Low oxygen environment and astaxanthin supplementation promote the developmental competence of bovine oocytes derived from early antral follicles during 8 days of in vitro growth in a gas-permeable culture device

In this study we investigated the effect of astaxanthin (Ax), which exhibits strong antioxidant activity, during invitro growth (IVG) on the developmental competence of oocytes and steroidogenesis of granulosa cells derived from early antral follicles. Bovine oocyte–cumulus–granulosa complexes collected from early antral follicles were cultured for 12 days in the presence or absence (control) of 500µM Ax. The viability of oocytes and antrum formation in the granulosa cell layer during IVG culture were greater in the presence than absence of Ax (P<0.05). Regardless of Ax treatment, 17β-oestradiol production increased during IVG culture; however, progesterone production was significantly lower in the presence than absence of Ax (P<0.05). Reactive oxygen species levels were lower in Ax-treated oocytes than in controls after IVG (P<0.05). Although nuclear maturation and cleavage rates did not differ between the Ax-treated and control groups, Ax treatment led to weaker cathepsin B activity in oocytes and better blastocyst rates than in controls (P<0.05). Accordingly, Ax treatment during IVG increased the total number of cells in blastocysts (P<0.05). These results indicate that Ax supplementation of IVG medium improves the quality of bovine oocytes due to its antioxidative effects on growing oocytes and its suppression of the luteinisation of granulosa cells.

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Effects of androgens, progesterone and their antagonists on the developmental competence of in vitro matured bovine oocytes

J Reprod Fertil ◽

10.1530/reprod/119.2.261 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 261-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

C. Silva

Keyword(s):

Developmental Competence ◽

Bovine Oocytes

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N-acetyl-L-cysteine Improves the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos Cultured In Vitro by Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10060860 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 860

Author(s):

Wu-Sheng Sun ◽

Hoon Jang ◽

Mi-Ryung Park ◽

Keon Bong Oh ◽

Haesun Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Embryonic Development ◽

Early Stage ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Developmental Rates ◽

A Cell ◽

Bovine Oocytes ◽

Dose Dependent

Oxidative stress has been suggested to negatively affect oocyte and embryo quality and developmental competence, resulting in failure to reach full term. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeating antioxidant, on developmental competence and the quality of oocytes and embryos upon supplementation (0.1–10 mM) in maturation and culture medium in vitro using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes and embryos. The results show that treating oocytes with 1.0 mM NAC for 8 h during in vitro maturation attenuated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.05) and upregulated intracellular glutathione levels (p < 0.01) in oocytes. Interestingly, we found that NAC affects early embryonic development, not only in a dose-dependent, but also in a stage-specific, manner. Significantly (p < 0.05) decreased cleavage rates (90.25% vs. 81.46%) were observed during the early stage (days 0–2), while significantly (p < 0.05) increased developmental rates (38.20% vs. 44.46%) were observed during the later stage (from day 3) of embryonic development. In particular, NAC supplementation decreased the proportion of apoptotic blastomeres significantly (p < 0.05), resulting in enhanced hatching capability and developmental rates during the in vitro culture of embryos. Taken together, our results suggest that NAC supplementation has beneficial effects on bovine oocytes and embryos through the prevention of apoptosis and the elimination of oxygen free radicals during maturation and culture in vitro.

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Heat Shock Protein 70 Improves In Vitro Embryo Yield and Quality from Heat Stressed Bovine Oocytes

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1794

Author(s):

Konstantina Stamperna ◽

Themistoklis Giannoulis ◽

Eleni Dovolou ◽

Maria Kalemkeridou ◽

Ioannis Nanas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Heat Shock ◽

Heat Shock Protein ◽

Heat Shock Protein 70 ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Intramolecular Interactions ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Embryo Yield ◽

Bovine Oocytes

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperon that stabilizes unfolded or partially folded proteins, preventing inappropriate inter- and intramolecular interactions. Here, we examined the developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes exposed to heat stress with or without HSP70. Bovine oocytes were matured for 24 h at 39 °C without (group C39) or with HSP70 (group H39) and at 41 °C for the first 6 h, followed by 16 h at 39 °C with (group H41) or without HSP70 (group C41). After insemination, zygotes were cultured for 9 days at 39 °C. Cleavage and embryo yield were assessed 48 h post insemination and on days 7, 8, 9, respectively. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in oocytes, cumulus cells and blastocysts. In C41, blastocysts formation rate was lower than in C39 and on day 9 it was lower than in H41. In oocytes, HSP70 enhanced the expression of three HSP genes regardless of incubation temperature. HSP70 at 39 °C led to tight coordination of gene expression in oocytes and blastocysts, but not in cumulus cells. Our results imply that HSP70, by preventing apoptosis, supporting signal transduction, and increasing antioxidant protection of the embryo, protects heat stressed maturing bovine oocyte and restores its developmental competence.

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