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Niacin improves maturation and cryo-tolerance of bovine in vitro matured oocytes: An experimental study
Kafi, Mojtaba; Ashrafi, Mahboobeh; Azari, Mehdi; Jandarroodi, Borhan; Abouhamzeh, Beheshteh & Asl, Arash Rakhshi
Abstract
Background: Nicotinic acid (niacin) is a broad-spectrum lipid-modifying agent that has
potent antioxidant properties and reduces the production of lipid peroxidation.
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the maturation, embryo
development and cryo-tolerance merit, and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total
oxidant status, and total antioxidant capacity following the supplementation of bovine
oocytes maturation medium with different concentrations of niacin.
Materials and Methods: Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured in tissue
culture medium-199 maturation media supplemented with 0, 100, 200, and 400
µM niacin under a standard in vitro culture condition. After 24 hr of culture, the
nuclear maturation rate was assessed. Then, two groups of immature cumulus-oocyte
complexes were cultured in TCM-199 either with or without 400 µM niacin and
evaluated for embryo development. Also, matured cumulus-oocyte complexes in both
groups were frozen using a standard vitrification procedure. After vitrification, oocytes
were warmed in two steps and evaluated for embryo development. In addition, the
level of total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and MDA were measured.
Results: The results indicated that although the treatment with 400 µM niacin increased
in vitro nuclear maturation (87.6 ± 5.3), it did not improved the embryo development to
the blastocyst stage. Higher cleavage and blastocyst rates were observed in vitrified
oocytes that were cultured with supplemented 400 µM niacin compared to the control
group (without niacin) (53.6 ± 2.7 and 10.6 ± 1.6 vs. 46.2 ± 4.1 and 6.3 ± 2.4, respectively).
Also, the addition of 400 µM niacin to the maturation media could decrease MDA levels
after maturation.
Conclusion: Niacin could improve the quality of in vitro embryo production (IVP)
embryos and tolerance of bovine oocytes to vitrification.
Keywords
Bovine; Embryonic development; Niacin; Oocytes; Vitrification.
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