title: Caspase activity and oxidative stress of granulosa cells are associated with the viability and developmental potential of vitrified immature oocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine whether caspase activity and oxidative stress of granulosa cells are associated with the viability and developmental potential of vitrified immature oocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oocytes from mice were exposed to genistein or/and Z-VAD-FMK with or without vitrification. Ultrastructural alterations of granulosa cells in vitrified immature oocytes were observed. Moreover, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in granulosa cells, incidence of apoptotic follicles, the viability of vitrified-warmed oocytes and their subsequent developmental competence were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrastructural alterations of granulosa cells vitrified in the presence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK were slighter than that of granulosa cells vitrified in the absence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK. The incidence of apoptotic follicles vitrified in the presence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK was significantly lower than that of immature oocytes vitrified in the absence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK, whereas, the level of SOD in granulosa cells, the viability and developmental competence of immature oocytes vitrified in the presence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK were significantly higher than that of immature oocytes vitrified in the absence of genistein or Z-VAD-FMK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both antioxidant (genistein) and caspase inhibition (Z-VAD-FMK) improve the viability and developmental competence of vitrified immature oocytes. Genistein is superior to Z-VAD-FMK in improving the efficacy of immature oocyte vitrification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang City, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital of Qingdao City, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, People's Hospital of Laiwu City, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, People's Hospital of Qingzhou City, China. Electronic address: weijqqz@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D058989:Vitrification
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; D019833:Genistein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D020169:Caspases
keywords: Caspase; Cryopreservation; Granulosa cells; Immature oocytes; Oxidative stress