Effect of Beta-Mercaptoethanol on in Vitro Maturation and Development of Immature Mouse Oocytes

Purpose: This Study evaluated the resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturtion and department of immature mouse oocytes with b- mercaptothanol. Materials and methods: Immature oocytes were recovered from NMRI mouse strain (4-6 weeks) in different 4 experiments groups: the control group, the oocytes were matured in MEM-a+ medium containing + FCS 55%; group 1: the oocytes were matured in MEM- a medium containing + FCS 5% and b-mercaptoethanol; group 2: the oocytes were matured in MEM-a+ FCS 5%, rFSH 100mIU and group 3: the oocytes were mature in MEM- a medium containing, FCS 5%, hCG 7.5IU, rFSH100mIU, b-mer-captoethanol 100 mm. Fertilization and embryo development were done in T6 medium. Results: There were significant differences on in vitro maturation between control group than the group 1 and group 3 (p=0.01, p=0.007) and resumption of miosis between control group than the group 1 and group 3 (p=0.009, p=0.001).The rates of the resumpsion of meiosis in experimental groups were 74.20 (control), 82.71 (group 1), 84.49 (group 2) and 85.49% (group 3), In vitro maturation also increased significantly with (3-mercapthoethanol (group 1=69.49%, group 3=70.22%).The embryo formation on the fourth day in group 1 than the control group, group 2, group 3 (p=0.001, p=0.000,p=0.000) increased more significantly than that in the other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that b-mer-captoethanol (100 mm)has an effect on in vitro maturation and resumption of meiosis of mouse oocytes and improves embryo development.