title: Replacement of glutamine with the dipeptide derivative alanyl-glutamine enhances in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes and development of embryos.
abstract: The presence of glutamine (Gln) in in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC) medium is a more potent factor for improving porcine oocyte and embryo development than other amino acids. However Gln is inherently unstable and spontaneously breaks down into ammonia, and therefore interferes with proper development. To avoid this adverse effect, Gln was replaced in the present study with its stable dipeptide derivative alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) and the effects of this replacement on porcine IVM and IVC were evaluated. Replacement of Gln with Ala-Gln during IVM did not improve nuclear maturation, however numbers of early cleaved embryos were significantly increased after activation. Blastocyst formation rates were also significantly improved by using Ala-Gln during IVM. Replacement of Gln with Ala-Gln during IVC significantly increased total cell numbers in blastocysts. Blastocyst formation rate was also significantly higher when Ala-Gln was used in both IVM and IVC. In conclusion, the use of Ala-Gln rather than Gln gives better results for development in both porcine IVM and IVC.
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Su Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Ok Jae
authors: OJ
authors: Koo
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Dae Kee
authors: DK
authors: Kwon
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Jung Taek
authors: JT
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Sol Ji
authors: SJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Ma Ninia
authors: MN
authors: Gomez
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Atikuzzaman
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Goo
authors: G
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanangno, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors: Byeong-Chun
authors: BC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D005973:Glutamine; C054122:alanylglutamine