168 EFFECT OF CYCLIC ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE MODULATORS DURING OOCYTE IN VITRO MATURATION ON BOVINE EMBRYOS (Gyr × HOLSTEIN) QUALITY

In vitro embryo production (IVP) is an important tool for cattle breeding. Brazilian dairy systems are based on Gyr × Holstein crossbreds, which integrates adaptability to tropical conditions and milk production. Quality determines the oocyte proportion that will develop to blastocyst stage, and although the lipid content is important in oocyte development, a high concentration in embryos is associated with cryotolerance reduction, making this a relevant issue for IVP systems. The in vitro maturation system (IVM) simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM) mimics the physiological maturation events by using cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) modulators, which promote the increase of oocyte competence. Among the modulators, Forskolin has lipolytic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the SPOM system (Albuz 2010 Hum. Reprod. 25, 12) on bovine embryos (Gyr × Holstein) regarding their total number of cells (TNC) and lipid content. Oocytes were obtained by ovum pick-up from Gyr cows in 5 replications. After selection, they were randomly divided into 2 groups: SPOM (S) and control (C). The IVM lasted 24 h for group C (TCM 199 medium without FBS) in culture oven at 38.5°C, 5% CO2 in atmospheric air and high humidity. In the SPOM system, oocytes were in pre-IVM [TCM 199 medium + 100 µM Forskolin + 500 µM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)] for 2 h and followed for extended IVM (TCM 199 medium + 20 µM cilostamide) for 28 h under the same conditions as control group. After IVM, oocytes were fertilised with semen from a single Holstein bull that was prepared by Percoll gradient method in Fert-TALP medium (Bioklone® Animal Reproduction, Sao Paulo, Brazil) for 22 h and transfered to culture droplets, where they remained for 7 days (n = 10–13 per group). The lipid content analysis was performed by staining with Oil red and the stained area fraction of each embryo was measured using software ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). The TNC was measured after being stained with Hoechst 33342 and results were analysed by Student's t-test in Instat GraphPad program, with a 5% significance level. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between embryos from both groups on TNC (group S: 88.9 ± 28.0A; group C: 101.6 ± 29.1a) and lipid content (group S: 0.93 ± 12:18A; group C: ±0.15 to 0.96) analysis. Some studies have shown there is a beneficial effect on embryo quality when using this system; however, our results demonstrated that there was no effect on total number of cells using our conditions. Some authors have also demonstrated a reduction in embryo lipid content using Forskolin during in vitro culture. Our results suggest that the time of Forskolin exposure was not enough to ensure lipolytic action on the structures produced from oocytes (Gyr) treated in pre-IVM. It was concluded that the SPOM system had no effect on TNC and lipid content of Gyr/Holstein embryos. Financial support from FAPERJ and CAPES is acknowledged.