Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) induces DNA damage and apoptosis in cumulus cells during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes

NIKOLOFF N; SIRINI M; SEOANE A; ANCHORDOQUY JP; FURNUS C; ANCHORDOQUY JM; PASCUA M

Montevideo

Congreso; X Congreso de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Mutagénesis, Carcinogénesis y Teratogénesis Ambiental (ALAMCTA).; 2016

Asociación Latinoamericana de Mutagénesis, Carcinogénesis y Teratogénesis Ambiental

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are involved in physiological functions such as growth, reproduction, vision and brain development. Most are essential and should be obtained exogenously from a dietary source. Marine oils are the primary dietary source of EPA (n-3 PUFA 20:5). Changes in dietary lipids are reflected in the distribution of fat in reproductive tissues, follicular fluid and plasma. Currently, there is growing interest in understanding how lipid supplementation influence reproductive processes in cattle. Therefore, the study of the functions of fatty acids in the oocyte and cumulus cells (CC) is essential to understand how physiological alterations of follicular lipids, as well as the supply of lipid as a substrate for the metabolism during IVM, influence in the early stages of embryonic development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of EPA on IVM of bovine oocytes. As a method of study the alkaline comet assay and annexin V/FITC to assess genotoxic effect and apoptosis in CC were used. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were used from bovine ovaries obtained from an abattoir. COCs were matured in vitro and were treated with concentrations of 1 nM, 1 μM and 1 mM of EPA for 24 h. Data were analyzed using Statgraphics Plus 5.1 software. The results demonstrated that: a) The concentration of 1 nM was able to induce DNA damage (P