title: Effects of retinoic acid on maturation of immature mouse oocytes in the presence and absence of a granulosa cell co-culture system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the all-trans retinoic acid (t-RA) effects on in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of immature mouse oocytes in the presence and absence of granulosa cell monolayer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Denuded oocytes isolated from mice ovaries and matured in IVM medium alone (Control I), IVM medium in the presence of granulosa cells (Control II), IVM medium with t-RA (Experimental I) and IVM medium simultaneously with t-RA and granulosa cells (Experimental II). After 24 h, matured oocytes were fertilized in T6 medium and their development was followed until the blastocyst stage. Metaphase II oocytes ploidy were evaluated by chromosome counting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The t-RA group compared to the control groups showed no obvious abnormalities. Additionally maturation and embryo development rates significantly increased in the t-RA treated granulosa cell co-culture system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, association of t-RA with granulosa cell co-culture during in vitro maturation increases meiosis resumption, formation of metaphase II oocytes, as well as 2-cell and blastocyst stage embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Embryology, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine Research, ACECR, P. O. Box: 166565-9711, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila Sadat
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tahaei
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eimani
authors.forename: Poopak Eftekhari
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fathi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; D008540:Meiosis; D008677:Metaphase; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014212:Tretinoin