Lipids and oocyte developmental competence: the role of fatty acids and β-oxidation

Abstract

Metabolism and ATP levels within the oocyte and adjacent cumulus cells are associated with quality of oocyte and optimal development of a healthy embryo. Lipid metabolism provides a potent source of energy and its importance during oocyte maturation is being increasingly recognised. The triglyceride and fatty acid composition of ovarian follicular fluid has been characterised for many species and is influenced by nutritional status (i.e. dietary fat, fasting, obesity and season) as well as lactation in cows. Lipid in oocytes is a primarily triglyceride of specific fatty acids which differ by species, stored in distinct droplet organelles that re-localise during oocyte maturation. The presence of lipids, particularly saturated vs unsaturated fatty acids, in in vitro maturation systems affects oocyte lipid content as well as developmental competence. Triglycerides are metabolised by lipases that have been localised to cumulus cells as well as oocytes. Fatty acids generated by lipolysis are further metabolised by b-oxidation in mitochondria for the production of ATP. b-oxidation is induced in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) by the LH surge, and pharmacological inhibition of b-oxidation impairs oocyte maturation and embryo development. Promoting b-oxidation with L-carnitine improves embryo development in many species. Thus, fatty acid metabolism in the mammalian COC is regulated by maternal physiological and in vitro environmental conditions; and is important for oocyte developmental competence.

Blood biochemical profile of Sudanese crossbred repeat breeder cows

“…In addition, our study demonstrates that RB cows have no significant different (P < 0.05) plasma TG compared to that of the NC cows (Table 1). Lipids are rich energy source and required for oocyte maturation (Dunning et al, 2014). Nevertheless, our results indicate that plasma TG and TC have no effect on repeat breeding syndrome, at least in our case.…”

Identification of Maturation-Specific Proteins by Single-Cell Proteomics of Human Oocytes

“…Specifically, these comprised 28 and 24 proteins in lipid biosynthetic and catabolic processes, respectively, in line with the recognized role of fatty acid utilization for the promotion of oocyte quality (36,37).…”

Supplementing ±-Linolenic acid in the in vitro maturation media improves nuclear maturation rate of oocytes and early embryonic development in the Nili Ravi buffalo

“…They also provide a potent energy source and prevent the lipotoxic effects result in from increased cellular contents of saturated fatty acids through lipid storage and β-oxidation (Dunning et al, 2014). Fatty acids are also precursors for prostaglandins and progesterone synthesis and therefore play an important role in the regulation of normal reproductive function (Abayasekara and Wathes, 1999;Mattos et al, 2000).…”