Sodium nitroprusside treatment during the superovulation process improves ovarian response and ovarian expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in aged female mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP) treatment during the superovulation process improves ovarian response and oocyte developmental competence in aged female mice.


METHODS
Controlled experimental study.


METHODS
Large urban medical center.


METHODS
C57BL inbred female mice of three age groups: 6 to 9, 14 to 16, and 25 to 27 weeks.


METHODS
Female mice were co-injected intraperitoneally with SNP (1 muM or 10 muM) and pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG), followed by human chorionic gonadotropin injection 48 hours later and then mated with individual males. After 18 hours, zygotes were flushed and the ovaries were isolated. The control group was injected with PMSG.


METHODS
The number of zygotes flushed, embryo development to blastocyst stage, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in ovary.


RESULTS
Treatment with SNP statistically significantly increased the number of flushed zygotes and blastocyst formation rate in mice aged 25 to 27 weeks, not but in mice aged less than 16 weeks compared with the control group. The SNP treatment in aged mice increased VEGF expression of the ovary in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that SNP treatment during the superovulation process improves ovarian response and oocyte developmental competence in aged female. The positive effect of SNP may be associated with increased VEGF expression.
Lee
Dong-Hyung
DH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea.
Joo
Bo-Sun
BS
Suh
Dong-Soo
DS
Park
Jong-Hun
JH
Choi
Young-Min
YM
Lee
Kyu-Sup
KS
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013480:Superovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009599:Nitroprusside