L-carnitine enhances oocyte maturation and development of parthenogenetic embryos in pigs

Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on maturation and early embryo development of immature mouse oocytes selected by brilliant cresyle blue staining

“…Our result showed that adding 0.6 mg/ml L-carnitine into maturation medium of immature oocyte decreased ROS level in maturation medium. This result was in accordance with previous studies [36,37]. The mechanism of the antioxidation of L-carnitine may be via an scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH), superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide [18].…”

“…Thus, we concluded that L-carnitine treatment during IVM was effective on nuclear maturation through improving meiotic competence and cytoplasmic maturation through increasing GSH concentration. These results were similar with previous studies in porcine that adding L-carnitine to the IVM medium increased nuclear maturation and blastocyst development rate after parthenogenetic activation and IVF [36,41]. The decreased degenerated oocyte rate in L-carnitine supplemented groups could also be attributed to its roles as an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger.…”

Exogenous glutathione supplementation in culture medium improves the bovine embryo development after in vitro fertilization

“…Consequently, the consumption of 284 GSH inside embryos was reduced and GSH content was accumulated. That is, exogenous 285 glutathione supplementation during IVC might act as a defense mechanism against ROS, and 286 maintain the intracellular GSH system [35]. Similar to our results, a previous study reported 287 that adding 1 mM GSH to maturation medium stimulates the increase of intracellular GSH 288 levels [36].…”

“…In particular, 33 hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) produced from mitochondria induces oxidative damage. High 34 concentrations of oxygen can also lead to oxygen free radical generation, which is harmful to 35 cells. A previous study found that embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) showed 36 significantly better development when cultured in low oxygen tension [5].…”

Using new analytical tools to produce better embryos in vitro

“…Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation decreases embryonic development in both mice and cattle (Hewitson et al, 1996;Ferguson and Leese, 2006). The addition of fatty acids or carnitine to stimulate FAO to oocyte and embryo culture medium has primarily shown positive effects on development, although results are variable due in part to differences in type and concentration of fatty acid used (Spindler et al, 2000;Leroy et al, 2005b;Dunning et al, 2010;Marei et al, 2010;Somfai et al, 2011;Van Hoeck et al, 2011;Wu et al, 2011).…”