• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2013

In mammal, unfertilized oocytes remain in the oviduct or under in vitro culture, which is called "oocyte aging". This asynchrony negatively affects fertilization in pre- and post-implantation embryo development. Caffeine a phosphodiesterase inhibitor is known to rescue oocyte aging in several species. The objective of this study is to determine the cytoskeleton distribution in aged oocytes and the embryo developmental ability of aged oocytes in the present or absence of caffeine during maturation. Caffeine treatment increased the incidence of normal spindle assembly of aged oocytes (treatment, $67.57{\pm}4.11%$ aging, $44.61{\pm}6.4%$) and no significant differences compared to control group. Fluorescence values were compared using ROS (Reactive oxidation species) stain. Fluorescence values appear of control group intensity rate ($51.53.{\pm}3.80$), aging group ($68.10{\pm}5.54$) and treatment of caffeine ($45.04{\pm}2.98$). Aged oocytes that were derived from addition of caffeine to the IVM (in vitro maturation) medium had significantly increased 2-cell that developed to the blastocyst stage compared to the aging group. Blastocysts, derived from caffeine treatment group, significantly increased the total cell number compare aging ($90.44{\pm}10.18$ VS $67.88{\pm}7.72$). Apoptotic fragments of genomic DNA were measured in individual embryo using TUNEL assay. Blastocyst derived from caffeine treatment group decreased significantly the apoptotic index compared to blastocyst derived from aging group. In conclusion, we inferred that the caffeine treatment during oocyte aging can improve the developmental rate and quality in bovine embryos developing in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 1994

Response of the oocytes to parthenogenetic activation is one of the indice for cytoplasmic maturation. Maturational age-dependent parthenogenetic activation was examined in bovine oocytes. Follicular oocytes recovered from the slaughter house ovaries were matured in vitro in TCM 199+15% FCS+1Oiu/ml PMSG +10 iu/ml hCG from 24 to 48 h at 6 h intervals. The in vitro matured oocytes were activated by 7% ethanol for 7 min. The nuclear maturation and the cytoplasmic maturation were analysed by the nuclear configuration and pronuclei formation stained by rapid staining method. Cumulus oophori expansion increased as the maturation time increased. Proportions of the nuclear maturation were 81, 89, 72, 60 and 60% in IVM 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 h groups, respectively. Abnor¬mality in metaphase II chromosome increased sharply from 36 h IVM. The rates of the pronuclei formation and diploid upon ethanol activation were 67, 68, 73, 84 and 87%, and 4, 5, 10, 16 and 20% in IVM 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 h groups, respectively. It was suggested that maturational age increased the formation of the pronuclei and diploid, and that cytoplasmic maturation require longer maturation period than normal nuclear maturation. These results should be useful for determination of an appropriate time for fertilization in mammalian eggs matured or preincubated in vitro.