h in IVM medium without (control) or with 200 ng MK/ml. The genomic DNA was extracted from CEOs at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of IVM and subjected to ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR) to detect the apoptotic internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation was scarcely detected at the start of IVM, whereas it increased time-dependently as the IVM culture progressed. The degree of the fragmentation was significantly lower in the MK-treatment group compared with the control group at 18 and 24 h of IVM. The apoptosis-suppressing effect of MK on cumulus cells was further confirmedin situby using TUNEL on CEOs. In conclusion, data from the present study further confirmed that MK enhances the developmental competence of bovine oocytes via cumulus and granulosa cells. It was also demonstrated that MK suppresses the apoptosis that occurs in cumulus cells during the period of IVM of bovine CEOs. The putative soluble factor(s) from cumulus cells was suggested from the experiment using CMMK+ . MK may promote the production of such factors in part by its anti-apoptotic effects on cumulus cells.

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
K. Kananen-Anttila ◽  
M. Eronen ◽  
J. Matilainen ◽  
M. Kallio ◽  
J. Peippo ◽  
...  

We have studied the effect of suppressed IVM on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes, aiming at elucidating the importance of cytoplasmic maturation in fertilization and embryo development. Six replicates of abattoir-derived oocytes were randomly divided into three IVM groups. Control (n = 950): TCM-199 with glutamax-I (Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA), 0.25 mM Na-pyruvate, 100 IU mL−1 penicillin and 100 μg mL−1 streptomycin, 50 ng mL−1 FSH, and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Gibco); Serum+FSH-free (n = 944): same as control but without FSH and FBS; α-amanitin (n = 977): same as control but with 10 μg mL−1 α-amanitin. Nuclear maturation of oocytes was studied 24 h after the onset of IVM, the formation of sperm aster structure 10 hours post-insemination (hpi) and the formation of pronuclei 20 hpi. Sperm aster was visualized with β-tubulin antibody (modified from Navara et al. 1999 Dev. Biol. 162, 29–40). Presumptive zygotes were cultured until Day 7 in modified SOFaaci + 4 mg mL−1 fatty acid-free BSA in 5% O2. Cumulus cell expansion was seen only in the control group. The results of nuclear maturation, fertilization, and embryo development are summarized in Table 1. Serum and FSH deprivation did not have a statistically significant effect on the parameters studied (vs. control). α-amanitin exposure during IVM reduced nuclear maturation, fertilization, and Day 3 embryo cleavage vs. control, and resulted in total blockage of Day 7 blastocyst development. The treatment groups had significantly smaller mean diameters of male pronuclei (control: 14 ± 0.6 μ­m; serum+FSH-free: 12 ± 0.5 μ­m, P < 0.05; α-amanitin: 10 ± 0.6 μ­m, P < 0.001) and sperm asters (control: 86 ± 4 μ­m; serum+FSH-free: 82 ± 4 μ­m, P < 0.01; α-amanitin: 49 ± 7 μm, P < 0.001) (nonparametric Kruskall Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests) vs. control group. Despite reduction in pronucleus and sperm aster diameter, serum and FSH deprivation during IVM did not affect in vitro developmental competence of bovine oocytes, suggesting a need for re-evaluation of the components of IVM. α-Amanitin exposure in IVM disturbed nuclear maturation, fertilization, and embryo development, indicating the essence of early transcription. Table 1. Average percentages ± (n) for nuclear maturation, fertilization (min two pronuclei), embryo cleavage, and blastocyst development


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
L. A. Frank ◽  
M. L. Sutton-McDowall ◽  
D. L. Russell ◽  
M. Lane ◽  
R. B. Gilchrist ◽  
...  

The preconception environment is known to influence oocyte developmental competence. In particular, hyperglycaemic conditions during cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) maturation result in decreased oocyte quality. This is, in part, due to perturbations in O-linked glycosylation in the cumulus cells. In embryos, even a brief exposure to glucose during early cleavage can have significant impact on O-linked glycosylation and further development. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of altering glucose concentrations during the collection and maturation phases of COCs on oocyte developmental competence. COCs were collected and matured for 17h at 37°C in 6% CO2 with 0 or 10mM glucose in a 2 x 2 factorial design. A fifth group used standard concentrations of 0.5mM and 5.55mM glucose in the collection and maturation media respectively. Following maturation, oocytes were inseminated and cultured to the blastocyst stage. The average time for collection was 1 h. COCs exposed to 0mM glucose during collection and 10mM glucose during maturation had the greatest cumulus expansion despite no change in the proportion of COCs completing nuclear maturation. However, this same treatment group resulted in significantly lower blastocyst production than the control group (8.4% vs. 25.0%, P<0.05). These results show that glucose concentration in collection medium has a significant influence on maturation indices and oocyte developmental competence, as determined by blastocyst development rates. Our data further supports the concept that the conditions used for the collection of oocytes can have profound effects on subsequent development. We intend to investigate if these effects are related to perturbations in cumulus cell O-linked glycosylation.


Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 369-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ikeda ◽  
H Imai ◽  
M Yamada

The aim of this study was to investigate whether apoptosis occurs in cumulus cells during in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs). The bovine CEOs obtained from ovaries from an abattoir were cultured for 24 h in IVM medium in the presence or absence of 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum. The developmental competence of enclosed oocytes, as assessed by the development of the blastocyst after IVF, was significantly higher in the serum-treated group than in the control group. The morphological features of apoptosis that were analysed by orcein staining were hardly detectable in the cumulus cells at the start (0 h) of IVM, but were evident at the end (24 h) of IVM both in the control and serum-treated groups. Genomic DNA was extracted from CEOs at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of IVM and subjected to ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR) to detect apoptotic internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation was hardly detectable at the start of IVM, but increased in a time-dependent manner as the IVM culture proceeded. DNA fragmentation was not observed in the oocytes, indicating that fragmentation occurs in cumulus cells. The degree of fragmentation was lower in the serum-treated group compared with the control group. The LM-PCR analysis of DNA extracted from CEOs at 24 h of IVM, in which the DNA had been pretreated with Klenow enzyme or T4 DNA polymerase, revealed that the characteristic forms of the DNA ends generated during cumulus cell apoptosis were mainly 3'-overhangs and blunt ends. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that cumulus cells in bovine CEOs spontaneously undergo apoptosis during IVM. The degree of apoptosis may be correlated with the developmental competence of the enclosed oocytes.


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


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.


Reproduction ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radek Procházka ◽  
Michal Petlach ◽  
Eva Nagyová ◽  
Lucie Němcová

The aim of this work was to assess the FSH-stimulated expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like peptides in cultured cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) and to find out the effect of the peptides on cumulus expansion, oocyte maturation, and acquisition of developmental competencein vitro. FSH promptly stimulated expression of amphiregulin (AREG) and epiregulin (EREG), but not betacellulin (BTC) in the cultured COCs. Expression ofAREGandEREGreached maximum at 2 or 4 h after FSH addition respectively. FSH also significantly stimulated expression of expansion-related genes (PTGS2,TNFAIP6, andHAS2) in the COCs at 4 and 8 h of culture, with a significant decrease at 20 h of culture. Both AREG and EREG also increased expression of the expansion-related genes; however, the relative abundance of mRNA for each gene was much lower than in the FSH-stimulated COCs. In contrast to FSH, AREG and EREG neither stimulated expression ofCYP11A1in the COCs nor an increase in progesterone production by cumulus cells. AREG and EREG stimulated maturation of oocytes and expansion of cumulus cells, although the percentage of oocytes that had reached metaphase II was significantly lower when compared to FSH-induced maturation. Nevertheless, significantly more oocytes stimulated with AREG and/or EREG developed to blastocyst stage after parthenogenetic activation when compared to oocytes stimulated with FSH alone or combinations of FSH/LH or pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin/human chorionic gonadotrophin. We conclude that EGF-like peptides do not mimic all effects of FSH on the cultured COCs; nevertheless, they yield oocytes with superior developmental competence.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
A. W. Harl ◽  
E. L. Larimore ◽  
A. Al Naib ◽  
L. K. Wooldridge ◽  
A. D. Ealy ◽  
...  

The objective of this work was to determine how characteristics of bovine follicle fluid (FF; especially oestradiol content) affect cumulus cell expansion and oocyte competence. In the first study, FF was collected from abattoir-derived ovaries and pooled separately for large follicles (≥10 mm) and small follicles (≤3 mm). A portion of the FF from each category was charcoal stripped. These 4 types of FF were then used as the primary ingredient (75% vol/vol) in oocyte maturation media. A separate control group lacking FF but containing BSA was included to monitor potential impacts of protein on outcomes (control; without FF). Some of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC; n = 250) were matured in individual drops for analysis of cumulus expansion (photographed and measured at 0 and 21 h of maturation). Other COC (n = 770) were matured in groups of 12 to 25 in the previously described media, and then subjected to IVF procedures. Cleavage rates were recorded on Day 3, and blastocyst rates were recorded on Day 8 post-fertilization. Cumulus cell expansion was greatest when COC were matured in medium containing FF from large follicles, wherein it even exceeded the controls (P < 0.02). Maturation in FF from small follicles resulted in cumulus expansion that was intermediate between large and control. Maturation in charcoal-stripped FF severely restricted cumulus cell expansion (P < 0.05) compared with those matured in untreated FF. Despite the observed improvement in cumulus cell expansion, COC that had been matured in media containing FF were less likely to cleave (P < 0.05) and also less likely to develop to the blastocyst stage (P < 0.01) than those matured in control medium. Cleavage and blastocyst rates did not differ among any of the maturation media containing FF. In the second study, oestrous cycles of 9 crossbred cows were synchronized and FF samples were collected 36 to 42 h after prostaglandin F2α injection. Samples from individual cows were categorized as having high oestradiol (>800,000 pg mL−1; H) or low oestradiol concentrations (<800,000 pg mL−1; L). The FF was retained for use in in vitro experiments, where it was added to maturation media (20% vol/vol). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1,775) were randomly distributed into treatments across 12 in vitro maturation/fertilization replicates (H and L, balanced within replicate; 4 replicates/cow). Each replicate included the following 3 control groups: maturation medium containing BSA without FF, maturation medium without BSA with abattoir-derived FF, and maturation medium without BSA and without FF. The COC were matured in their assigned medium for 21 h, and then all COC were subjected to IVF procedures. Cleavage rates were recorded on Day 3, and blastocyst rates were recorded on Day 7 and 8 post-fertilization. Oestradiol content of the FF (H v. L) did not affect oocyte cleavage nor blastocyst rates on Day 7 or 8. The results of these studies indicate that although FF improves cumulus cell expansion during maturation in vitro, it does not result in higher rates of cleavage or blastocyst development regardless of oestradiol content.


Zygote ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisashi Nabenishi ◽  
Hiroshi Ohta ◽  
Toshihumi Nishimoto ◽  
Tetsuo Morita ◽  
Koji Ashizawa ◽  
...  

SummaryIn the present study, we investigated the effects of various concentrations of cysteine (0.0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mM) added to the maturation medium on nuclear maturation and subsequent embryonic development of bovine oocytes exposed to heat stress (HS: set at 39.5 °C for 5 h, 40.0 °C for 5 h, 40.5 °C for 6 h, and 40.0 °C for 4 h versus 38.5 °C for 20 h as the control group). This regime mimicked the circadian rhythm of the vaginal temperature of lactating dairy cows during the summer season in southwestern Japan. Moreover, we also evaluated the oocyte's reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels and the apoptosis levels of the oocytes and cumulus cells in the presence or absence of 1.2 mM cysteine. As a result, HS in the without-cysteine group significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) both the nuclear maturation rate up to the metaphase (M)II stage and the blastocyst formation rate compared with that of the control group. In addition, this group showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) ROS levels and significantly lower (p < 0.05) GSH levels than those of the control group. Moreover, the level of TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL)-positive cumulus cells in the HS without-cysteine group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the control group. However, the addition of 1.2 mM cysteine to the maturation medium restored not only the nuclear maturation, blastocyst formation rates and GSH contents, but also increased the ROS and TUNEL-positive levels of the cumulus cells, but not oocytes, to that of the control group. These results indicate that the addition of 1.2 mM cysteine during in vitro maturation (IVM) may alleviate the influence of heat stress for oocyte developmental competence by increasing GSH content and inhibiting the production of oocyte ROS followed by apoptosis of cumulus cells.


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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document