scholarly journals Effect of Interleukin-7 on In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes and Subsequent Developmental Potential after Parthenogenetic Activation

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 741
Author(s):  
Dongjin Oh ◽  
Joohyeong Lee ◽  
Eunhye Kim ◽  
Seon-Ung Hwang ◽  
Junchul-David Yoon ◽  
...  

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a cytokine essential for cell development, proliferation and survival. However, its role in oocyte maturation is largely unknown. To investigate the effects of IL-7 on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes, we analyzed nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and subsequent embryonic developmental competence after parthenogenetic activation (PA) under several concentrations of IL-7. After IVM, IL-7 treated groups showed significantly higher nuclear maturation and significantly decreased intracellular ROS levels compared with the control group. All IL-7 treatment groups exhibited significantly increased intracellular GSH levels compared with the control group. All oocytes matured with IL-7 treatment during IVM exhibited significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst formation rates after PA than the non-treatment group. Furthermore, significantly higher mRNA expression levels of developmental-related genes (PCNA, Filia, and NPM2) and antioxidant-related genes (GSR and PRDX1) were observed in the IL-7-supplemented oocytes than in the control group. IL-7-supplemented cumulus cells showed significantly higher mRNA expression of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2L1 and mitochondria-related genes (TFAM and NOX4), and lower transcript levels of the apoptosis related-gene, Caspase3, than the control group. Collectively, the present study suggests that IL-7 supplementation during porcine IVM improves oocyte maturation and the developmental potential of porcine embryos after PA.

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Kwak ◽  
S. A. Jeong ◽  
Y. B. Jeon ◽  
S. H. Hyun

The present study investigated the effects of resveratrol (a phytoalexin with various pharmacological activities) during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes on nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, gene expression in matured oocytes and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and IVF. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 using Duncan's multiple range test. In experiment 1, a total of 1146 cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were divided into 5 groups (0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM resveratrol). In the nuclear maturation after 44-h IVM, the groups of 0.1, 0.5 and 2.0 μM (83.0, 84.1 and 88.3%, respectively) had no significant difference compared to the control group (84.1%). The group of 10.0 μM decreased the nuclear maturation (75.0%) significantly (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, a total of 300 matured oocytes were examined for the effects of different resveratrol concentrations (0, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM) on porcine oocyte intracellular GSH and ROS levels. The groups of 0.5 and 2.0 μM showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in intracellular GSH levels (1.3 and 1.3, respectively) compared with the control and 10.0 μM groups (1.0 and 1.0, respectively). The intracellular ROS level of oocytes matured with 2.0 μM resveratrol (0.4) was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared to other groups (control: 1.0; 0.5 μM: 0.6; and 10.0 μM: 0.7). In experiment 3, lower expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Caspase-3 and Bak) was observed in matured oocytes treated with 2.0 μM resveratrol when compared with that of the control (P < 0.05). In experiment 4, a total of 728 oocytes were divided into 4 groups (control, 0.5, 2.0 and 10.0 μM) and examined subsequent to embryonic development after PA. Oocytes treated with 2.0 μM resveratrol during IVM had a significantly higher cleavage (CL) rate, blastocyst (BL) formation rate and total cell numbers (TCN) after PA compared with those of the control (2.0 μM: 96.6%, 62.1% and 49.1 vs control: 88.3%, 48.8% and 41.4, respectively) and the 10.0 μM groups (87.3%, 41.4% and 40.9, respectively). Oocytes treated with 0.5 μM resveratrol (87.2%, 50.5% and 48.6, respectively) during IVM had significantly higher TCN, but there were no differences in CL and BL formation rates. In experiment 5, a total of 935 oocytes in 3 groups (control, 2.0 and 10.0 μM resveratrol) were conducted in IVF. The BL formation rate and TCN were significantly higher in the group of 2.0 μM resveratrol (20.5% and 54.0, respectively) than the control (11.0% and 43.4, respectively) and 10.0 μM group (11.7% and 45.0, respectively), but there was no significant difference in CL rate. In conclusion, 2.0 μM resveratrol supplementation during IVM improved the developmental potential of PA and IVF in porcine embryos by increasing the intracellular GSH concentration, decreasing the ROS level and decreasing apoptosis-related gene expression during oocyte maturation. This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ008121), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Y. Jeon ◽  
B. Baasanjav ◽  
Y. I. Jeong ◽  
Y. W. Jeong ◽  
Y. W. Kim ◽  
...  

Autophagy is a critical process for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and mammalian early embryogenesis. Autophagy can be regulated by various chemical inducers. However, there are few reports about effect of autophagy inducer in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocyte. The present study investigated the effects of supplementary trehalose, a novel mTOR-independent autophagy enhancer, on oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Immature oocytes were treated with various concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM) of trehalose in M-199 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) supplemented with 10 ng mL–1 of epidermal growth factor (EGF; Sigma-Aldrich Corp.), 1 ug mL–1 of insulin (Sigma-Aldrich Corp.), 4 IU mL–1 of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG; Intervet, Boxmeer, Holland), 4 IU mL–1 of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; Intervet), and 10% (vol/vol) porcine follicular fluid (pFF) for 10 h, and transferred to another IVM medium without trehalose. Osmolality of each groups (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM trehalose) was in the 290 to 295, 310 to 315, 330 to 335, and 375 to 380 osmol range, respectively. After 44 h of IVM, trehalose treatment during IVM did not improve nuclear maturation rates of oocytes in any group (90.7, 92.1, 92.7, and 90.1%, respectively). The developmental competence of oocytes matured with different trehalose concentrations was evaluated after PA. There were no significant differences in cleavage rates. However, blastocyst (BL) formation was different. Oocytes treated with 25 mM of trehalose during IVM had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) BL formation rate (64.2%) after PA compared with the control (52.0%). The BL quality was also improved in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group. Early BL rate significantly reduced in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group as compared to control (19.6 v. 29.9%, P < 0.05). By contrast, expanded BL rate significantly increased in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group than of control (27.7 v. 11.0%, P < 0.05). Total cell numbers of BL were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the 25 mM trehalose-treated group compared to those in the control group (52.2 v. 36.8). However, BL rate and quality of oocytes treated with 50 and 100 mM trehalose were similar with control group. In conclusion, these results indicate that 25 mM trehalose during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine embryos. Trehalose will be useful for large-scale production of BL with good quality in porcine in vitro production.This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation Bio Green 21 Program (No. PJ009563032014), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.


Zygote ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Fathi ◽  
A. Salama ◽  
Magdy R. Badr

SummaryThe aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of caffeine supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) for different maturation times on the developmental potential of canine oocytes recovered from ovariohysterectomized bitches. The recovered cumulus–oocytes complexes were in vitro matured for 72 h. Here, 10 mM caffeine was added to the maturation medium for different incubation times (caffeine from 0–72 h maturation, caffeine for the first 24 h of maturation only, caffeine addition from 24 to 48 h maturation time, caffeine addition from 48 to 72 h maturation or in caffeine-free medium, control group). The matured oocytes were in vitro fertilized using frozen–thawed spermatozoa. The presumptive zygotes were in vitro cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid medium for 5 days. The results showed that both maturation and fertilization rates were significantly higher (P ˂ 0.05) using caffeine-treated medium for the first 24 h of maturation compared with the control and other two groups of caffeine treatment (from 24 to 48 h and from 48 to 72 h), whereas use of caffeine-treated medium for a 0–72 h incubation time did not affect these rates (P > 0.05). Interestingly, the matured oocytes in caffeine-supplemented medium for the first 24 h or from 0–72 h showed a significant (P ˂ 0.05) increase in the total number of cleaved embryos compared with the control group. In conclusion, supplementation of the maturation medium with 10 mM caffeine for the first 24 h of maturation or during the whole maturation time (0–72 h) improved nuclear maturation and subsequent embryo development preimplantation following in vitro fertilization.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. de Frutos ◽  
R. Vicente-Perez ◽  
P. J. Ross

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes in domestic animals is a widespread practice of research and commercial relevance. Gonadotropic hormones are typically supplemented to the IVM medium to stimulate resumption of meiosis, progression to metaphase II (MII), and oocyte developmental competence. The common use of pituitary-derived products presents 2 problems: contamination from other pituitary hormones and inconsistences from batch-to-batch variation. Recombinant hormones can help circumvent these issues and identify specific gonadotropin requirements for in vitro maturation. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of supplementing recombinant bovine LH and/or FSH (AspenBio) to the maturation of ovine oocytes in terms of cumulus expansion and progression to the MII stage. Abattoir-derived sheep cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were obtained from 1- to 5-mm-diameter antral follicles by ovary slicing. Oocytes with a homogeneous cytoplasm surrounded by at least 3 layers of cumulus cells were selected and cultured in serum-free IVM medium (Cotterill et al. 2012 Reproduction 144, 195–207) at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. The COC obtained from 8 replicates were allocated into 4 experimental groups: (1) no hormones; (2) 1.5 μg mL–1 recombinant bovine LH (rbLH); (3) 1.5 μg mL–1 recombinant bovine FSH (rbFSH); and (4) rbLH and rbFSH. The expansion of cumulus cells was recorded in each group after 24 h of IVM and COC classified as (1) very poor or no cumulus expansion (grade 1); (2) limited cumulus expansion (grade 2); and (3) full cumulus expansion (grade 3). Nuclear maturation in the 4 treatments was evaluated by assessing progression to the MII stage via DNA staining with Hoechst 33342 and fluorescence imaging. The effect of treatment on the observed proportion of MII oocytes was evaluated using a mixed logit model including treatment and replicate as fixed and random effects, respectively. Culture in IVM medium in the absence of gonadotropins or in the presence of rbLH resulted in poor cumulus expansion (grade 1). The supplementation of IVM medium with rbFSH (with or without rbLH) yielded a high degree of cumulus expansion (grades 2–3). Likewise, addition of rbFSH enhanced progression of oocytes to the MII stage, whereas use of rbLH, although it had an effect on progression to MII, did not augment the effect of rbFSH (Table 1). These results indicate that rbFSH is necessary and sufficient to induce sheep oocyte maturation in a high proportion of oocytes. Table 1.Cumulus expansion and oocyte nuclear stage after IVM


Zygote ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ji-Eun Park ◽  
Sang-Hee Lee ◽  
Yong Hwangbo ◽  
Choon-Keun Park

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of porcine follicular fluid (pFF) from large-sized (LFF; >8 mm in diameter) and medium-sized (MFF; 3–6 mm in diameter) follicles on the maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from follicles 3–6 mm in diameter. The collected COCs were incubated for 22 h with LFF or MFF (in vitro maturation (IVM)-I stage) and were incubated subsequently for 22 h with LFF or MFF (IVM-II stage). Cumulus expansion was confirmed after the IVM-I stage and nuclear maturation was evaluated after the IVM-II stage. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured and embryonic development was evaluated. Relative cumulus expansion and GSH levels were higher in the LFF group compared with in the MFF group after the IVM-I stage (P < 0.05). After the IVM-II stage, the numbers of oocytes in metaphase-II were increased in the LFF group and GSH content was higher in all of the LFF treatment groups compared with in the MFF treatment groups during both IVM stages (P < 0.05). ROS levels were reduced by LFF treatment regardless of IVM stage (P < 0.05). Blastocyst formation and the total numbers of cells in blastocysts were increased in all LFF treatment groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These results suggested that pFF from large follicles at the IVM stage could improve nucleic and cytoplasmic maturation status and further embryonic development through reducing ROS levels and enhancing responsiveness to gonadotropins.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Islam M. Saadeldin ◽  
Ok Jae Koo ◽  
Jung Taek Kang ◽  
Dae Kee Kwon ◽  
Sol Ji Park ◽  
...  

Kisspeptin (Kp) is best known as a multifunctional peptide with roles in reproduction, the cardiovascular system and cancer. In the present study the expression of kisspeptin hierarchy elements (KISS1, GNRH1 and LHB) and their receptors (KISS1R, GNRHR and LHCGR, respectively) in porcine ovary and in cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were investigated, as were its effects on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and their subsequent ability to sustain preimplantation embryo competence after parthenogenetic electrical activation. Kp system elements were expressed and affected IVM of oocytes when maturation medium was supplemented with 10–6 M Kp. Oocyte maturation, maternal gene expression (MOS, GDF9 and BMP15), blastocyst formation rate, blastocyst hatching and blastocyst total cell count were all significantly increased when oocytes were matured in medium containing Kp compared with the control group (without Kp). A Kp antagonist (p234) at 4 × 10–6 M interfered with this hierarchy but did not influence the threshold effect of gonadotrophins on oocyte maturation. FSH was critical and permissive to Kp action on COCs by increasing the relative expression of KISS1R. In contrast, Kp significantly increased apoptosis, the expression of pro-apoptotic gene, BAK1, and suppressed trophoblast outgrowths from hatched blastocysts cultured on feeder cells. The present study provides the first functional evidence of the Kp hierarchy in porcine COCs and its role in enhancing oocyte maturation and subsequent developmental competence in an autocrine–paracrine manner. However, Kp supplementation may have a harmful impact on cultured hatched blastocysts reflecting systemic or local regulation during the critical early period of embryonic development.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
R. Appeltant ◽  
T. Somfai ◽  
M. Nakai ◽  
S. Bodo ◽  
D. Maes ◽  
...  

Recent research has revealed that oocyte-secreted factors (OSF) affect cumulus expansion and play important roles during maturation and embryo development of mammalian oocytes. The use of denuded oocytes (DO) as supplements during in vitro maturation (IVM) in a nondefined medium improved developmental competence of cumulus-enclosed porcine oocytes (COC; Gomez et al. 2012 Zygote 20, 135–145). We investigated the effect of DO on cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation of COC in pigs during IVM using a defined medium. If the DO exert a positive influence on IVM, the defined medium can then be analysed for the presence of OSF. Immature COC were collected in the slaughterhouse from prepubertal gilts. To obtain DO, some COC were completely denuded by pipetting through a narrow-bore glass pipette. The COC used as a source for DO fulfilled the same morphological criteria as the COC used for IVM. The IVM medium was porcine oocyte medium (POM; Yoshioka et al. 2008 J. Reprod. Dev. 54, 208–213) with hormone supplementations applied only during the first 20 h of the IVM period. The COC were fixed to the bottom of 35-mm plastic Petri dishes in 3 × 3 grids by Cell-Tak (BD Bioscience, Bedford, MA, USA) in 100-µL droplets POM covered by paraffin oil. Culture droplets (each including 1 COC grid) were supplemented with (DO+ group, n = 179) or without 16 DO (DO– group, n = 143). After 20 h of IVM, the medium was replaced with a preincubated hormone-free POM and oocytes were cultured for an additional 28 h. At 0, 20, and 48 h of IVM, images of each grid were taken at the same magnification. The size of each COC was measured as a 2-dimensional area in pixels by analysing images with ImageJ software. Relative cumulus expansion was calculated at 20 and 48 h of IVM on the basis of the initial COC size at 0 h, which was assigned as 1. At 48 h of IVM, the COC were denuded and examined for oocyte maturation by orcein staining. The experiment was replicated 5 times. Cumulus expansion ratios at 20 and 48 h of IVM were compared between the DO+ and DO– groups by ANOVA. Maturation rates were compared between the DO+ and DO– groups by binary logistic regression. No difference in cumulus expansion between DO– and DO+ could be observed at 20 h (1.83 ± 0.04 and 1.75 ± 0.03, respectively) and 48 h (1.41 ± 0.03 and 1.47 ± 0.02, respectively) of IVM. Nuclear maturation rates of COC in DO– and DO+ groups did not differ significantly (39.0 ± 5.4 and 32.9 ± 8.8%, respectively). In conclusion, addition of DO to the defined IVM medium did not affect the cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation of follicular porcine COC. Further research is needed to assess the effects of DO during IVM on subsequent fertilization. If DO prove to be beneficial for fertilization, the nature of the OSF will be investigated.This study was supported by FCWO of UGent and by FWO-Flanders (grant number FWO11/ASP/276).


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Yoon ◽  
L. Cai ◽  
S. U. Hwang ◽  
Y. Jeon ◽  
E. Kim ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus-derived somatic cells (CSC) during porcine in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent embryonic development after IVF. The CSC were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium for 48 h with various numbers of cumulus-derived somatic cells (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 × 104), and then cultured in TCM-199 for 4 h before the oocytes were added. Cumulus-oocytes complexes from 3- to 6-mm follicles were matured in 500 μL of TCM-199, with eCG and hCG, for 22 h, and then cultured in M199 without hormones for 22 h. Each experiment consisted of at least 4 replicates. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Percentage data were compared by one-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan's multiple range test. Data were presented as means ± s.e.m. Differences were considered to be significant if the P-value was 0.05. After IVM, no significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in nuclear maturation rate among the 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 × 104 groups (88.0 ± 2.37, 81.5 ± 2.17, 87.0 ± 1.98 and 86.0 ± 1.93%, respectively). The 2.5 × 104 group showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels compared with that of the other groups. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of mature oocyte in all groups showed no significant differences. The developmental competence of matured oocytes in all groups was evaluated after IVF. The 2.5 and 5.0 × 104 groups showed significantly (P < 0.05) high cleavage rates (60.0 ± 4.7 and 64.52 ± 5.9%, respectively) compared with the 0 and 10.0 × 104 groups (43.15 ± 5.0 and 53.8 ± 5.0%, respectively). The 2.5 × 104 group showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher BL formation rate (35.7 ± 2.9) than control group (21.0 ± 3.8%, respectively), and higher total cell number (127.25 ± 7.7) compared with the 0 and 10 × 104 groups (89.3 ± 4.0 and 92.6 ± 3.7, respectively). In the analysis of gene expression, IVF-BL derived from the 2.5 and 5.0 × 104 groups showed higher (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of PCNA, which is an essential component of the DNA replication and repair machinery and POU5F1 has been used to evaluate developmental potential in embryos. The 10.0 × 104 group showed higher (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bak as known pro-apoptotic factors, compared with the control group IVF-BL. The results of cortical granules distribution which leads digesting sperm receptor proteins ZP2 and ZP3 to block polyspermy, showed that the 2.5 × 104 group was increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the other co-culture groups (13.7 ± 6.1, 29.2 ± 9.5, 18.3 ± 0.8 and 19.52 ± 5.3, respectively). In conclusion, co-culture with 2.5 × 104 cumulus-derived somatic cells during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine IVF embryos by increasing the intracellular GSH level and distribution of cortical granules during oocyte maturation. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ00956901), Rural Development Administration, and the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2012R1A1A4A01004885, NRF-2013R1A2A2A04008751), Republic of Korea.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
S. M. B. Ulloa ◽  
J. Heinzmann ◽  
D. Herrmann ◽  
U. Baulain ◽  
K.-G. Hadeler ◽  
...  

High cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations are critical for maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest in vivo. For in vitro maturation (IVM), the oocyte is released mechanically from the follicle, which induces a significant drop in intra-oocyte cAMP levels, triggering non-physiological meiotic resumption. It has been proposed that modulation of cAMP before IVM can increase bovine blastocyst rates in vitro. Caffeine is a nonspecific competitive phosphodiesterases (PDE) inhibitor and can inhibit meiotic resumption of oocytes due to maintenance of cAMP levels. It has been reported that gamete treatment with caffeine can increase developmental potential. The current study evaluated the effects of pre-in vitro maturation culture with different concentrations of caffeine on meiotic progress, developmental rates and blastocyst cell numbers. Bovine ovaries were collected from a local abattoir. A total of 6648 cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained by slicing. Caffeine was used in 5 different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, and 30 mM) during slicing, searching, and 2 h pre-IVM culture. A control group, with 2 h pre-IVM without caffeine (0 mM) and a standard control were also included. Oocytes were washed either after standard or pre-IVM treatments and cultured for 24 h in vitro without caffeine. After IVM, oocytes were fertilised in vitro for 19 h, and zygotes were cultured in vitro for 8 days until the blastocyst stage. Subsets of oocytes were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde at 9, 20, and 24 h after IVM. Hoechst staining was performed to evaluate nuclear status of matured oocytes. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were evaluated at Days 3 and 8 after IVF. Expanded blastocysts from all treatments were submitted to differential staining. One-way ANOVA from R software was applied to evaluate differences in cleavage and blastocysts rates and blastocyst cell numbers. Fisher’s exact test complemented by Bonferroni correction was used to determine meiotic progress. Caffeine maintained oocytes in meiotic arrest after 9 h of IVM in a concentration-dependent manner (germinal vesicle: 79.0%, 92.2%, 66.7%, 55.1%, 56.9%, 43.9%, 30.2%, respectively, for 30, 20, 10, 5, 1, 0 mM and standard; P < 0.016). Cleavage rates were similar in all treatments; however 30 mM caffeine decreased blastocyst rates (Table 1; P < 0.05). The number of cells did not differ significantly among in vitro treatments (Table 1; P > 0.05). Developmental competence was not affected by 2 h pre-IVM culture. Caffeine supplementation before IVM delayed resumption of meiosis and affected embryo development. Table 1.In vitro developmental competence of oocytes treated with different caffeine concentrations before IVM


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Y. Jeon ◽  
J. D. Yoon ◽  
L. Cai ◽  
S. U. Hwang ◽  
E. Kim ◽  
...  

Zinc (Zn) is one of the abundant transition metals in biology and is an essential component of most cells. However, there are few reports about the effect of Zn in porcine oocytes. The objective was to investigate the effects of supplementary Zn during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. We investigated nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and subsequent embryonic development after IVF. Before the experiment, Zn concentrations in IVM medium and body fluids were measured using inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer (sensitivity: 1 μM) and treatment concentrations were determined. Zinc concentration was 12.6 μM in porcine plasma and 12.9 μM in porcine follicular fluid. We confirmed that Zn was not detected in IVM medium. A total of 541 cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were used for the evaluation of nuclear maturation. The COC were matured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with various concentrations of Zn (0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 μM). After 44 h of IVM, no significant difference was observed in all groups (metaphase II rate: 85.7, 88.7, 90.4, 90.3, and 87.2%, respectively). A total of 100 matured oocytes were examined for the effects of different Zn concentrations (0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 μM) on porcine oocyte intracellular GSH and ROS levels, which were measured through fluorescent staining and image analysis program. The groups of 12, 18, and 24 μM showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in intracellular GSH levels (1.45, 1.67, and 1.78, respectively) compared with the control and 6 μM group (1.00 and 1.08, respectively). The intracellular ROS level of oocytes matured with 12, 18, and 24 μM (0.82, 0.68, and 0.55) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared with the control and 6 μM groups (1.00 and 1.03, respectively). Finally, the developmental competence of oocytes matured with different concentrations of Zn (0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 μM) was evaluated after IVF. There were no significantly different in cleavage rates. However, cleavage patterns and blastocyst (BL) formation were different. Fragmented embryo ratio of the 12 μM group (14.9%) was significantly lower than that of the other groups (control, 6, 18, and 24 μM: 26.4, 17.8, 18.4, and 18.0%, respectively). Oocytes treated with 12 μM Zn during IVM had a significantly higher BL formation rate (28.2%) after IVF compared with the control (19.8%). In conclusion, these results indicate that Zn treatment as body fluid concentration during IVM improved the developmental potential of IVF in porcine embryos by increasing the intracellular GSH concentration and decreasing the ROS level. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the Next-Generation Bio Green 21 Program (No. PJ00956901), Rural Development Administration, and the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2012R1A1A4A01004885, NRF-2013R1A2A2A04008751), Republic of Korea.


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