182 EFFECTS OF IGF-1 OR IGF-1-LongR3 ON CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEXES DURING IN VITRO OOCYTE MATURATION IN CATTLE

Abstract

The insulin-like growth factor-1 recombinant -3 (IGF-1-LongR3), a synthetic analogue of IGF-1 with increased bioavailability has not yet been used in vitro maturation (IVM) medium of bovine oocytes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the addition effects of IGF-1-LongR3 or IGF-1 in IVM bovine oocytes on meiotic progression, apoptosis, and profile of oocytes genes (GDF9, BMP15, BAX, BCL2, OOSP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP4 and IGFBP5) and genes in cumulus cells (AREG, EGFR, FSHR, COX2, BAX, BCL2, IGFBP2, IGFBP4 and IGFBP5). Bovine ovaries were collected in slaughterhouses, and 739 oocytes with grades 1 or 2 were selected after aspiration of 2- to 8-mm follicles. IVM was carried out in TCM199 with FSH, LH, and antibiotics (BM) supplemented with 100 ng mL^–1 IGF-1 or 100 ng mL^–1 LongR3-IGF-1. Control oocytes were matured in BM supplemented with 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or 10% FCS. For all groups, maturation was performed during 22–24 h in an incubator at 38.5°C and 5% CO₂ in air. Subsequently oocytes were denuded and analysed for apoptosis, nuclear maturation, and gene expression by TUNEL assay, staining Hoechst 33342, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed effects model, which correlated the change in metaphase stage 1 to 2 and the absence of apoptosis among the experimental groups. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to analyse the results obtained by RT-qPCR. After 10 replicates of IVM, 339 oocytes were evaluated for meiotic progression and apoptosis and 400 oocytes for gene expression. There was no statistical difference between the experimental groups with respect to meiotic progression and apoptosis. BCL2 and IGFBP4 gene were less expressed in oocytes matured with IGF-1 and LongR3-IGF-1 compared with control groups. GFBP4 was also less expressed in cumulus cell of oocytes from the experimental groups. Moreover COX2 expression was statistically elevated in cumulus cells matured in the presence of IGF-1 and LongR3-IGF-1 It was possible to perform IVM of bovine oocytes in the presence of LongR3-IGF-1, allowing its use in replacement of IGF-1 and FCS. The results of this study will provide more information on the interaction of IGF with the IGFBP and its importance for oocyte maturation.