Morphological, biochemical and functional studies to evaluate bovine oocyte vitrification.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification on morphological, biochemical and functional parameters of matured bovine oocytes at different recovery times. To this end, matured bovine oocytes were vitrified using the Cryotech® kit (a minimum-volume system) and then incubated in maturation medium for different post-warming durations (0 h, 3 h or 21 h). Morphology, viability and biochemical parameters were assessed at each time point mentioned above and the recovery of the metaphase plate was analyzed at 2 h, 3 h and 4 h post-warming. The vitrification-warming process did not affect the viability or morphology of oocytes at any time point. However, the recovery of the metaphase plate occurred mostly between 3 and 4 h rather than at 2 h after warming (P < 0.05). Both control and vitrified-warmed oocytes showed changes in cytosolic oxidative activity, quantification of active mitochondria, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and redox status at the different time points studied (P < 0.05). However, differences between control and vitrified-warmed oocytes were found only in the quantification of active mitochondria and ROS production (P < 0.05). Finally, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture were carried out as functional studies to establish whether vitrification-warming affected oocyte competence, and a significant decrease was found both in the cleavage rate and embryo development (P < 0.05). We concluded that major improvements in oocyte vitrification, at list with Cryotech® kit, are still needed to avoid variations in oocyte metabolism which could contribute to the reduction in the developmental competence of bovine oocytes.

Phosphofructokinase and malate dehydrogenase participate in the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

Oocyte maturation depends on the metabolic activity of cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) that performs nutritive and regulatory functions during this process. In this work, the enzymes [phosphofructokinase (PFK) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH)] were tested to elucidate the metabolic profile of porcine COCs during the in vitro maturation (IVM). Enzymatic activity was expressed in U/COC and U/mg protein (specific activity) as mean ± SEM. In vitro maturation was performed with 2-oxoglutarate (5, 10 and 20 mm) or hydroxymalonate (30, 60 and 100 mm) inhibitors of PFK and MDH, respectively. The PFK and MDH activities (U) remained constant during maturation. For PFK, the U were (2.48 ± 0.23) 10(-5) and (2.54 ± 0.32) 10(-5) , and for MDH, the U were (4.72 ± 0.42) 10(-5) and (4.38 ± 0.25) 10(-5) for immature and in vitro matured COCs, respectively. The specific activities were significantly lower after IVM, for PFK (4.29 ± 0.48) 10(-3) and (0.94 ± 0.12) 10(-3) , and for MDH (9.08 ± 0.93) 10(-3) and (1.89 ± 0.10) 10(-3) for immature and in vitro matured COCs, respectively. In vitro maturation percentages and enzymatic activity diminished with 20 mm 2-oxoglutarate or 60 mm hydroxymalonate (p < 0.05). Viability was not affected by any concentration of the inhibitors evaluated. The U remained unchanged during IVM; however, the increase in the total protein content per COC provoked a decrease in the specific activity of both enzymes. Phosphofructokinase and MDH necessary for oocyte IVM would be already present in the immature oocyte. The presence of inhibitors of these enzymes impairs the meiotic maturation. Therefore, the participation of these enzymes in the energy metabolism of the porcine oocyte during IVM is confirmed in this study.

Evaluation of the Cryotech Vitrification Kit for bovine embryos.

The purpose of this work was to assess commercially available Cryotech Vitrification Kit, in terms of survival, in vitro development and pregnancy rate for bovine embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from ovaries obtained from slaughtered cows and then matured in vitro for 22 h. COCs were fertilized by sex-sorted sperm in IVF-mSOF and cultured in IVC-mSOF for 7 days to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts were vitrified with the Cryotech Vitrification Kit(®) and then either warmed to check viability or transferred to synchronized heifers. We observed 100% survival of the in vitro produced blastocysts and obtained the same pregnancy rate (46.8%) as that obtained using fresh in vitro produced blastocysts. We thus conclude that the Cryotech vitrification method is a valid alternative to other vitrification or slow-cooling methods in the bovine species and that it is ready for livestock production.

Modulation of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway influences porcine oocyte in vitro maturation.

Glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) activities were modulated in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) by the addition of inhibitors or stimulators of key enzymes of the pathways to elucidate their relative participation in oocyte maturation. The activities of glycolysis and PPP were evaluated by lactate production per COC and by the brilliant cresyl blue test, respectively. Glucose uptake per COC and the oocyte maturation rate were also evaluated. Lactate production, glucose uptake and the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of the pharmacological (NaF) or the physiological (ATP) inhibitors of glycolysis (p < 0.05). The addition of the physiological stimulator of glycolysis (AMP) caused no effect on lactate production, glucose uptake or the meiotic maturation rate. The pharmacological (6-AN) and the physiological (NADPH) inhibitors of PPP induced a dose-dependent decrease in the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity and in the nuclear maturation rate (p < 0.05). The physiological stimulator of PPP (NADP) caused no effect on the percentage of oocytes with high PPP activity. The glycolytic and PPP activities of porcine COCs and maturational competence of oocytes seem to be closely related events. This study shows for the first time the regulatory effect of ATP and NADPH as physiological inhibitors of glycolysis and PPP in porcine COCs, respectively. Besides, these pathways seem to reach their maximum activities in porcine COCs during IVM because no further increases were achieved by the presence of AMP or NADP.