Developmental competence and mRNA expression of preimplantation in vitro–produced embryos from prepubertal and postpubertal cattle and their relationship with apoptosis after intraovarian administration of IGF-1

Zaraza, J.; Oropeza, A.; Velazquez, M.A.; Korsawe, K.; Herrmann, D.; Carnwath, J.W.; Niemann, H.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.11.033

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Volume 74, Issue 1 , Pages 75-89, 1 July 2010

Developmental competence and mRNA expression of preimplantation in vitro–produced embryos from prepubertal and postpubertal cattle and their relationship with apoptosis after intraovarian administration of IGF-1

J. Zaraza
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
A. Oropeza
- Departamento de Genética y Reproducción Animal, Decanato de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado,” Barquisimeto, Venezuela
M.A. Velazquez
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
- Escuela Superior de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Escárcega, Campeche, Mexico
K. Korsawe
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
D. Herrmann
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
J.W. Carnwath
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
H. Niemann
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +00 49 5034 871148; fax: +00 49 5034 871101.

Received 24 September 2009; received in revised form 13 November 2009; accepted 22 November 2009. published online 08 February 2010.

Abstract

Recombinant human Insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-1) was administered to one ovary of prepubertal and postpubertal cattle to determine its effects on (1) oocyte developmental competence, (2) the expression pattern of six developmentally important genes (GLUT3, GLUT8, AKT1, BCL-XL, BAD, and BAX), and (3) its relationship with apoptosis (female Holstein-Friesian). Oocytes were retrieved from 7- to 10-mo-old prepubertal dairy calves (preP), 11- to 18-mo-old postpubertal heifers (postP), and cows via ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. Immature oocytes were matured in vitro then fertilized and cultured up to the blastocyst stage. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) in 8-d blastocysts. Similar low blastocyst yields were observed in the IGF-1–treated preP group (11.2±2.4%), the control preP group (10.4±3.0%), and in the IGF-1 postP group (10.9±2.3%). These were lower (P≤0.01) compared with the control postP group (21.2±3.8%) and with cows (23±3.7%). The expression profile of the six genes was partly affected by age and IGF-1 treatment. Apoptosis was correlated with the age of the oocyte donors and was increased in blastocysts derived from prepubertal heifers. Results show that apoptosis is a critical feature of the acquisition of developmental competence of oocytes from prepubertal cattle and that IGF-1 did not beneficially affect oocyte developmental competence.