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Improving the meiotic competence of small antral follicle-derived porcine oocytes by using dibutyryl-cAMP and melatonin |
๋Jakree Jitjumnong1 
, Pin-Chi Tang1,2,*
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1Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, 40227 Taichung, Taiwan
2The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, 40227 Taichung, Taiwan |
Correspondence:
Pin-Chi Tang, Tel: +886-4-2284-0365 (ext 222), Fax: +886-4-2286-0265, Email: pctang@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
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Received: 18 September 2023 • Revised: 7 December 2023 • Accepted: 26 December 2023 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
We increased the nuclear maturation rate of antral follicle derived oocytes by using a pre-in vitro maturation (IVM) culture system and improved the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes by supplementing with melatonin. Furthermore, we investigated the expression patterns of genes involved in cumulus expansion (HAS2, PTGS2, TNFAIP6, and PTX3) derived from small and medium antral follicles before and after oocyte maturation.
Methods
Only the cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs) derived from small antral follicles were induced with [Pre-SF(+)hCG] or without [Pre-SF(-)hCG] the addition of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period before undergoing the regular culture system. The mature oocytes were investigated on embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Melatonin (10-7 M) was supplemented during in vitro culture (IVC) to improve the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes.
Results
A pre-IVM culture system with hCG added during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period [Pre-SF(+)hCG] effectively supported small antral follicle-derived oocytes and increased their nuclear maturation rate. The oocytes derived from medium antral follicles exhibited the highest nuclear maturation rate in a regular culture system. Compared with oocytes cultured in a regular culture system, those cultured in the pre-IVM culture system exhibited considerable overexpression of HAS2, PTGS2, and TNFAIP6. Porcine embryos treated with melatonin during IVC exhibited markedly improved quality and developmental competence after PA. Notably, melatonin supplementation during the IVM period can reduce and increase the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), respectively.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that the Pre-SF(+)hCG culture system increases the nuclear maturation rate of small antral follicle-derived oocytes and the expression of genes involved in cumulus expansion. Melatonin supplementation during IVC may improve the quality and increase the blastocyst formation rate of porcine embryos. In addition, it can reduce and increase the levels of ROS and GSH, respectively, in mature oocytes, thus affecting subsequent embryos. |
| Keywords:
Cumulus Cell Expansion; Dibutyryl-cAMP; Embryo Development; Human Chorionic Gonadotropin; Melatonin; Small Antral Follicle |
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