Capacity of adult and prepubertal mouse oocytes to undergo embryo development in the presence of cysteamine

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development 2003-02, Vol.64 (2), p.214-218
• Main Authors: de Matos, D.G., Nogueira, D., Cortvrindt, R., Herrera, C., Adriaenssens, T., Pasqualini, R.S., Smitz, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Buthionine Sulfoximine - pharmacology; Cysteamine - pharmacology; embryo development; Embryo, Mammalian - drug effects; Embryo, Mammalian - embryology; Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; IVF; IVM; low molecular weigh thiols; Mammalian female genital system; Mice; Morphology. Physiology; Oocytes - drug effects; Oocytes - metabolism; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10243

The present study was carried out to study de novo glutathione (GSH) synthesis and to evaluate the effect of stimulating GSH synthesis during in vitro maturation (IVM) of adult and prepubertal mouse oocytes on the embryo developmental rate. Adult (8 weeks old) and prepubertal mice (24–26 days old) were primed with 5 IU of PMSG and oocytes were retrieved from the ovary 48 hr later for IVM. After IVM (18 hr) Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) were in vitro fertilized (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC) in order to observe embryo development. The IVM medium was supplemented with: 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 μM of cysteamine. To study the novo GSH synthesis, 5 mM BSO was added during IVM of adult or prepubertal oocyte. Developmental rates up to blastocyst were recorded for each group. Experiments also included a group of ovulated oocytes (in vivo matured) after priming with PMSG and HCG. After IVM of adult mice oocytes, an improvement was observed on embryo development in all the supplemented groups when compared with the untreated group (P