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Effects of melatonin on oocyte developmental competence and the role of melatonin receptor 1 in juvenile goats
Author(s) -
SotoHeras Sandra,
Catalá MariaGracia,
Roura Montserrat,
MenéndezBlanco Irene,
Piras AnnaRita,
Izquierdo Dolors,
Paramio MariaTeresa
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13378
Subject(s) - melatonin , oocyte , blastocyst , medicine , biology , luzindole , in vitro maturation , endocrinology , receptor , andrology , melatonin receptor , embryogenesis , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Contents Melatonin enhances in vitro embryo development in several species by improving the oocyte developmental competence during in vitro maturation (IVM). Melatonin has a wide range of actions, from scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) to regulating gene expression, and it can also act by way of melatonin receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of action of melatonin during the IVM of juvenile goat oocytes and the role of the membrane receptors. Melatonin receptor 1 was immunolocalized in cumulus cells and oocytes before and after 24 hr of IVM. The effect of melatonin on oocyte developmental competence was tested in three experimental IVM groups: (a) control, (b) 10 −7 M melatonin, and (c) 10 −7 M melatonin +10 −7 M luzindole (an inhibitor of both melatonin receptors). After IVM oocytes were assessed for ROS levels, mitochondrial activity, adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) concentration and relative gene expression ( ACTB, SLC1A1, SOD1, GPx1, BAX, DNMT1, GCLC and GDF9 ). IVM‐oocytes were in vitro fertilized and cultured under conventional conditions. Blastocyst rate and quality (differential cell count) were assessed at 8 days post‐fertilization. Melatonin decreased ROS levels, increased mitochondrial activity and ATP content and increased blastocyst quality compared to control group (55.8 vs. 30.4 inner cell mass ICM, p < 0.05). There was no effect on the relative gene expression due to treatment with melatonin. In conclusion, we have showed that melatonin improves oocyte developmental competence in juvenile goats by reducing ROS levels and improving mitochondrial activity.