Cysteamine increased the equine oocytes nuclear maturation rate de Leon P.M.M.1, Campos V.F., Deschamps J.C., Collares T.2,* 1Laboratório de Embriologia Moleculare Transgênese, Núcleo de Biotecnologia Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas Pelotas, RS, Brazil. 2Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Campus Universitário s/n°, Caixa Postal 354, CEP 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil *Corresponding author: collares.t@gmail.com
Online published on 22 December, 2011. Abstract This study evaluated the effects of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium supplemented with cysteamine on the membrane integrity and nuclear maturation rate of equine oocytes. The Cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries. IVM was conducted using three oocyte groups: IVM medium (TCM 199, 10% inactivated foetal bovine serum, 0.01 IU/mL of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and 0.01 IU/mL of luteinizing hormone (LH) as control group; IVM medium + 50 µM cysteamine or 100 µM cysteamine. After IVM, denuded oocytes were stained to evaluate membrane integrity and nuclear maturation stage. Oocytes supplemented with 100 µM cysteamine showed a higher (P < 0.05) nuclear maturation rate (53.6%) compared to 50 µM cysteamine (42.1%) and control (43%). No differences were found in membrane integrity among three groups. In conclusion, cysteamine supplementation (to 100 µM) to the maturation medium, with LH and FSH, improved equine oocyte nuclear maturation without affecting membrane integrity. Top Keywords in vitro maturation, cysteamine, equine oocytes, membrane integrity. Top |