Influence of Media Supplementation with Alpha Tocopherol and/or Epigallocatechin Gallate on in vitro Maturation and Subsequent Fertilization of Bovine Oocytes

The present study was planned to determine the effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Alpha tocopherol and their combination as an antioxidant in TCM-199 media for in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) in bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from the ovaries derived from slaughter house and in vitro cultured in three groups using TCM-199 supplemented with EGCG @10 μM, Alpha tocopherol @100 μM, and Combination (EGCG @10 μM plus Alpha tocopherol @100 μM). Oocytes of a control group were matured in TCM-199 medium without any treatment. After IVM, cumulus-free oocytes were co-incubated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa for 15–18 h. Compared to no addition, the presence of EGCG @10 μM in medium during IVM significantly (p<0.05) increased the proportion of maturation and fertilization rate. Combination produced significantly higher percentage of in vitro matured bovine oocytes compared to the alpha tocopherol @100 μM alone. The results suggest that EGCG @10 μM in IVM medium had better effect than Alpha tocopherol alone and Combination on in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization of bovine oocytes.