Effect of Royal Jelly, Vitamin C and Vitamin E on Genes Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes in in vitro Maturation of Goat Oocytes

The purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant ability of royal jelly, vitamin E and vitamin C as additives to the maturation media on in vitro maturation of goat oocyte. To prepare goat oocytes, ovaries collected from local slaughterhouse were transported to the laboratory into the flask containing warm saline (30-34C) in less than an hour. Cumulus oocyte complexs were removed from small antral follicles (2-6 mm) with slicing method, and were transferred to IVM medium. Cumulus oocyte complexs were put in maturation medium for 24 hours, and were reached to metaphase meiosis II (nuclear maturation). This study was performed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments included control, 10 mg/mL royal jelly, 200 μM of vitamin E, 100 μM of vitamin C, 200 μM of vitamin E + 100 μM of vitamin C and DMSO (as a solvent of vit E) in ten replicates. The results of this study showed that addition of royal jelly, vitamin E and vitamin C to the maturation medium, increased in vitro maturation rate of goat oocyte in comparison of control group. Supplementation of vitamin E, vitamin C and their combination significantly increased the oocyte meiotic maturation rate (87.26% ± 4.45) compared with the royal jelly (76.26% ± 2.55) and the control group (71.1% ± 1.26). Also, the addition of vitamin E + vitamin C combination was significantly increased relative gene expression of glutathione peroxidase but the superoxide dismutase and catalase were not affected by the treatment groups. In conclusion, the combination of vitamin C and vitamin E improved maturation rate and redox status of oocyte during in vitro maturation.