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Supplementation of bovine embryo culture medium with L ‐arginine improves embryo quality via nitric oxide production
Author(s) -
Santana Priscila Di Paula Bessa,
Silva Thiago Velasco Guimarães,
da Costa Nathália Nogueira,
da Silva Bruno Barauna,
Carter Timothy Frederick,
Cordeiro Marcela da Silva,
da Silva Bruno José Martins,
Santos Simone do Socorro Damasceno,
Herculano Anderson Manoel,
Adona Paulo Roberto,
Ohashi Otávio Mitio,
Miranda Moysés dos Santos
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22387
Subject(s) - blastocyst , embryo , biology , hatching , andrology , nitric oxide , embryogenesis , arginine , embryo culture , nitric oxide synthase , in vitro , embryo quality , biochemistry , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , amino acid , zoology , medicine
SUMMARY Nitric oxide (NO) is a cell‐signaling molecule that regulates a variety of molecular pathways. We investigated the role of NO during preimplantation embryonic development by blocking its production with an inhibitor or supplementing in vitro bovine embryo cultures with its natural precursor, L ‐arginine, over different periods. Endpoints evaluated included blastocyst rates, development kinetics, and embryo quality. Supplementation with the NO synthase inhibitor N‐Nitro‐ L ‐arginine‐methyl ester ( L ‐NAME) from Days 1 to 8 of culture decreased blastocyst ( P < 0.05) and hatching ( P < 0.05) rates. When added from Days 1 to 8, 50 mM L ‐arginine decreased blastocyst rates ( P < 0.001); in contrast, when added from Days 5 to 8, 1 mM L ‐arginine improved embryo hatching rates ( P < 0.05) and quality ( P < 0.05) as well as increased POU5F1 gene expression ( P < 0.05) as compared to the untreated control. Moreover, NO levels in the medium during this culture period positively correlated with the increased embryo hatching rates and quality ( P < 0.05). These data suggest exerts its positive effects during the transition from morula to blastocyst stage, and that supplementing the embryo culture medium with L ‐arginine favors preimplantation development of bovine embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 918–927, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .