The antioxidant dimethylthiourea improves in vitro fertilization efficiency and decreases cumulus cells apoptosis in pigs.

LORENZO MS; MARURI A; CRUZANS PR; TEPLITZ GM; TELLO MF; LOMBARDO DM

Reproduction, Fertility and Development

CSIRO Publishing

Año: 2019

1031-3613

31 Slaughterhouse ovaries, which are the main source of oocytes for reproductive32 biotechnologies, arrive at the laboratory in ischemic conditions. Re-oxygenation33 generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ischemic tissues, which could affect34 oocyte quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the35 supplementation with dimethylthiourea (DMTU) during cumulus-oocyte complexes36(COC) collection and washing on ROS level, COC apoptosis and oocyte nuclear and37 cytoplasmic maturation. Thus, we supplemented the collection (TCM 199) and the38 washing medium (TCM 199 with 10% porcine follicular fluid, sodium pyruvate, and39 antibiotics) with 1 and 10 mM of DMTU. For the control group the medium was not40 supplemented with DMTU. The intracellular levels of ROS decreased significantly in41 the treated groups (p < 0.05). Although no effect on the rates of nuclear maturation42 was observed, DMTU significantly increased sperm penetration rates without43 increasing polyspermy (p < 0.05). The addition of 10 mM of DMTU enhances the44 IVF efficiency number of monospermic oocytes/total. The DMTU did not modify45 oocyte early and late apoptosis. Though both treatments significantly increased the46 viability and decreased apoptosis in cumulus cells (p < 0.05). These results suggest47 that the addition of 1 mM or 10 mM of DMTU during collection and washing of porcine48 cumulus-oocyte complexes is useful to decrease cumulus apoptosis mediated by49 ROS and to optimise the in vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes.