title: Antiapoptotic and embryotrophic effects of alpha-tocopherol and L-ascorbic acid on porcine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer.
abstract: The objective was to determine optimal concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid for development of porcine embryos derived from in vitro-fertilization (IVF) or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The frequency of blastocyst formation in IVF embryos was 17.6, 28.6, 32.4 and 21.4% for control, 50, 100 and 200microM alpha-tocopherol, respectively, whereas in SCNT embryos, the frequency was 12.8, 19.0, 24.8 and 17.7% for corresponding concentrations of alpha-tocopherol. For both IVF and SCNT embryos, there were significantly more cells in blastocysts and the embryos had greater developmental competence when the embryo culture medium was supplemented with 100microM alpha-tocopherol. Although either alpha-tocopherol or l-ascorbic acid reduced the proportion of apoptotic cells in blastocysts, in combination they resulted in rates of apoptosis that were similar to the control group. For IVF embryos, the apoptotic index was 0.09 and 0.11 for alpha-tocopherol or l-ascorbic acid at a concentration of 100microM, respectively. Conversely, when these antioxidants were supplemented together, the apoptotic index increased significantly and was similar to the control group (i.e., 0.17 and 0.21 for combined and control group). For SCNT embryos, the apoptotic index was 0.10 for 100microM for both alpha-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid, whereas the index was 0.23 and 0.17 for control and combined group. In conclusion, we recommend supplementing porcine embryo culture medium with 100microM alpha-tocopherol or 100microM l-ascorbic (as a second choice).
authors.affiliation: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 56-1 Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sun Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mohammad Shamim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hossein
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: So Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Keun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Byeong Chun
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine / Q000196:embryology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid