Ph.D. Student Chungbuk National University Cheongju, Republic of Korea
Abstract: The most abundant form of inositol, myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), is an antioxidant and an important molecule for mammalian embryonic development. This study aimed to examine the effect of Myo-Ins supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and its impact on oocyte development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Key parameters, including nuclear maturation, cumulus cell expansion, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and developmental competence were evaluated. IVM medium was supplemented with Myo-Ins at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 20 mM for 42 hours. Although Myo-Ins treatment had no effect on nuclear maturation rates, cumulus cell expansion was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in treatment groups compared to the control group. Among the treatments, the 5 mM Myo-Ins displayed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in blastocyst formation rate compared to the control group. Additionally, oocytes treated with 5 mM Myo-Ins group showed significantly lower (p < 0.05) intracellular ROS levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, intracellular GSH levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in 5 and 20 mM groups compared to the control group. In summary, Myo-Ins supplementation during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine embryos by mitigating the oxidative stress.
Funding Source: This work was supported by the NRF (2020R1A2C2008276, 2021R1C1C2013954), MOTIE (20023068), and MAFRA (RS-2024-00398561, RS-2024-00399475), Republic of Korea.
