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BIBTEX RIS

Supplementation of bovine embryo culture medium with L ‐arginine improves embryo quality via nitric oxide production

2014; Wiley; Volume: 81; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/mrd.22387

1098-2795

Priscila Di Paula Bessa Santana, Thiago Velasco Guimarães Silva, Nathália Nogueira da Costa, Bruno Baraúna da Silva, Timothy Frederick Carter, Marcela da Silva Cordeiro, Bruno José Martins da Silva, Simone do Socorro Damasceno Santos, Anderson Manoel Herculano, P. R. Adona, O. M. Ohashi, Moysés dos Santos Miranda,

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy

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.