The antioxidant dimethiltyourea improves in vitro fertilization efficiency and decreases cumulus cells apoptosis in porcine.

LORENZO, MS.; MARURI, A.; CRUZANS, PR.; TEPLITZ, G.; TELLO, MF.; LOMBARDO, DM.

REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2019

1031-3613

Slaughterhouse ovaries, which are the main source of oocytes for reproductive biotechnologies, arrive at the laboratory in ischemic conditions. Re-oxygenation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ischemic tissues, which could affect oocyte quality. The aim of this study was to supplement the collection and washing media of porcine oocyte cumulus complexes with 2 mM and 20 mM dimethylthiourea and to evaluate the effects on ROS production, oocyte and cumulus apoptosis, and nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation after in vtro fertilization. The intracellular levels of ROS decreased significantly in the treated groups. Although no effect on the rates of nuclear maturation was observed, dimethylthiourea significantly increased sperm penetration rates without increasing polyspermy. The addition of 20 mM dimethylthiourea enhances the efficiency of invitro fertilization. Concerning oocyte early and late apoptosis, the 32 data did not show statistical differences. The flow cytometry analysis of cumulus cells revealed a significant increase in the viability and a decline in apoptosis in both treated groups. These results suggest that the addition of 2 mM or 20 mM dimethylthiourea during collection and washing of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes is useful to decrease cumulus apoptosis mediated by ROS and to optimise the in vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes.