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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

355 INFLUENCE OF NITRIC OXIDE AND CYCLIC GMP SIGNALING PATHWAY ON THE IN VITRO MATURATION OF BOVINE OOCYTES: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

K. R. L. Schwarz A , T. H. C. de Bem A , P. R. L. Pires A , L. G. Mesquita A , L. Remy A and C. L. V. Leal A
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Departamento de CiÊncias Básicas, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos-USP, Pirassununga-SP, Brazil

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22(1) 334-334 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv22n1Ab355
Published: 8 December 2009

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a chemical messenger generated by the activity of the nitric oxide synthase enzyme (NOS) and has been shown to be involved in oocyte maturation. NO is known to act through the guanylate cyclase (GC) signaling pathway, stimulating the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which in turn activates protein kinase G (PKG). The objective of the present study was to investigate the involvement of NO and GC/cGMP/PKG pathway on the IVM of bovine oocytes. Slaughterhouse ovaries were transported to the laboratory and oocytes were aspirated from 2 to 8 mm follicles. Oocytes were submitted to IVM (TCM-199+10% fetal calf serum + hormones) for 24 h (38.5°C and 5% CO2 in air) and were assessed for nuclear maturation by acetic-orcein (1%) staining. Maturation rates were analyzed by ANOVA. Five replicates were performed with 20 oocytes per group per replicate. When the oocytes were matured with the NO donor [(0, 10-9, 10-8 and 10-7M S-nitroso-N-acteyl-D,L- penicillamine (SNAP)] germinal vesicle break down (GVBD) rates after 7 h in IVM were 36, 31, 42, and 24%, respectively (P > 0.05). Maturation rates after 24 h IVM ranged from 80 to 85% (P > 0.05). The inhibition of GC [(0, 0.1, 10, and 100 μM 1, H-[1, 2, 4]oxadiazole[4, 3-a]quinoxalon-1-one (ODQ)] and PKG (0, 1, 10, and 100 μM KT5823) did not affect (P > 0.05) the ability of oocytes to form the first polar body (average of 83 and 88%, respectively). When the cGMP-analogue (0, 1, 2, and 4 mM 8-Bromo-cGMP) and the GC-stimulator (0, 5, 10, and 50 μM Protoporphyrin IX) were used during IVM, maturation rates were over 85% in all groups (P > 0.05). To confirm the lack of effect of the inhibitors, another evaluation with higher concentrations of inhibitors in semi-defined IVM medium (TCM-199 + 0.04% BSA) was carried out. Maturation rates were 70 to 75% (P > 0.05) with ODQ and 57 to 76% (P > 0.05) with KT5823. The evaluation with the GC stimulator and the cGMP analogue in semi-defined medium is currently underway. In conclusion, under the conditions studied, the GC/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway is not involved in the nuclear maturation of bovine oocytes.

Supported by FAPESP, Brazil.