Effect of L-carnitine on the in vitro maturation and fertilization of bovine oocytes.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Theriogenology department, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Benha university, Egypt

2 Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, EGYPT

3 Department of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Animal Reproduction Research Institute (ARRI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), 12556 Haram, Giza, Egypt.

4 Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Agricultural Research Institute, Giza, EGYPT

Abstract

The present study pointed out to clarify the effects of different L-Carnitine concentrations (0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1 mg/ml) on the in-vitro  maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation rates of bovine  oocytes,  in  addition  to  assessing  the  lipid  peroxidation  rate  and  total  antioxidant enzymes’  capacity.  Bovine  ovaries  were  collected  from  the El-Mounib  abattoir  in  Giza Governorate, Egypt. The oocytes  were collected by using the aspiration technique. The oocytes 
with (4-8mm) diameters were selected, washed, and matured in TCM-199 supplemented with different L-Carnitine concentrations.  Afterward  the period of  maturation,  the oocytes  were evaluated for nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation; the oocytes were analyzed to determine the levels  of  Malondialdehyde  (MDA),  Catalase  (CAT),  Glutathione  (GSH),  and  Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. The in-vitro  matured oocytes were fertilized and assessed for the 
fertilization  rate  and  the  embryo  developmental  potentials.  The  results  revealed  that  LCarnitine  at  a concentration  of  0.6  mg/ml  significantly  (P≤0.05)  improved  the  oocyte maturation (M-II) and fertilization rates  besides the different stages of embryo development. In  addition,  L-Carnitine  noticeably  (P≤0.05)  diminished  the  lipid peroxidation  (MDA)  and increased the antioxidant enzymatic activity including: Catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and 
superoxide dismutase (SOD) mainly at a concentration of 0.6 mg/ml. In conclusion, 0.6 mg/ml of  L-Carnitine  has  potentially  improving  impacts  on  in-vitro  matured  and  developmental competence of bovine oocytes 

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