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. 2010 Aug;27(8):483-90.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-010-9430-7. Epub 2010 May 8.

Effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and in vitro development of preimplantation sheep embryos to the blastocyst stage

Rajesh Natarajan  1 , Madhira Bhawani Shankar, Deecaraman Munuswamy
Affiliations

Effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and in vitro development of preimplantation sheep embryos to the blastocyst stage

Rajesh Natarajan et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effects of α-tocopherol supplementation to oocyte maturation media and embryo culture media on the yield of ovine embryos.

Methods: α-tocopherol, at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 500 µM was supplemented to ovine oocyte or embryo culture media and cultured at 5% or 20% O(2) levels. Percentages of cleavage, morula and blastocyst, total cell count and comet assay were taken as indicators of developmental competence of embryos.

Results: 200 µM α-tocopherol in embryo culture medium at 20% O(2) level significantly increased the rates of cleavage (P < 0.05), morulae (P < 0.05) and blastocyst (P < 0.01) formation and blastocyst total cell number (P < 0.01) when compared with control. The rates of blastocyst formation were also significantly higher in 100 µM (P < 0.01) and 400 µM (P < 0.05) supplemented groups than control.

Conclusion: α-tocopherol supplementation may enhance the in vitro developmental competence of ovine embryos by protecting them from oxidative damage.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of α-tocopherol supplementation to Embryo Culture Medium at 20% oxygen levels on DNA damage in individual sheep embryos determined via comet assay
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