Protective effects of cysteamine on bovine oocyte mature in vitro with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): impact on early embryo development

CARRANZA A; FABRA M; FURNUS C; CAMPAGNA A; ANCHORDOQUY JP; SEOANE A; NIKOLOFF N; ANCHORDOQUY JM; PASCUA M

Foz de Iguazu

Simposio; X International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium; 2018

Data on fatty acid composition and their uptake and utilization by oocytes and embryos are relevant forculture in vitro, cryopreservation practices, and embryo quality improvement. Despite several studies invitro suggesting enhanced embryo development with polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation, resultsare not consistent and it would be important to determine which fatty acid is the most beneficial forembryo quality and survival (Santos et al., 2008). In vitro, embryos are sensitive to lipids effects unlessadequate antioxidant protection is provided (Reis et al., 2003). The aim of this study was to determine theeffect of eicosanopentaenoic acid (EPA; n-3, 20:5) alone or with cysteamine (CYS) on bovine oocyteduring in vitro maturation (IVM). For this purpose, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) fromovaries obtained in a slaughterhouse were matured in vitro in TCM- 199 supplemented with 0.1%essentially fatty acid?free BSA, 1 μg/mL FSH, 1 μg/mL estradiol 17ß at 39°C with 5% CO2 in humidifiedair. COCs were matured 24 h in IVM media: (1) alone (Control); (2) supplemented with 1 nM, 10 nM and100 nM EPA and, (3) with EPA + Cysteamine 100 μM. Oocyte intracellular ROS level with H2DCFDA,cumulus expansion area with digitalizing images, nuclear maturation with Hoechst 33342, and embryodevelopmental capacity were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Statgraphics Plus 5.1 software. Theresults demonstrated that: a) ROS levels were significantly higher in oocytes matured with 1mM and 100 mM EPA compared with Control (P