Effects ofN-acetyl-cysteine andN-acetyl-cysteine-amide Supplementation onIn Vitro Matured Porcine Oocytes

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) supplemented to the maturation medium on porcine embryo development. Concentrations of NAC and its synthetic derivative, NAC-amide (NACA) were evaluated for effects on nuclear maturation, fertilization success and embryo development. Concentrations of NAC (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mm) were supplemented to maturing oocytes, and embryo development was analysed at 48 and 144 h post-fertilization. There were no differences among cleavage rates for any of the treatment groups. Blastocyst formation for 1.5 mm NAC (56.5 ± 9.2%) was higher (p < 0.05) than all other supplementations. There were no differences in nuclear maturation or fertilization or in cleavage rates when comparing 1.5 mm NAC and 1.5 mm NACA supplementation to the control. Blastocyst formation for 1.5 mm NAC (44.4 ± 4.7%) and 1.5 mm NACA (46.2 ± 3.4%) supplementation were higher (p < 0.05) than the control (32.1 ± 6.2%) oocytes. These results indicate that supplementing 1.5 mm of NAC or NACA to the oocyte maturation medium increased the percentage of viable embryos reaching the blastocyst stage of development.

Effect of Sericin Supplementation During In Vitro Maturation on the Maturation, Fertilization and Development of Porcine Oocytes

“…Compared with previous studies conducted with other oxidants (Tatemoto et al. ; Whitaker and Knight ), the effects of sericin on the blastocyst formation rate was less potent. Although this discrepancy remains to be explained, this difference may reflect the difference in the culture system, such as the culture medium, culture conditions, and the presence of hormones and growth factors.…”

“…Earlier studies have demonstrated that the mediation of antioxidants to prevent damage to porcine oocytes caused by oxidative stress plays an important role in the acquisition of developmental competence after fertilization (Tatemoto et al. ; Whitaker and Knight ).…”

“…The low developmental competence of porcine IVP embryos might be caused in part by suboptimal conditions for oocytes/embryos cultures (Funahashi and Day 1997). Earlier studies have demonstrated that the mediation of antioxidants to prevent damage to porcine oocytes caused by oxidative stress plays an important role in the acquisition of developmental competence after fertilization (Tatemoto et al 2001;Whitaker and Knight 2010).…”

In Vitro Acute Exposure to DEHP Affects Oocyte Meiotic Maturation, Energy and Oxidative Stress Parameters in a Large Animal Model

“…Apoptotic index and ROS genreation were also reversed by NAC in human ovarian cancer cells treated with WP 631, an anticancer anthracycline analog, and with doxorubicin, the best known first-generation anthracycline [50]. Another recent study [51] reported no differences in nuclear maturation, fertilization and cleavage rate, but higher blastocysts formation rate in presence of NAC compared with controls in porcine oocytes.…”

Synergistic Effects of Glutathione and .BETA.-Mercaptoethanol Treatment During In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Oocytes on Early Embryonic Development in a Culture System Supplemented with L-cysteine

“…Supplementing the oocyte maturation medium with 1.5 mM NAC or NACA N-acetyl-cysteine-amide has been shown to increase the percentage of development to the blastocyst stage [30]. However, the addition of NAC (0.6 mM) to the maturation medium did not improve the percentage of oocytes undergoing morula and blastocyst development.…”