title: Effects of differing oocyte-secreted factors during mouse in vitro maturation on subsequent embryo and fetal development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesised that varying native oocyte-secreted factor (OSF) exposure or using different recombinant OSF peptides would have differential effects on post-in vitro maturation (IVM) embryo and fetal development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were treated with the purified mature domain of GDF9 and/or BMP15 or were co-cultured with denuded oocytes (DOs) from 0 h or 3 h of IVM. DOs were matured for 3 h as either intact COCs+/-FSH before denuding, or as DOs + FSH. COCs were fertilised and blastocyst development was assessed on days 5 and 6, and either differentially stained for ICM numbers or vitrified/warmed embryos were transferred to recipients to assess implantation and fetal rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No improvement in embryo development was observed with the addition of GDF9 and/or BMP15 to IVM. In contrast, embryos derived from COCs co-cultured with DOs had significantly improved blastocyst rates and ICM numbers compared to controls (P < 0.05). The highest response was obtained when DOs were first added to COCs at 3 h of IVM, after being pre-treated (0-3 h) as COCs + FSH. Compared to control, co-culture with DOs from 3 h did not affect implantation rates but more than doubled fetal yield (21% vs 48%; P < 0.05). GDF9 Western blot analysis was unable to detect any differences in quantity or form of GDF9 (17 and 65 kDa) in extracts of DO at 0 h or 3 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides new knowledge on means to improve oocyte quality in vitro which has the potential to significantly aid human infertility treatment and animal embryo production technologies.
authors.affiliation: Robinson Institute, Research Centre for Reproductive Health, and School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sudiman
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Feil
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mottershead
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 / Q000235:genetics; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: C525902:Bmp15 protein, mouse; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; C525898:Gdf9 protein, mouse; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9