Matías Ángel Sirini

Influence of manganese on apoptosis and glutathione content of cumulus cells during in vitro maturation in bovine oocytes.

We have investigated the effect of different Mn concentrations on (1) DNA integrity of cumulus cells by olive tail moment (OTM); (2) cumulus cells apoptosis by Annexin V staining assay; (3) intracellular total glutathione (GSH‐GSSG) content; and (4) oocyte nuclear maturation and embryo cleavage after in vitro fertilisation (IVF). For this purpose, 0 (control), 2 (Mn1), 5 (Mn2) and 6 ng/mL (Mn3) Mn concentrations were added to IVM medium. Comet assay analysed by OTM was significantly higher in cumulus cells arising from COCs matured without Mn (control, P < 0.01) respect to cumulus cells obtained from COCs matured with Mn (control: 5.18 ± 2.3; Mn1: 2.93 ± 2.2; Mn2: 2.63 ± 2.4; Mn3: 2.92 ± 2.4). The frequency of apoptotic cells was higher in the control group (control: 6.63 ± 0.59; Mn1: 5.05 ± 0.5; Mn2: 4.61 ± 0.49; Mn3: 3.33 ± 0.42). Intracellular concentration of GSH‐GSSG increased in oocytes and cumulus cells matured in the presence of Mn (P < 0.01). There were no differences in percentages of nuclear maturation when Mn was added to IVM medium at any concentration, but at 6 ng/mL Mn a higher cleavage rate was observed respect to the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, deficiency in Mn concentration during in vitro maturation increased the damage in the DNA molecule and the frequency of apoptotic cumulus cells. However, the addition of an adequate Mn concentration (6 ng/mL Mn) to IVM medium improved the health of cumulus‐oocyte complexes and produced more cleaved embryos 48 h after IVF.

Influence of vascular endothelial growth factor and Cysteamine on in vitro bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of VEGF and Cysteamine during in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes on GSH content and developmental competence. For this purpose, experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of 0, 100, 300, and 500 ng/mL VEGF in IVM medium on: GSH content in oocytes and cumulus cells (Exp. 1) and subsequent embryo development (Exp. 2). Also, influence of adding 500 ng/mL VEGF and 100 μM Cysteamine to IVM medium on GSH content in oocytes and cumulus cells (Exp. 3) and oocyte developmental capacity (Exp. 4) were evaluated. Oocytes were matured in: a) Control; b) VEGF 0–3 h; c) Cysteamine 4–24 h; d) VEGF 0–3 h + Cysteamine 4–24 h; and e) VEGF + Cysteamine 24 h. The results showed that: i) VEGF did not alter GSH content in oocytes and cumulus cells; (ii) supplementation of 300 and 500 ng/mL VEGF increased blastocyst yield; (iii) the presence of VEGF + Cysteamine simultaneously during 24 h improved GSH content but not embryo development; and (iv) the presence of VEGF during the first 3 h + Cysteamine from 4 to 24 h increased GSH concentrations and subsequent embryo development. In conclusion, the addition of VEGF and Cysteamine in two sequential steps to maturation medium result in an improvement of cytoplasmic maturation, with a positive impact on oocyte developmental capacity by increasing the efficiency of in vitro blastocyst production. However, the effect was detrimental when both VEGF and Cysteamine were present during 24 of IVM.

The presence of acylated ghrelin during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes induces cumulus cell DNA damage and apoptosis, and impairs early embryo development

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acylated ghrelin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. IVM medium was supplemented with 20, 40 or 60 pM acylated ghrelin concentrations. Cumulus expansion area and oocyte nuclear maturation were studied as maturation parameters. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were assessed with the comet, apoptosis and viability assays. The in vitro effects of acylated ghrelin on embryo developmental capacity and embryo quality were also evaluated. Results demonstrated that acylated ghrelin did not affect oocyte nuclear maturation and cumulus expansion area. However, it induced cumulus cell (CC) death, apoptosis and DNA damage. The damage increased as a function of the concentration employed. Additionally, the percentages of blastocyst yield, hatching and embryo quality decreased with all acylated ghrelin concentrations tested. Our study highlights the importance of acylated ghrelin in bovine reproduction, suggesting that this metabolic hormone could function as a signal that prevents the progress to reproductive processes.

Analyses of apoptosis and DNA damage in bovine cumulus cells after in vitro maturation with different copper concentrations: consequences on early embryo development

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of copper (Cu) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on apoptosis and DNA integrity of cumulus cells (CC); and oocyte viability. Also, the role of CC in the transport of Cu during IVM was evaluated on oocyte developmental capacity. Damage of DNA was higher in CC matured without Cu (0 µg/dl Cu, P < 0.01) with respect to cells treated with Cu for cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) exposed to 0, 20, 40, or 60 µg/dl Cu). The percentage of apoptotic cells was higher in CC matured without Cu than in CC matured with Cu. Cumulus expansion and viability of CC did not show differences in COC treated with 0, 20, 40, or 60 µg/dl Cu during IVM. After in vitro fertilization (IVF), cleavage rates were higher in COC and DO + CC (denuded oocytes + CC) with or without Cu than in DO. Independently of CC presence (COC, DO + CC or DO) the blastocyst rates were higher when 60 µg/dl Cu was added to IVM medium compared to medium alone. These results indicate that Cu supplementation to IVM medium: (i) decreased DNA damage and apoptosis in CC; (ii) did not modify oocyte viability and cumulus expansion; and (iii) improved subsequent embryo development up to blastocyst stage regardless of CC presence during IVM.