Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Research & Studies Institute, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut - Egypt.
2
Department of Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Research & Studies Institute, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut - Egypt. & Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut - Egypt.
3
Department of Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Research & Studies Institute, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut - Egypt. & Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut - Egypt.
Abstract
The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of low (MW) hyaluronic acid (HA) supplementation on the outcomes of bovine oocyte in vitro maturation. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), obtained from slaughtered cows (n=193) from the local abattoir, were stained using BCB. The BCB+ oocytes (n = 970) were then divided into two equal groups and cultured in maturation media. One group served as control (without HA supplementation), while the other group was supplemented with 0.002 mM HA. The percentages of early polar body formation, cumulus expansion, and phenotypic morphology of cumulus cells (CCs) were evaluated at three time points: 0, 22, and 44 hrs. As part of the analysis, TNFAIP6, PTX3, and PTGS2 genes associated with cumulus expansion were measured at these timepoints. Compared to the control group, HA supplementation significantly reduced cumulus expansion at 22 and 44 hr. but significantly increased oocyte maturation rate. In addition, with regard to expression of cumulus expansion-related genes, PTX3 and PTGS2 showed significant elevation at 22 hrs. followed by reduction at 44 hrs., TNFAIP6 exhibited a steady, significant increase over time, with the highest expression achieved at 44 hrs. in HA-treated groups. In comparison with the control untreated group, PTGS2 and TNFAIP6 showed significant increases at both 22 hrs. and 44 hrs. post-HA treatment, while PTX3 showed a significant increase only at 22 hrs. Supplementation of in vitro oocyte maturation medium with low-molecular-weight HA significantly accelerated nuclear maturation and enhanced the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes in CCs, indicating potential improvement in subsequent IVF outcomes.
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