title: Presence of vascular endothelial growth factor during the first half of IVM improves the meiotic and developmental competence of porcine oocytes from small follicles.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the meiotic and developmental competence of porcine oocytes from small follicles (SF; 0.5-3mm diameter). When cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from medium-sized follicles (MF; 3-6mm diameter) and SF were cultured for IVM, the maturation rates were significantly higher for oocytes from MF than SF. Concentrations of VEGF in the medium were significantly higher for COCs cultured from MF than SF. When COCs from SF were exposed to 200ngmL-1VEGF during the first 20h of IVM, the maturation rate improved significantly and was similar to that of oocytes derived from MF. The fertilisability of oocytes was also significantly higher than that of VEGF-free SF controls. Following parthenogenetic activation, the blastocyst formation rate improved significantly when SF COC culture was supplemented with 200ngmL-1VEGF, with the rate similar to that of oocytes from MF. The results of the present study indicate that VEGF markedly improves the meiotic and developmental competence of oocytes derived from SF, especially at a concentration of 200ngmL-1during the first 20h of IVM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Tra M T
authors.initials: TMT
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Khánh X
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Nguyễn
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karata
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Minh T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Trần
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A