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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The antioxidant dimethylthiourea improves IVF efficiency and decreases cumulus cell apoptosis in pigs

M. S. Lorenzo A B , A. Maruri B , P. R. Cruzans A B , G. M. Teplitz A B , M. F. Tello B and D. M. Lombardo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0677-7702 B C
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A Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425TQB, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

B Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Histología y Embriología. Chorroarín 280 C1427CWO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

C Corresponding author. Email: dlombard@fvet.uba.ar

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 31(10) 1607-1615 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD19020
Submitted: 30 June 2018  Accepted: 3 May 2019   Published: 27 June 2019

Abstract

Abattoir ovaries, which are the main source of oocytes for reproductive biotechnologies, arrive at the laboratory under ischaemic conditions. Reoxygenation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ischaemic tissues, which could affect oocyte quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of media with dimethylthiourea (DMTU) during the collection and washing of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) on ROS levels, COC apoptosis and oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Thus, the collection (TCM-199) and washing (TCM-199 with 10% porcine follicular fluid, sodium pyruvate and antibiotics) media were supplemented with 1 and 10 mM DMTU. In the control group, the media were not supplemented with DMTU. Intracellular ROS levels decreased significantly in the DMTU-treated groups (P < 0.05). Although no effects on rate of nuclear maturation were observed, DMTU significantly increased sperm penetration rates without increasing polyspermy (P < 0.05). The addition of 10 mM DMTU to the collection and washing media enhanced IVF efficiency. DMTU did not modify the early or late apoptosis of oocytes. Both concentrations of DMTU significantly increased viability and decreased the apoptosis of cumulus cells (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the addition of 1 or 10 mM of DMTU to the media during the collection and washing of porcine COCs is useful for decreasing cumulus apoptosis mediated by ROS and for optimising the IVF of porcine oocytes.

Additional keywords: oocyte apoptosis, porcine oocyte maturation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.


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