Differential expression of selected candidate genes in bovine embryos produced in vitro and cultured with chemicals modulating lipid metabolism.
Lipid accumulated in embryos produced in vitro has been linked to reductions in both quality and postcryopreservation viability. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of lipid-reducing chemicals on embryo development, quality, and postcryopreservation viability, in addition to expression profiles of selected lipid metabolism-regulating genes. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured and fertilized in vitro; eight-cell stage embryos were cultured in IVC medium supplemented with phenazine ethosulfate (PES), L-carnitine (LC), PES + LC, or no supplementation (control). Culturing embryos in medium with LC increased (P < 0.05) blastocyst rate (38.8%) compared with the other groups (control = 28.1%, PES = 27.1%, PES + LC = 26.3%). Embryos cultured with supplements had greater total cell number and fewer apoptotic cells than the control. Cytoplasmic lipid content was reduced, whereas mitochondria density was increased in embryos treated with culture supplements; this was linked to altered expression profiles of selected genes regulating lipid metabolism. For example, transcript abundance of transmembrane lipid gene (SGPP1) was greater in LC- and PES-treated embryos, and they had increased postcryopreservation hatching ability (indicative of embryo cryotolerance). In conclusion, the two lipid metabolism regulators added to the culture media had improved embryo quality and cryotolerance, but embryo development rate and downstream lipid metabolism-regulating genes were more influenced with LC supplementation.
Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea; Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Nasser
N
Ghanem
Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea.
A-Na
AN
Ha
Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea.
Md
M
Fakruzzaman
Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea.
Jae-Il
JI
Bang
Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Saewha IVF Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Chan
SC
Lee
Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea; Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ikong7900@gmail.com.
Il-Keun
IK
Kong
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D010619:Phenazines / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010619:Phenazines; C028122:5-ethylphenazine; D002331:Carnitine
Bovine embryo; Cryotolerance; Culture supplement; Gene expression; Lipid