Incidence of apoptosis after retinoids and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) supplementation during goat in vitro embryo production

Zygote. 2016 Dec;24(6):808-813. doi: 10.1017/S0967199416000125. Epub 2016 Jun 17.

Abstract

The addition of growth factors and vitamins enhances goat embryonic development in vitro. However, few attempts have been reported trying to identify supplementation regimens for oocyte maturation or embryo culture with additive properties. The present report was aimed to evaluate if retinoids [0.3 μM retinyl acetate (RAc) and 0.5 μM 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA)] supplementation during goat oocyte maturation and retinoids and/or 50 ng mL-1 IGF-I during embryo culture synergically enhanced embryonic development while diminishing the incidence of apoptosis. All combinations of RAc and RA treatment produced blastocysts with similar efficiencies, while IGF-I enhanced embryos yields irrespectively of retinoid addition. Moreover, retinoids and IGF-I supplementation showed similar caspase activity or DNA fragmentation indexes in blastocysts. In conclusion, supplementation with retinoids and IGF-I during goat embryo culture enhances blastocysts development without synergic reduction of apoptosis.

Keywords: Goat; IVF; Preimplantation; Programmed cell death; Vitamin A.

MeSH terms

  • Alitretinoin
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blastocyst / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Culture Media / pharmacology
  • Diterpenes
  • Embryo Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro
  • Goats
  • In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / methods*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology*
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / pathology
  • Oocytes / physiology
  • Retinoids / pharmacology*
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin A / pharmacology

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Diterpenes
  • Retinoids
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Vitamin A
  • Alitretinoin
  • retinol acetate
  • Tretinoin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I