Improved survival and developmental rates in vitrified-warmed pig oocytes after recovery culture with coenzyme Q10

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The primary problems with porcine oocyte vitrification are their low viability and development; both need improvement.

OBJECTIVE:

This study was designed to improve the survival and developmental rates in vitrified-warmed porcine oocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Porcine oocytes matured in vitro were vitrified-warmed with Cryotop. Then the oocytes were supplemented with Q10 during recovery culture.

RESULTS:

The survival rates immediately after warming were 92.9% by morphological inspection and 39.3% by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assay. The group of recovery culture with Q10 (VC+Q10) showed significantly higher viability compared to the group of recovery culture without Q10 (VC+) analyzed by morphology and the FDA. The VC+Q10 group showed a low Bax/Bcl-xl ratio and a high expression of MAP3K12 and TGFB3 compared to the VC+. The cleavage rate did not differ in both groups but, blastocyst yield was higher in VC+Q10 than the VC+ group.

CONCLUSION:

Supplementation of Q10 during recovery culture led to a higher blastocyst yield by increasing survival rates and regulating mRNA expressions.