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Ebrahimi M, Dattena M, Mara L, Pasciu V, Sotgiu FD, Chessa F, Luciano AM, Berlinguer F. In vitro production of meiotically competent oocytes from early antral follicles in sheep. Theriogenology 2024; 226:253-262. [PMID: 38950486 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The potential of using long in vitro culture (LIVC) of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from early antral follicles (EAFs) as an assisted reproductive technology in cattle has shown promising results. This study explored the feasibility of applying this technology to sheep as seasonal breeding animals. Ovaries from sheep were collected during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. COCs were isolated from EAFs (350-450 μm) and cultured in TCM199 medium supplemented with 0.15 μg/mL Zn sulfate, 10-4IU/mL FSH, 10 ng/mL estradiol, 50 ng/mL testosterone, 50 ng/mL progesterone, and 5 μM Cilostamide. After five days of LIVC, the COCs were submitted to an in vitro maturation procedure. The results indicate successful in vitro development of COCs, evidenced by a significant increase in oocyte diameter (p < 0.000) and the preservation of gap junction communication between oocyte and cumulus cells. The gradual uncoupling was accompanied by a progressive chromatin transition from the non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN) to the surrounded nucleolus (SN) (p < 0.000), coupled with a gradual decrease in global transcriptional activity and an increase in oocyte meiotic competence (p < 0.000). Maintenance of oocyte-cumulus investment architecture, viability, and metaphase II capability was significantly higher in COCs collected during the breeding season (p < 0.000), suggesting higher quality than those obtained during the non-breeding season. In conclusion, our study confirms LIVC feasibility in sheep, emphasizing increased effectiveness during the breeding season in isolating higher-quality COCs from EAFs. These findings can influence improving the LIVC system in mammals with seasonal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Ebrahimi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy; Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Maria Dattena
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Laura Mara
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Valeria Pasciu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca D Sotgiu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chessa
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alberto Maria Luciano
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory (ReDBioLab), Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via Dell'Università, 6 - 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Berlinguer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
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Yuan LM, Chen YL, Shi XH, Wu XX, Liu XJ, Liu SP, Chen N, Sai WJF. PLCζ can stably regulate Ca2+ fluctuations in early embryo. Theriogenology 2022; 191:16-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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