P-36: Crocin Improves Maturation Rate of ImmatureMouse Oocytes

Background: The pregnancy rates from oocytes matured in vitro are much lower than those of in vivo stimulation cycles, indicating that optimization of IVM remains a challenge. Reduced developmental competence of oocytes matured in vitro indicates that current culture systems for oocytes maturation do not adequately support nuclear and/or cytoplasmic maturation. Therefore in this study, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations of crocin as an antioxidant agent on in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature mouse oocytes (COCs). Materials and Methods: Cumulus-Oocytes Complex (COCs) were collected from 6-8 weeks old NMRI female mice. Cocs were cultured in IVM medium supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 100, 200 and 400 μgr/ml crocin for16-18 h in 5% CO2 and 37°C. Then the rates of maturation were recorded. Results: Our data showed that addition of 50 μgr/ml crocin to maturation medium significantly (p