Iloprost supports early development of in vitro-produced porcine embryos through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signalling pathway.
Despite evidence of the presence of prostaglandin (PG) I2in mammalian oviducts, its role in early development of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos is largely unknown. Thus, in the present study we examined the effects of iloprost, a PGI2analogue, on the in vitro developmental competence of early porcine embryos and the underlying mechanism(s). To examine the effects of iloprost on the development rate of IVF embryos, iloprost was added to the in vitro culture (IVC) medium and cultured for 6 days. Supplementation of the IVC medium with iloprost significantly improved developmental parameters, such as blastocyst formation rate, the trophectoderm:inner cell mass ratio and cell survival in IVF and parthenogenetically activated (PA) embryos. In addition, post-blastulation development into the expanded blastocyst stage was improved in iloprost-treated groups compared with controls. Interestingly, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signalling pathway was significantly activated by iloprost supplementation in a concentration-dependent manner (10-1000nM), and the beneficial effects of iloprost on the early development of porcine IVF and PA embryos was completely ablated by treatment with 2.5μM wortmannin, a PI3K/AKT signalling inhibitor. Importantly, expression of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway was significantly reduced in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) compared with IVF embryos, and iloprost supported the early development of SCNT embryos, as was the case for IVF and PA embryos, suggesting a consistent effect of iloprost on the IVC of IVP porcine embryos. Together, these results indicate that iloprost can be a useful IVC supplement for production of IVP early porcine embryos with high developmental competence.
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Pil-Soo
PS
Jeong
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Bin
SB
Yoon
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Seon-A
SA
Choi
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Bong-Seok
BS
Song
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Su
JS
Kim
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Bo-Woong
BW
Sim
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Young-Ho
YH
Park
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Hae-Jun
HJ
Yang
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Seong-Eun
SE
Mun
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Young-Hyun
YH
Kim
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Philyong
P
Kang
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Kang-Jin
KJ
Jeong
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Youngjeon
Y
Lee
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Yeung Bae
YB
Jin
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Jae-Won
JW
Huh
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Rae
SR
Lee
Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University, Jillyang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38453, Republic of Korea.
Deog-Bon
DB
Koo
Graduate School Department of Digital Media, Ewha Womans University, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea.
Young Il
YI
Park
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Sun-Uk
SU
Kim
National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30, Yeongudanjiro, Ochangeup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116, Republic of Korea.
Kyu-Tae
KT
Chang
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D010312:Parthenogenesis; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077191:Wortmannin
D000730:Androstadienes; D003470:Culture Media; D011464:Epoprostenol; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D016285:Iloprost; D000077191:Wortmannin