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Transporting cumulus complexes using novel meiotic arresting conditions permits maintenance of oocyte developmental competence

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a novel bovine cumulus oocyte complex (COC) shipping media designed to arrest meiotic resumption during transport on meiotic arrest, as well as meiotic resumption, subsequent embryonic development, and embryo quality.

Methods

Bovine cumulus oocyte complexes were transported overnight from the collection facility to the laboratory. COCs were placed in control in vitro maturation (IVM) or in shipping arrest medium (SAM) containing multiple meiotic inhibitors, and then shipped to our laboratory. Upon arrival, meiotic status was assessed, control COCs were inseminated, and arrested COCs were matured and inseminated the next day. Embryonic development and quality were analyzed.

Results

When bovine COC arrived at the laboratory after overnight shipment (21 h) in SAM, the majority of oocytes remained at the GV stage (75.6 ± 2.9% GV). Arrested oocytes successfully resumed and completed meiosis during IVM after removal from SAM (96.8 ± 0.5% metaphase II compared to control 88.3 ± 5.0%). Moreover, the development of blastocysts per COC was not different from control (22.3 ± 2.4% for control and 18.7 ± 2.1% for SAM), nor was any difference detected in blastocyst quality as determined by cell number and allocation.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that a physiological system incorporating cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate modulators can be used to maintain meiotic arrest followed by successful nuclear maturation and pre-implantation embryo development equal to control IVM-derived embryos. Our results offer promising insights for the development of pre-IVM media that may improve oocyte developmental competence in vitro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Lone Tree, CO, USA

    Nicolas W. Santiquet, Jason R. Herrick, William B. Schoolcraft & Rebecca L. Krisher

  2. Desoto Biosciences, Seymour, TN, USA

    Angelica Giraldo

  3. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Jennifer P. Barfield

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  1. Nicolas W. Santiquet
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  2. Jason R. Herrick
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Correspondence to Nicolas W. Santiquet.

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Santiquet, N.W., Herrick, J.R., Giraldo, A. et al. Transporting cumulus complexes using novel meiotic arresting conditions permits maintenance of oocyte developmental competence. J Assist Reprod Genet 34, 1079–1086 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-0958-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-0958-7

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