Relationship between DNA fragmentation of equine granulosa cells and oocyte meiotic competence after in vitro maturation

The acquisition of equine oocyte developmental capacity is ensured by the follicular environment, such as granulosa cells, which could reflect the meiotic development potential of immature oocytes. This study evaluated the relationship between DNA fragmentation of granulosa cells, using the chromatin dispersion test, and equine oocyte meiotic development after in vitro maturation. Granulosa cells and cumulus–oocytes complexes (n = 50) were recovered from slaughterhouse‐derived ovaries. Oocytes were in vitro matured, stained and evaluated under fluorescence microscopy. Maturation rates were classified into outstanding, medium and poor levels of maturation using 25th and 75th percentiles as thresholds. For DNA assessment, each sample was processed with the Ovoselect^® kit (Halotech DNA). High, low and total DNA fragmentation percentages were compared among levels of maturation rates by ANOVA, followed by Duncan test. Results were expressed as mean ± SE. Total and high DNA fragmentation rates of granulosa cells were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in follicles whose oocytes had reached outstanding maturation level than those originating from follicles whose oocytes had reached poor maturation level. In conclusion, the DNA fragmentation analysis of equine granulosa cells can be a valuable test to identify equine oocytes showing the best meiotic competence after in vitro maturation.     

绵羊卵母细胞采集、体外成熟和胚胎体外培养对体外受精技术效率的影响

利用屠宰场采集的绵羊卵巢作为试验材料,研究了不同卵母细胞采集方法(卵泡冲洗法、剖切法、注射器抽吸法和真空泵抽吸法)、成熟液中添加不同来源激素(BIONICHE或宁波激素厂生产 FSH/LH)和血清(发情绵羊血清或胎牛血清),以及mSOF和mCR胚胎培养体系对绵羊体外受精各环节效率的影响。结果表明,卵泡冲洗法获得A、B两级卵母细胞比例为77.1%,显著高于其他3种方法(P＜0.05),添加BIONICHE FSH/LH+ESS成熟液中,卵母细胞成熟率显著高于其他添加方式(P＜0.05),mSOF和mCR胚胎培养体系在卵裂率上无显著差异(P＞0.05),但mSOF组中囊胚率和孵化率均显著高于mCR组(P＜0.05)。综上所述,本研究中卵泡冲洗法更适合绵羊卵母细胞采集,成熟液中添加BIONICHE FSH/LH和ESS可显著促进绵羊卵母细胞成熟;与mCR培养体系相比,mSOF培养体系更适合绵羊体外受精胚胎的发育。     

Ultrastructural Characteristics of Non-matured and In Vitro Matured Oocytes Collected from Pre-pubertal and Adult Domestic Cat Ovaries

The present study describes the ultrastructural characteristics of cat oocytes before maturation and after 12- and 24-h in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes were recovered from pre-pubertal and adult queen ovaries after ovariohysterectomy and a proportion were stored in glutaraldehyde at 4°C until examination by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Those selected for maturation were cultured before TEM in DMEM for 12 and 24 h at 38°C in a humidified environment of 5% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 90% N₂. Specimens were divided into six groups: non-matured oocytes from pre-pubertal queens (PP0), non-matured oocytes from adult queens (A0), 12-h in vitro matured oocytes from pre-pubertal queens (PP12), 12-h in vitro matured oocytes from adult queens (A12), 24-h in vitro matured oocytes from pre-pubertal queens (PP24) and 24-h in vitro matured oocytes from adult queens (A24). Across the treatment groups, it was possible to observe differences in the thickness of the perivitelline space, the penetration of cumulus cell projections forming a junctional complex, distribution and density of small vesicles, lipid droplets, microvilli, mitochondria and cortical granules and variable degrees of development of Golgi complexes. These findings demonstrated that ultrastructural analysis of oocytes matured in vitro is a valuable tool to evaluate oocyte cytoplasmic maturation and that this IVM protocol was efficient in inducing gradual morphological changes necessary for cytoplasmic maturation of pre-pubertal and adult cat oocytes.     

Effect of low oxygen tension atmosphere and maturation media supplementation on nuclear maturation, cortical granules migration and sperm penetration in swine in vitro fertilization

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of low oxygen tension (5% CO(2) , 5% O(2) and 90% N(2) ) on in vitro oocyte maturation using defined media (0.1% polyvinyl alcohol - PVA) or 10% porcine follicular fluid (PFF)-supplemented media. To achieve this goal, oocytes were evaluated regarding cortical granules (GCs) migration, nuclear maturation and sperm penetration. Oocytes were in vitro matured under different conditions: 5% or 20% O(2) atmosphere and 0.1% PVA- or 10% PFF-supplemented media and evaluated at 0 and 44 h of maturation. To evaluate the migration of CGs and nuclear maturation, by confocal microscopy, oocytes were incubated with 100 μg of FITC-PNA/ml and 10 μg/ml of propidium iodide. To address sperm penetration, after maturation, in vitro fertilization for 6 h and in vitro culture for 18 h, zygotes were incubated with 10 mg/ml Hoechst 33342. Pronuclei and polar bodies were quantified using an epifluorescence microscope. Atmosphere conditions did not affect the CGs migration, but media supplementation did. Oocytes matured in 10% PFF media had a higher percentage of CGs in the oocyte periphery than oocytes matured in PVA-supplemented media. However, this fact did not have effect on in vitro sperm penetration levels. No effect of atmosphere conditions and media supplementation was observed on the rates of metaphase II oocytes. Therefore, the use of low oxygen tension in association with PVA maturation media does not improve the in vitro maturation system of porcine oocytes, because its use did not improve nuclear maturation, CGs migration and zygotes monospermic rates.     

Influence of cysteine in conjunction with growth factors on the development of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

Cysteine supplementation to in vitro maturation (IVM) media of bovine oocytes increases cellular glutathione production. Beneficial effects of growth factors for improving the rate of blastocyst development have been reported, but combined effects are unknown. This study was conducted to determine the additive effect of cysteine with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and/or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on embryo development. Bovine oocytes from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in TCM-199 (control), with or without the addition of 0.6 mm cysteine (C) at 0 or 12 h of maturation. After in vitro fertilization, embryos were allocated to culture treatments containing synthetic oviductal fluid medium. Culture treatments included fetal calf serum (FCS, 4%) alone; IGF-I (100 ng/ml); EGF (10 ng/ml); and IGF-I + EGF (100 + 10 ng/ml). Although rates for blastocysts development were not different among treatments, an increased proportion of embryos attaining morula formation was achieved when cysteine was added to the maturation media (12 h C IGF-I + EGF, 41.4%; 0 h C EGF, 40.0%) as compared to control (FCS: 34.6%). When cysteine treatments were combined, percent cleavage was greater for IGF-I + EGF (70.8%) compared to FCS (61.2%). The abundance of mRNA from the apoptotic genes, Bax and Bcl-2, and the oxidative stress genes, copper (Cu)-zinc (Zn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese (Mn) SOD in embryos was assessed. No treatment effect was observed on the expression of these genes. In conclusion, supplementation of cysteine during IVM of oocytes, in conjunction with growth factors could effectively be used as a replacement for FCS.     

水牛卵母细胞在不同培养液中成熟与凋亡的比较研究

为了解卵母细胞体外成熟与凋亡过程,进而提高卵母细胞体外成熟率,本试验研究了在培养液中添加不同浓度的表皮生长因子(EGF)、胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟和凋亡的影响。结果表明:(1)添加各种浓度的EGF(10,20,30,50,100 ng/mL)均可以提高水牛卵母细胞的成熟率,降低卵母细胞的凋亡率,其中50 ng/mL EGF有显著影响(P<0.05);(2)添加各种浓度的IGF-1(10,30,50,100 ng/mL)均能提高水牛卵母细胞体外成熟率,降低卵母细胞的凋亡率,以30 ng/mL效果明显(P<0.05);(3)添加20 ng/mL EGF+30ng/mL IGF-1组卵母细胞体外成熟率和凋亡率分别高于和低于单独添加IGF-1和EGF组。     

Cumulus–Oocyte Communications in the Horse: Role of the Breeding Season and of the Maturation Medium

Horse is a seasonal breeder and information on oocyte quality outside the breeding season is very limited. Ovaries obtained at the slaughterhouse are a convenient but often limited source of oocytes in this species. As the low quantity of ovaries leads to an intensive use of all available material, it would be useful to know whether ovaries collected during the non‐breeding season are suitable for in vitro maturation (IVM). In an attempt to characterize the effect of season on oocyte quality, we investigated the permeability of the gap junctions (GJ) present between cumulus cells and oocytes because of their important role in oocyte growth and maturation. We also compared the effect of supplementing the maturation medium with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or oestrus mare serum (EMS). A total of 645 oocytes isolated from 158 and 154 ovaries collected during the breeding and the non‐breeding season, respectively, were used in this study. Oocytes were matured for 30 h in TCM 199 supplemented either with 10% EMS or with 4 mg/ml BSA. The presence of permeable GJs between cumulus cells and oocytes was investigated with the injection of a 3% solution of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow into the ooplasm. No differences in efficiency of oocyte retrieval or oocyte meiotic competence were detected between oocytes collected during the breeding and non‐breeding season. The vast majority (90%) of the oocytes collected during the breeding season had fully functional communications with their surrounding cumulus cells but such communications were completely interrupted in 55.3% of the oocytes collected during the non‐breeding season. During the non‐breeding season, the proportion of oocytes whose communications with cumulus cells were classified as closed or intermediate at the end of maturation was lower in the group matured with BSA than with EMS (71.4 vs 97.7, p < 0.05). The same trend, although not statistically significant, was observed during the breeding season also. The presence of BSA caused an incomplete cumulus expansion during both seasons. Our data indicate that oocytes collected during the non‐breeding season do not show any meiotic deficiency but lack active communication with the surrounding cumulus cells at the time of their isolation from the ovary. No data are available at present for determining the consequences on the developmental competence even if data from other species suggest that this is likely.     

In vitro maturation and fertilization in the Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) using oocytes and spermatozoa recovered post-mortem from animals that had died because of foot and mouth disease outbreak

The ability to rescue gametes from endangered or wildlife species and to subsequently produce viable embryos holds tremendous potential as a means to increase the population size of endangered or wildlife species. The objective of this study was to assess the developmental competence of gametes recovered from nilgai that had died because of foot and mouth disease outbreak. Oocytes collected from the ovaries of seven dead nilgais were allowed to mature in vitro and were tested for developmental potential by in vitro fertilization (IVF) with epididymal spermatozoa collected also post-mortem. The average number of oocytes (n = 517) recovered per ovary was 36.9, and the side (right or left), size and weight of the ovaries had no significant effect on the number and quality of oocytes recovered. In vitro maturation studies indicated that the proportion of matured oocytes (MII stage) at 18, 24 and 30 h was 55.6%, 63.4% and 63.6%, respectively. Furthermore, 43% of the matured oocytes cleaved following in vitro fertilization and 12% of the cleaved oocytes (6/49) developed to the 4-8 cell stage. These findings suggest that the gametes recovered from nilgai post-mortem could be utilized for in vitro production of embryos.     

Reduced Immunolabelling of a Porcine Oocyte Membrane Protein Reflects Reduced Fertilizability of Porcine Oocytes Following Elevated Ambient Temperature

Decreased fertility in pigs is a common occurrence during summer months. An objective of the current experiments was to evaluate if elevated ambient temperature altered the oocyte plasma membrane including potential receptors for sperm. This would potentially contribute to reduced fertilizability. Treated gilts were exposed in vivo to 32°C for 12 h per day and 20°C for the remaining 12 h per day for 7 days; control gilts were exposed to 22°C for 12 h and 20°C for the remaining 12 h each day. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were also aspirated from ovaries obtained from gilts maintained at thermoneutral ambient temperature and matured in vitro at 38.5°C or 40°C. Relative abundance of a porcine oocyte membrane protein was examined by intensity of immunolabelling of the in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes evaluated with confocal microscopy; fertilizability of the in vitro matured oocytes was evaluated in in vitro fertilization assays. Oocytes obtained from gilts exposed to elevated ambient temperature for 7 days had reduced immunolabelling compared with oocytes from control gilts (p < 0.05). Similarly, oocytes matured in vitro for 44 h at elevated ambient temperature had reduced immunolabelling and reduced fertilizability compared with oocytes matured at 38.5°C (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). These results suggest porcine oocyte quality is reduced by elevated ambient temperature and immunolabelling of oocytes with antibodies to specific membrane proteins may be effective to evaluate some aspects of oocyte quality.     

Production and lambing rate of blastocysts derived from in vitro matured oocytes after gonadotropin treatment of prepubertal ewes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gonadotropin treatment on the in vitro maturation, blastocyst production, and developmental potential to term of oocytes collected from Sardinian neonatal and prepubertal ewes at 4 to 6 wk of age. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered at 24 h after withdrawal of a 1/6th size progestagenated pessary from the donors, of which each received 120 IU FSH/LH and 400 IU PMSG in a single dose 36 h before sponge removal. Treated donors produced a greater (P<.01) number of oocytes per animal (86.2 +/-7.9) compared with slaughterhouse (untreated) prepubertal ewes (55.5+/-6.1) of the same age or with treated neonatal ewes (6.1+/-0.7) 10 d old. During oocyte maturation, there were no differences in the percentage of germinal vesicle break-down (78.08 vs. 74.24), metaphase I (89.13 vs. 87.18), and metaphase II (77.91 vs. 76.38) when evaluated after 8, 14, and 24 h of maturation, respectively, between oocytes from treated and slaughterhouse (untreated) prepubertal ewes. The embryo cleavage (71.1 vs. 73.7) and blastocyst rates (22.2 vs. 19.8) were similar in the treated and the untreated prepubertal ewes after transfer of in vitro matured oocytes into ligated oviducts of temporary recipients. The in vitro viability rates of vitrified blastocysts (81.2 vs. 76.9) and the in vivo survival rates (46.1 vs. 50.0) of embryos derived from in vitro matured and in vivo fertilized oocytes showed no difference. The data suggest that gonadotropin treatment increases oocyte production per animal but has no effect on oocyte quality because embryo production and lambing rates of blastocysts derived from in vitro matured oocytes were not markedly different from those derived from untreated prepubertal ewes of the same age.     

Differences in development of bovine oocytes recovered by aspiration or by mincing.

This experiment was performed to clarify relationships between conditions of bovine ovaries and developmental capacity of the follicular oocytes recovered from them and to compare two methods of oocyte collection, aspiration and mincing. Follicular oocytes with surrounding intact, unexpanded cumulus recovered by follicular aspiration or by mincing of tissue from 24 pairs of ovaries were matured and fertilized in vitro. The number of follicular oocytes recovered from pairs of ovaries averaged 32.1 +/- 3.2, but the number recovered varied greatly among the 24 pairs of ovaries (range, 7 to 71). The overall rate of development to the blastocyst stage was 18% (137/771), and the average number of blastocysts produced from a pair of ovaries was 5.7 +/- 1.1 (range, 0 to 17). No relationships were found between the presence of corpora lutea or large follicles and the proportion of oocytes capable of reaching the blastocyst stage in vitro. However, a positive correlation was observed between the number of oocytes obtained from each pair of ovaries and subsequent in vitro development; the correlation was especially high for oocytes obtained by aspiration. These data suggest that the developmental capacity of bovine follicular oocytes after in vitro maturation and fertilization is correlated to the number of antral follicles aspirated from the pair of ovaries.     

马卵母细胞胞质内精子注射后体外发育能力的研究

本研究在非繁殖季节评估卵丘形态(松散型、致密型)、成熟培养体系(TCM 199、NCSU 23)、体外成熟时间(34、38 h)和离子霉素结合6-DMAP激活对马卵母细胞胞质内精子注射(ICSI)后体外发育能力的影响。从屠宰场采集马卵巢,获得的卵母细胞进行体外成熟,然后注射马冷冻解冻精液,统计分裂情况。试验结果表明,①马松散型卵母细胞成熟率显著高于致密型卵母细胞(P<0.05),分别为61.09%和41.24%,但ICSI后36 h分裂率无显著差异(P>0.05),分别为47.34%和44.92%;②两种培养体系对马松散型或致密型卵母细胞成熟率及ICSI后36 h分裂率无显著影响(P>0.05),但相同成熟体系培养松散型卵母细胞成熟率均显著高于致密型卵母细胞(P<0.05),然而ICSI后36 h分裂率差异不显著(P>0.05);③松散型或致密型卵母细胞在TCM 199或NCSU 23中成熟38 h成熟率均高于34 h成熟率,分别为44.43%～68.87%和34.52%～58.90%,松散型卵母细胞在TCM 199体系中成熟34 h、ICSI后激活组或对照组的分裂率显著高于成熟38 h、ICSI后激活组的分裂率(P<0.05),以及致密型卵母细胞在TCM 199体系中成熟34 h、ICSI后激活组的分裂率(P<0.05),而且显著高于松散型卵母细胞在NCSU 23体系中成熟38 h、ICSI后对照组的分裂率(P<0.05);④ICSI后用离子霉素结合6-DMAP激活对马卵母细胞ICSI后36 h分裂无显著影响(P>0.05)。因此,马松散型和致密型卵母细胞的成熟能力存在差异,TCM 199和NCSU 23成熟体系对这2种类型卵母细胞的发育能力无显著影响(P>0.05),马卵母细胞成熟38 h成熟率高于34 h成熟率,TCM 199成熟体系培养松散型卵母细胞34 h进行ICSI后的分裂率最高。离子霉素结合6-DMAP激活对TCM 199或NCSU 23体系成熟马卵母细胞ICSI后的体外发育能力无显著影响(P>0.05)。     

青春期前山羊卵母细胞体外生产胚胎的研究进展

青春期前卵母细胞的来源广泛,作为体外胚胎生产的试验材料,国外这方面的研究报道较多。作者就青春期前山羊卵母细胞体外成熟、成熟后细胞质中细胞器的变化情况、体外受精技术和胚胎体外培养等方面研究情况作一综述,供研究者参考。     

Effects of maturation conditions on spindle morphology in porcine MII oocytes

Incomplete cytoplasmic maturation of in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes has been known to cause microtubule and microfilament alterations, which may result in abnormal pronuclear formation and failed embryonic development. We examined the influences of maturation conditions on meiotic spindle morphology at metaphase of meiosis II (MII) in porcine oocytes. Porcine oocytes were matured under various conditions, i.e., in vitro or in vivo, with different amounts of cumulus cells, with or without hormonal supplements, and with various exposure durations to the hormones, to examine the effects on spindle morphology in MII oocytes by immunofluorescence under confocal laser microscopy. Interpolar spindle length (microm) and spindle area (microm2) were compared among these maturation conditions. The spindle length was significantly shorter in IVM oocytes compared to those matured in vivo. Oocytes collected from cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), which were poor in cumulus cells, showed smaller spindle areas than those from cumulus-rich COCs. The spindle length and area were both significantly reduced in oocytes grown without hormonal supplements. When oocytes were grown with hormonal supplements for either 6 or 22 hours for the first half of culture, there was no difference in the spindle morphology between these oocytes. These results suggested that maturation conditions significantly influence morphogenesis of MII spindles in porcine oocytes. Oocytes matured in poor conditions were more likely to have a shorter spindle length (long axis) and smaller spindle areas.     

Effects of recipient oocyte source,number of transferred embryos and season on somatic cell nuclear transfer efficiency in sheep

To improve the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in sheep, we investigated the effects of recipient oocyte source, number of transferred embryos and season on the pregnancy and live lamb rates for sheep somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos. Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH)‐stimulated ovaries produced significantly more oocytes both in total and of suitable quality for maturation culture than those without FSH treatment (from slaughterhouse). However, their in vitro maturation rates were similar. Embryos were reconstructed using adult fibroblast cells into enucleated MII oocytes. The pregnancy and term rates were significantly higher in the FSH‐stimulated group than in the slaughterhouse one. Oocytes from FSH‐stimulated ovaries were enucleated as recipient cytoplasm for nuclear transfer in the following experiments. The transfer of 7–9 and 11–13 embryos produced significantly higher pregnancy rates than that of six embryos. However, the former groups exhibited similar live lamb rates. FSH‐stimulated ovaries produced significantly more oocytes in November and December (winter) than in May to July (summer), but the associated maturation rate did not increase. Pregnancy and term rates were significantly higher when transfer occurred in winter than in summer. In conclusion, FSH treatment produced significant benefit regarding the number and quality of collected oocytes and also for the pregnancy and live lamb rates for reconstructed embryos. However, the transfer of an appropriate number of embryos (7–13) and at an appropriate season (winter) increased pregnancy and term rates.     

水牛分离精子与不同来源卵母细胞体外受精的效果研究

本研究的目的是探讨水牛分离精子与不同来源(活体采卵或屠宰场卵巢采卵)卵母细胞体外受精的效果。活体采卵是选用20头空怀河流型母水牛(其中摩拉母牛12头,尼里-拉菲母水牛8头)每间隔3 d采卵1次,连续采卵5~6周,活体采集卵母细胞;屠宰场卵巢采卵是收集屠宰场水牛卵巢,用10 mL注射器连接18 G针头吸取水牛卵巢上可视的卵泡来收集卵母细胞。将收集的AB级水牛卵母细胞在相同的条件下进行体外成熟、然后用分离或未分离精子进行体外受精以及体外培养至囊胚。结果发现:活体采卵组和屠宰场收集的水牛卵母细胞组用分离精子受精分裂率和囊胚率没有差异(P>0.05);分离精子和未分离精子的体外受精分裂率和囊胚率也没有差异(P>0.05)。由此说明,水牛分离精子可以用于体外生产性控胚胎。     

9-cis retinoic acid improves developmental competence and embryo quality during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes through the inhibition of oocyte tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression

Retinoic acid (RA; all-trans RA and 9-cis RA) enhances embryo developmental competence and quality through multiple mechanisms affecting the oocyte and preimplantation embryo. Folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation are influenced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) via inhibition of aromatase activity and estradiol secretion in granulosa cells. Retinoic acid inhibits TNF-α production in various cell lines. The aim of the present study was to determine whether oocyte TNF-α concentrations regulate developmental competence and embryo quality and if the beneficial effects of 9-cis RA are mediated through attenuation of oocyte TNF-α production. Bovine cumulus oocyte complexes collected from abattoir ovaries were matured in maturation medium in the absence (control) or presence of 5 nM 9-cis RA (RA), 100 ng/mL of recombinant bovine TNF-α (TNF), or 5 nM 9-cis RA + 100 ng/mL of recombinant bovine TNF-α (RA+TNF). Oocytes were subsequently collected for gene expression analysis or subjected to in vitro fertilization and culture. Apoptosis and gene expression were analyzed in d-8 blastocysts. Results indicated that 9-cis RA downregulated (P < 0.01) both basal and TNF-α-induced TNF-α mRNA in oocytes (1.0-fold in control, 0.4-fold in RA, 2.1-fold in TNF, and 0.7-fold in RA+TNF). The 9-cis RA increased (P < 0.001) blastocyst development rates (37.1 ± 6.9 vs. 23.6 ± 8.0%) and total cell number (138.4 ± 19.2 vs. 120.2 ± 24.5) and reduced (P < 0.001) the percentage of apoptotic cells (3.3 ± 2.0 vs. 5.6 ± 2.3%) compared with controls. Expression of caspase 3 (0.4- vs. 1.0-fold) and TNF-α (0.4- vs. 1.0-fold) mRNA was downregulated (P < 0.05) in RA-treated blastocysts compared with controls. Moreover, 9-cis RA rescued (P < 0.001) development rates (24.5 ± 11.1 vs. 15.6 ± 9.0%), increased total cell number (124.6 ± 36.5 vs. 106.9 ± 31.1), and reduced apoptosis (5.8 ± 2.0 vs. 8.1 ± 3.1%) in blastocysts exposed to TNF-α (TNF group). Caspase 3 (0.8-fold in RA+TNF vs. 2.2-fold in TNF) and TNF-α (0.3-fold in RA+TNF vs. 2.8-fold in TNF) mRNA expression was attenuated (P < 0.05) in TNF-α-treated blastocysts. In conclusion, the present study suggests that 9-cis RA exerts its beneficial roles on oocyte developmental competence and embryo quality by attenuating oocyte TNF-α mRNA expression.     

Chlorogenic acid supplementation during in vitro maturation improves maturation,fertilization and developmental competence of porcine oocytes

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a quinic acid conjugate of caffeic acid, and a phytochemical found in many fruits and beverages that acts as an antioxidant. The present study investigated the effects of CGA supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM), on in vitro development of porcine oocytes, to improve the porcine in vitro production (IVP) system. Oocytes were matured either without (control) or with CGA (10, 50, 100 and 200 μM). Subsequently, the matured oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro for 7 day. The rates of maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 μM CGA were significantly (p < .05) higher than those of the control oocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is one of the reactive oxygen species and induces DNA damage in porcine oocytes. When oocytes were matured with 1 mM H₂O₂ to assess the protective effect of CGA, 50 μM CGA supplementation improved the maturation rate and the proportion of DNA‐fragmented nuclei in oocytes compared with control oocytes matured without CGA. Moreover, when oocytes were matured with either 50 μM CGA (control) or caffeic acid (10, 50 and 100 μM), the rates of maturation, fertilization and the blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 μM CGA were similar to those of oocytes matured with 10 and 50 μM caffeic acid. Our results suggest that CGA has comparable effects to caffeic acid, and IVM with 50 μM CGA is particularly beneficial to IVP of porcine embryos and protects oocytes from DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. Supplementation of CGA to the maturation medium has a potential to improve porcine IVP system.     

生长激素对体外培养猪COCs影响的研究

研究了生长激素对猪COCs体外成熟过程中卵丘细胞扩展、卵丘细胞凋亡、卵母成熟及孤雌激活后卵裂的影响。结果表明:生长激素(STH)能够促进卵丘细胞扩展,抑制卵丘细胞凋亡,对卵母细胞的成熟和激活后卵裂呈现双重效应。在猪COCs培养液中添加0.15μg/mL STH成熟率(73.83%±1.80%)和卵裂率(64.76%±2.84%)显著高于对照组(mNCSU-23+PMSG(10IU/mL)+hCG(10 IU/mL))及添加0.01、0.05、0.1、2μg/mL STH组(P<0.05),在本实验中为猪卵母细胞体外成熟的最佳条件。     

没食子酸对黄牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

试验旨在研究没食子酸（gallic acid，GA）对黄牛卵母细胞体外成熟及早期胚胎发育的影响，进一步优化黄牛卵母细胞体外成熟体系。在卵母细胞体外成熟液（M液）中添加不同浓度没食子酸（0、10、30、50、100 μmol/L），成熟22~24 h后，统计卵丘扩展情况及卵母细胞成熟率；同时，对成熟的卵母细胞进行正常体外受精（IVF），统计早期胚胎的分裂率、囊胚率、囊胚卵裂球数及卵裂球细胞凋亡率。根据试验结果，选择最优浓度，使卵母细胞在含该浓度没食子酸的成熟液中成熟24 h后，检测其细胞内的活性氧水平（ROS）和总谷胱甘肽（TGSH）含量。结果显示，M液中添加30 μmol/L没食子酸组卵丘扩展分值和成熟率显著高于对照组（0 μmol/L）（P<0.05），其他处理组与对照组无显著差异（P>0.05）；成熟的卵母细胞体外受精后进行后续胚胎培养，其中10和30 μmol/L组的分裂率均显著高于对照组和100 μmol/L组（P<0.05），50和100 μmol/L组分裂率较对照组也有所提高，但差异不显著（P>0.05）；早期囊胚率统计发现，与对照组相比，30和100 μmol/L能够显著提高囊胚发育率（P<0.05），10和50 μmol/L浓度组则无显著差异（P>0.05）；与对照组相比，30、100 μmol/L没食子酸均能显著提高IVF胚胎的早期囊胚卵裂球数（P<0.05）；但囊胚卵裂球凋亡率与对照组无显著差异（P>0.05）；对卵母细胞内活性氧和总谷胱甘肽含量检测时，发现30 μmol/L没食子酸可显著降低细胞内活性氧水平（P<0.05），且显著提高总谷胱甘肽含量（P<0.05）。综上所述，在黄牛卵母细胞体外成熟液中添加适量的没食子酸能有效降低卵母细胞内活性氧水平，提高总谷胱甘肽含量，进而提高卵母细胞成熟的质量及其后续IVF胚胎发育能力。