Ghrelin and leptin did not improve meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes cultured in vitro.
To improve culture system for in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes, ghrelin, leptin or growth hormone (GH), at concentration of 0, 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 ng/ml were added to the porcine follicular fluid (pFF)-supplemented medium NCSU23, and their effects on the maturation and cytoskeletal distribution of the oocytes with or without cumulus cells were compared. In the cumulus-denuded oocytes, no significant changes were noted in the maturation rate by different hormone treatments due to a marked decline in the controls. Maturation of the cumulus intact oocytes was moderately interfered by ghrelin (0.5-50 ng/ml, p < 0.01), but not significantly affected by leptin and GH. Distribution density of the cytoplasmic microtubules was decreased significantly by addition of ghrelin (by approximately 30% in 50-500 ng/ml, p < 0.01), whereas no remarkable effect was noted by leptin supplementation. High concentration (500 ng/ml) of ghrelin or leptin decreased significantly the cytoplasmic microfilaments in density (by 43% and 38%, p < 0.01, respectively). GH did not affect cytoskeletal distribution. The results suggest, in the culture system using pFF-supplemented medium that (i) ghrelin may have some inhibitory effect on the organization of microtubules and microfilaments, probably being a factor in lowered maturation rate and (ii) the addition of higher concentration of leptin may decrease microfilaments in density with no effect on meiotic maturation of the porcine oocytes.
Suzuki
H
H
Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan. suzuki@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
Sasaki
Y
Y
Shimizu
M
M
Matsuzaki
M
M
Hashizume
T
T
Kuwayama
H
H
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
D003470:Culture Media; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin