Metabolic studies of mammalian embryos started with the development of in vitro culture systems more than 40 years ago. More recently, metabolic studies have begun to shed light on the requirements of growing oocytes/follicles from the earliest stages of folliculogenesis. While growing oocytes preferentially metabolise pyruvate over glucose, the somatic compartment of ovarian follicles is more ...

This study assessed the participation of amphiregulin (AREG) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) during maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) on cumulus cell function and their impact on subsequent embryo development. AREG treatment of COCs enhanced blastocyst formation and quality only when in the presence of BMP15. Expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 was enhanced by folli...

This study investigated the effect of different harvesting techniques on the recovery rate and quality of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and their subsequent developmental competence including in vitro maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation. The COCs were retrieved from slaughter ovaries using aspiration, slicing, or aspiration followed by slicing. The COCs were examined mic...

The aim of the present study was to find the effects of pre and post vitrification taxol treatment on bovineimmature cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs). Bovine ovaries were collected from the local slaughterhousein a container with 30-37°C physiologic saline and supplemented with antibiotics. The grade A aspiratedCOCs were assigned to 6 experimental groups; The 1st group was control (n=100) in whi...

BACKGROUND In the cow, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) acts as an auto-/paracrine factor, through its receptors LPAR1-4, on oocytes and cumulus cells during in vitro maturation (IVM). The aim of the present work was to determine the effect of LPA during IVM of bovine oocytes on: 1) oocyte maturation; 2) apoptosis of COCs; 3) expression of genes involved in developmental competence and apoptosis in ...

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) plays a role as an oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI) in many species, including the bovine. However, the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) on CNP expression and its potential mechanisms have not reported in the bovine. In the present study, we aimed to study the effects of LH on CNP expression and to illuminate the potential molecular mechanism in this process...