Effect of growth factor on in-vitro maturation of porcine oocyte

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mahanta ◽  
D. Bhuyan ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
R. K. Biswas ◽  
D. J. Dutta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Type B ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Porcine Oocyte ◽  
Co2 Level

The present study was aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of different growth factors on in-vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. Ovaries were collected from a local abattoir immediately after slaughter of the animals and transported to the laboratory. A total of 618 type A and type B oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 containing additives with PMSG and hCG for the first 22 hrs and without hormones for subsequent 22 hrs of incubation at 39o C under 5 per cent CO2 level and 90-95 per cent humidity. The effects of supplementation of different growth factors viz., EGF, IGF-I and EGF + IGF-I in the medium were studied. The rate of oocytes with cumulus cells expansion was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) when growth factors were added as compared to control but it did not differ significantly between growth factors. The rate of nuclear maturation of oocytes was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) as compare to control for EGF and EGF + IGF-I but not for IGF-I. There was no significant difference in the rate of oocytes with nuclear maturation between the growth factors studied. It can be concluded from the present study that addition of EGF, IGF-I or EGF + IGF and additives along with hormones (PMSG and hCG for first 20-22 hrs) in TCM-199 Medium gives optimum in-vitro maturation rates in porcine oocytes.

165 In vitro maturation of ovine and caprine oocytes during breeding and nonbreeding seasons

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
M. Markle ◽  
C. K. Mak ◽  
V. Medina ◽  
C. R. F. Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Maturation Rate

The current study investigated the in vitro meiotic competence of ovine and caprine oocytes that underwent nuclear maturation during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. We hypothesised that maturation rates of ovine and caprine oocyte would be significantly lower during the nonbreeding season. Ovine (Katahdin crossbred) and caprine (mainly Spanish crossbred) ovaries were collected from a local abattoir in the southern United States. Age of the animals was not determined. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were harvested by slicing the ovaries and searching using a stereomicroscope. Oocytes with more than 3 layers of unexpanded cumulus cells and with evenly granulated cytoplasm were selected for in vitro maturation (IVM). A commercial bovine IVM media (IVF Bioscience, Falmouth, United Kingdom) was used throughout the study. After 24h of IVM, ovine and caprine oocytes were denuded and oocytes with an extruded polar body (meiotic metaphase II oocytes) were considered to have reached nuclear maturation. The seasons in this study were defined as follows: breeding season=September to April and nonbreeding season=May to July. The presence of corpus hemorrhagicum or corpus luteum in at least 70% of the ovaries indicated the breeding season for the animals. Proportions of oocytes undergoing nuclear maturation were analysed using a two-tailed Chi-squared test. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. The ovine maturation rate was 59% (65/111) and 49% (254/519) and the caprine maturation rate was 70% (39/56) and 40% (64/162) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, respectively. These results show a significant difference in nuclear maturation for caprine oocytes (P<0.001) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons; however, there was no significant difference in nuclear maturation for ovine oocytes (P=0.06) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. High environmental temperatures during the nonbreeding season may have had detrimental effects on oocyte nuclear maturation in caprine but not in ovine oocytes. Why oocytes from these 2 species differ on how they are adversely affected by season remains to be elucidated.

297 EFFECT OF CUMULUS CELL REMOVAL DURING IN VITRO MATURATION OF PORCINE CUMULUS–OOCYTE COMPLEXES ON THE APOPTOTIC STATUS AND MEIOTIC PROGRESSION OF THE OOCYTES

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
P. Ferré ◽  
H. Funahashi
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Dapi Staining ◽  
Meiotic Progression ◽  
Viability Assay ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Porcine Oocyte

This study was undertaken to examine the apoptotic status and meiotic progression of oocytes from small (SF) and medium follicles (MF) when the oocytes were denuded from cumulus cells (CC) before, during and after culture for in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were aspirated from SF (0.5–2 mm in diameter) or MF (3–6 mm in diameter) of slaughtered prepubertal gilt ovaries. Only COC with a good morphology of the surrounding cumulus cells were cultured for IVM in modified porcine oocyte medium supplemented with 50 µM β-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM dibutyryl c-AMP, 10 IU mL–1 of eCG, and 10 IU mL–1 of hCG for 20 h at 39°C and 5% CO2 in air and then continued culture in the absence of dibutyryl c-AMP, eCG, and hCG in the same medium for another 24 h. Before and 20 h after the start of IVM culture, some of the oocytes were denuded of CC and the oocytes continued the IVM culture. After IVM culture, oocyte viability and meiotic progression were examined by the annexin V/PI viability assay and DAPI staining. Statistical analyses of 5 replicate data were performed with a 2-way ANOVA and a Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Before IVM culture, there was no significant difference between the viability of SF and MF oocytes, but the incidence of oocytes at the GV0 stage was higher in specimens from SF than MF (24.8 v. 3.3%), and that of oocytes at the GVI stage was the opposite (57.8 in MF v. 22.7% in SF). After IVM culture, apoptotic status of oocytes was only affected by the decumulation timing. The percentage of normal live oocytes was significantly higher when CC were removed after 20 and 44 h of IVM in both SF (39.7 and 39.3 v. 17.7%) and MF (45.4 and 37 v. 22.2%). The incidence of early and late apoptotic oocytes was significantly higher when the CC were removed before IVM culture in both SF (74.3 and 7.4%) and MF (69.4 and 6.7%). The incidence of mature live oocytes was significantly affected by both the origin of COC and the decumulation timing. Although the percentage of mature oocytes was higher in MF, maturation rates were significantly higher when oocytes were denuded at 20 h of IVM culture (SF 65.4%, MF 83.1%) as compared at 0 (SF 27.9%, MF 32.3%) and 44 h (SF 41%, MF 68.5%). However, the percentage of oocytes with normal spindle morphology was significantly higher when oocytes were denuded at 44 h of IVM culture (SF 70.6%, MF 91.5%) than 20 h (SF 66.8%, MF 73%). In summary, regardless of COC from SF and MF, removal of CC at 20 h of IVM culture seems to promote meiotic progression of the oocytes to the MII stage, but factor(s) from or communication with CC during the latter half of IVM culture may be needed to obtain a normal spindle morphology in mature oocytes.

scholarly journals Effect of adding growth factors during in vitro maturation on the developmental potentials of ewe oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue staining

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 452-456
Author(s):  
Mohamed Fathi ◽  
Amr F. Elkarmoty
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Blue Staining ◽  
Brilliant Cresyl Blue ◽  
Cresyl Blue ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Maturation Medium

Aim: Several factors had been concerned with the developmental competence of the sheep oocyte. This study aims to investigate the effect of adding growth factors (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and epidermal growth factor [EGF]) in the maturation medium of ewe oocytes selected based on brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) screening on in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization, and pre-implantation embryo development. Materials and Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained from the ovaries of slaughtered ewes by either aspiration or slicing techniques. COCs were in vitro matured in a medium containing IGF-1 and EGF (control group). For BCB screening, oocytes were stained and divided into BCB+ oocytes that matured in the same maturation conditions without adding growth factors (Group 2) or in the presence of growth factors (Group 3), and BCB– oocytes that matured in medium without growth factors (Group 4) or with growth factors (Group 5). Results: The supplementation of the maturation medium with growth factors during IVM of (BCB+) oocytes resulted in a significant increase in nuclear maturation rate (90.9%), fertilization rate (75.6%), and embryo developmental rates (60.0%, 46.7%, and 33.3% for cleavage, morula, and blastocyst, respectively). Conclusion: Culturing BCB+ oocytes in a maturation medium containing both EGF and IGF-1 showed a significant improvement in nuclear maturation, fertilization, and pre-implantation embryo development in vitro.

scholarly journals Effects of Short-Term Inhibition of Rho Kinase on Dromedary Camel Oocyte In Vitro Maturation

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Hammed A. Tukur ◽  
Riyadh S. Aljumaah ◽  
Ayman Abdel-Aziz Swelum ◽  
Abdullah N. Alowaimer ◽  
Mutassim Abdelrahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Dromedary Camel ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rock Inhibitor ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Significant Difference

This is the first report on a biphasic in vitro maturation (IVM) approach with a meiotic inhibitor to improve dromedary camel IVM. Spontaneous meiotic resumption poses a major setback for in vitro matured oocytes. The overall objective of this study was to improve in vitro maturation of dromedary camel oocytes using ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632) in a biphasic IVM to prevent spontaneous meiotic resumption. In the first experiment, we cultured immature cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs, n = 375) in a prematuration medium supplemented with ROCK inhibitor (RI) for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 24 h before submission to normal in vitro maturation to complete 28 h. The control was cultured for 28 h in the absence of RI. In the first phase of experiment two, we cultured COCs (n = 480) in the presence or absence (control) of RI for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 24 h, and conducted real-time relative quantitative PCR (qPCR) on selected mRNA transcripts. The same was done in the second phase, but qPCR was done after completion of normal IVM. Assessment of nuclear maturation showed that pre-IVM for 4 h yielded an increase in MII oocyte (54.67% vs. 26.6% of control; p < 0.05). As expected, the same group showed the highest degree (2) of cumulus expansion. In experiment 2, qPCR results showed significantly higher expression of ACTB and BCL2 in the RI group treated for 4 h when compared with the other groups. However, their relative quantification after biphasic IVM did not reveal any significant difference, except for the positive response of BCL2 and BAX/BCL2 ratio after 4 and 6 h biphasic IVM. In conclusion, RI prevents premature oocyte maturation and gave a significantly positive outcome during the 4 h treatment. This finding is a paradigm for future investigation on dromedary camel biphasic IVM and for improving the outcome of IVM in this species.

326 EVALUATION OF CULTURE DURATION AND PARTIAL CUMULUS CELL REMOVAL DURING CANINE OOCYTE MATURATION

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
C. Hanna ◽  
C. Long ◽  
M. Westhusin ◽  
D. Kraemer
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Calf Serum ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Germinal Vesicle Breakdown ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Culture Duration

The objectives of this study were to determine whether the percentage of canine oocytes that resume meiosis during in vitro maturation could be increased by either increasing culture duration or by removing approximately one-half of the cumulus cells 24 h after oocytes were placed into culture. Canine female reproductive tracts were collected from a local clinic and ovaries were minced in warm TL-HEPES. Oocytes with a consistently dark ooplasm and at least two layers of cumulus cells were selected, cultured in a basic canine oocyte in vitro maturation medium consisting of TCM-199 with Earl's salts, 2.92 mM Ca-lactate, 20 mM pyruvic acid, 4.43 mM HEPES, 10% fetal calf serum, 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, NY, USA), and 5 μg/mL porcine somatotropin, and incubated at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in humidified air. Treatment groups were randomly assigned and oocytes were cultured for 60, 84, or 132 h (Basic). From each of these groups, one-half of the oocytes were pipetted through a fine bore pipette to partially remove the cumulus cells 24 h after the start of culture (Basic–1/2). At the end of culture, all oocytes were denuded and the nuclear status was observed with Hoechst 33342 under ultraviolet fluorescence. All data were analyzed by ANOVA with P < 0.05. Since the canine oocyte is ovulated at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage of meiosis and requires up to five days to mature in the oviduct, it was hypothesized that an increased culture time would allow for more oocytes to undergo nuclear maturation to metaphase II (MII). It was also hypothesized that partial removal of cumulus cells would decrease the cumulus cell component in the ooplasm that sustains meiotic arrest, allowing for more oocytes to resume meiosis (RM = germinal vesicle breakdown to MII). Results within each treatment group indicate that there is no significant difference between culture duration and the percent of oocytes that mature to MII. Additionally, there was no significance in the percent of oocytes that resumed meiosis after partial cumulus cell removal. Taken together, these data suggest that neither treatment is effective in canine in vitro maturation systems, given the current maturation culture conditions. Table 1. Nuclear status* of oocytes for three time periods with or without partial cumulus cell removal

229 EXPRESSION OF mRNA ENCODING GLYCOLYTIC ENZYMES IN BOVINE CUMULUS CELLS DURING IN VITRO MATURATION: EFFECTS OF TIME AND FSH

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
E. S. Caixeta ◽  
P. Ripamonte ◽  
M. F. Machado ◽  
R. B. da Silva ◽  
C. Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Pattern ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Glycolytic Enzymes ◽  
Mrna Abundance ◽  
Relative Expression ◽  
Significant Difference

Mammalian oocytes require pyruvate as an energy source for growth and resumption of meiosis. Because oocytes are not competent to carry out glycolysis, cumulus cells (CC) are responsible for metabolizing glucose into pyruvate and providing it to the oocyte through gap junctions. The understanding of the energetic metabolism of CC in culture conditions might provide basis for the improvement of COC in vitro maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the temporal patterns of mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes [phosphofructokinase (PFKP), aldolase (ALDOA), triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), enolase (ENO1), pyruvate kinase (PKM2), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA)] in bovine CC during COC in vitro maturation with or without FSH. Immature COC (grades 1 and 2) were obtained from 2- to 8-mm follicles from abattoir ovaries (predominantly Bos indicus). Cumulus cells were separated from COC and frozen before (immature group) or after COC culture for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours with (10 ng/mL) or without FSH. Total RNA was extracted using RNeasy® (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA), and 100 ng of RNA was reverse transcribed using oligo dT primers and Omniscript® (Qiagen). Relative expression of target genes was assessed by real-time PCR using bovine-specific primers and Power SYBR green master mix in an ABI Prism® 7300. To select the most stable housekeeping gene for expression normalization, cyclophilin-A (CYC-A), GAPDH, and histone H2AFZ amplification profiles were compared using the geNorm applet for Microsoft Excel (Vandesompele J et al. 2002 Genome Biol. 3, 1-11); the most stable housekeeping gene was CYC-A. Relative expression values were calculated using the AACt method with efficiency correction (Pfaffl MW 2001 Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 2002-2007). Effects of time in culture and of FSH treatment were tested by ANOVA, and groups were compared by Tukey-Kramer Honestly Significant Difference test. Nonparametric analysis was used when data were not normally distributed. Abundance of mRNA of all glycolytic enzymes decreased during in vitro maturation with or without FSH. Expression of PFKP, ALDOA, TPI1, ENO1, and LDHA genes was decreased to around half of the initial value (time 0) by 4 to 8 h of culture (P < 0.05) and did not increase thereafter. A similar expression pattern was observed for PKM2, although mRNA abundance was reduced later in comparison with other enzymes; levels were decreased by 16 (without FSH) to 20 h (with FSH) of culture. The presence of FSH did not alter the overall temporal pattern of gene expression but decreased mRNA abundance for PFKP, ALDOA, and TPI1 at 20, 16 and 16 h of culture, respectively. In conclusion, gene expression of glycolytic enzymes decreased with time during COC in vitro maturation in cattle, and FSH did not have a major influence on this expression pattern. This study was supported by CAPES and FAPESP.

336 MEIOTIC DEVELOPMENT AND CORTICAL GRANULES DISTRIBUTION IN CANINE OOCYTES DURING IN VITRO MATURATION

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. De los Reyes ◽  
D. Luna ◽  
J. Palomino
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Fluorescein Isothiocyanate ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Cortical Granules ◽  
Dapi Staining ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Cytoplasmic Maturation

Low development of IVM canine oocytes could be in part attributed to an impaired cytoplasmic maturation. In mammalian oocytes, migration and the redistribution of cortical granules (CGs) around the periphery of the oocyte contribute to the inhibition of polyspermy and it is an important criterion to evaluate cytoplasmic maturation. The state of nuclear maturation and the distribution of CGs were evaluated in canine oocytes cultured for different periods in order to compare the synchrony of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation during in vitro maturation. Bitch ovaries at different stages of the estrous cycle were obtained following ovariectomy. COCs with compact cumulus cells showing a homogeneous cytoplasm were selected for experiments. Thirty-six COCs were processed at immature stage, placed in PBS medium until evaluation. A total of 275 COCs were matured in vitro for 48, 72, and 96 h in TCM-199 with Earle’s salt supplemented with 25 mM Hepes, 10% FCS, 0.25 mM pyruvate, 10 IU mL-1 of hCG, 300 IU mL-1 penicillin, and 20 mg mL-1 streptomycin, at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. At each culture period, the oocytes were stained with Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, and the CGs distributions were examined under a fluorescent microscope. The nuclear status of the denuded oocytes was determined by DAPI staining under a fluorescence microscope. For each treatment, at least four replicates were performed and the data was analyzed by ANOVA using Tukey’s test to determine the differences P < 0.05. Three types of CGs distribution were distinguished during canine oocyte maturation: (1) homogeneous distribution throughout the cytoplasm including the cortex; (2) heterogeneous (clusters) within the cytoplasm and (3) densely distributed beneath the oolemma. Nuclear stages were classified as immature or germinal vesicle (GV) stage; resumption of meiosis or germinal vesicle break down (GVBD); metaphase I to telophase I (MI toTel I); and mature or second metaphase (MII). The distribution patterns of GCs were different (P < 0.05) among oocytes cultured for different periods and the nuclear maturation status also differed between oocytes cultured for different intervals (P < 0.05). Most (>84%) of the immature oocytes at GV showed a uniform distribution of CGs throughout the cytoplasm. At 48 h of culture, CGs distribution was mainly Type 2 (25%) and 3 (61%) and the oocytes were at GVBD (33%) and MI-Tel I (33%) stages. Most nuclei of the type 3 oocytes were in the MI (40%) and MII (11%) stages, corresponding to those oocytes matured for 72 (88%) or 96 h (71%). These results indicate that canine oocytes migrate to the cortex during IVM and this process is not finished before 72 h of culture. In addition, although the re-distribution of the CGs occurred in parallel with nuclear maturation, the oocytes cannot always proceed to the MII stage; however, in such oocytes the CGs are distributed beneath the oolemma. Supported by Grant FONDECYT 1080618.

172 DETERMINING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LH AND FSH DURING SHEEP IN VITRO OOCYTE MATURATION

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. de Frutos ◽  
R. Vicente-Perez ◽  
P. J. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Mixed Logit ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Pituitary Hormones ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Cumulus Expansion ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Grade 3

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

208 EFFECT OF GDF8 AND SB-431542 ON PORCINE OOCYTE DURING IN VITRO MATURATION AND SUBSEQUENT EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 235
Author(s):  
J. D. Yoon ◽  
E. Lee ◽  
S.-H. Hyun
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Porcine Oocyte

Growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF8) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β that has been identified as a strong physiological regulator. SB-431542 (SB) is a specific inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β superfamily type I activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) receptors such as ALK4, ALK5, and ALK7. The purpose of this study is investigation of the effects of GDF8 and SB on porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation and subsequent embryonic development. We first performed ELISA to detect GDF8 concentrations in follicular fluid for each size of follicle; sizes were as follows: small (<3 mm), medium (>3 mm and <6 mm), and large (>6 mm) follicle. After detection of the GDF8 concentration in follicular fluid, we investigated the effect of GDF8 and SB treatment during in vitro maturation (IVM) on nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and embryonic development after IVF and parthenogenetic activation (PA). Data were analysed by ANOVA followed by Duncan using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science, IBM, New York, NY, USA) mean ± SEM. The ELISA result showed different concentrations of GDF8 for each grade of follicular fluid: small, 0.479 ng mL–1; medium, 0.668 ng mL–1; and large, 1.318 ng mL–1. During the IVM process, 1.318 ng mL–1 of GDF8 and 5 ng mL–1 of SB were added to the maturation medium as control, SB, SB+GDF8, and GDF8 treatment groups. After 44 h of IVM, GDF8 group (90.4%) showed a significantly higher nuclear maturation rate than control and SB+GDF8 groups (85.4 and 81.7%). The SB group (78.9%) showed significantly reduced nuclear maturation rate compared with control (P < 0.05). The GDF8 treatment group showed a significant decreased intracellular ROS and increased GSH levels compared with other groups (P < 0.05). The SB+GBF8 treatment group showed a significantly better cytoplasmic maturation than the SB treatment group. In the PA embryonic development analysis, the GDF8 treatment group showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation rate compared with other groups (47.9, 37.2, 46.4, and 58.7% respectively; P < 0.05). In the IVF embryonic development analysis, the GDF8 treatment groups showed significantly higher blastocyst formation rate compared with the SB group (28.2 and 42.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, treatment with GDF8 during porcine oocyte IVM improved the embryonic developmental competence via increased cytoplasmic maturation and led to better oocyte maturation from the ALK receptor inhibition by SB.

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