Fatemeh Shahi Sadrabadi¹٭, Dr. Hussein Eimani ² Effects of L-Carnitine on In Vitro Maturation and Developmental Potential of Oocytes Obtained from Transplanted Mouse Ovarian Tissues Fatemeh Shahi Sadrabadi¹٭, Dr. Hussein Eimani ² Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Tehran, Iran *Biology_pnu@yahoo.com Objectives Table 2: Comparison of in vitro fertilization rate between groups Ovarian tissue transplantation is an emerging technology for fertility preservation (1). In addition, in vitro maturation of oocytes retrieved from grafted ovaries may overcome the fertility defects in some cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of using L- Carnitine (LC) as an antioxidant (2,3) to improve developmental potential of oocytes obtained from grafted ovarian tissues Group Total 2PN (%) Control 80 75.60a±4.61 Transplant 25 38.33b±3.80 Saline 24 41.66b±9.87 LC 34 42.3b±3.21 Methods 2PN: Two pronucleous. Values within the same column with different superscripts (a, b) are significantly different (P<0.05). NMRI mice were divided into four groups: Control (non-grafted), Transplant (autograft without treatment), Saline group ( autograft +saline), LC group (autograft+ LC), 6- weeks -old mice were ovariectomized and left ovaries were transplanted into the back muscle tissue. LC (150 mg/Kg) was injected intraperitoneally one day before surgical operation and repeated until one week after grafting. 3 weeks later, ovarian grafts were recovered and oocytes were harvested for in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro development (IVD). Table 3: In vitro development of embryos after IVF . Group Total 2 –cell (%) 4-cell (%) 8-cell (%) Morulla (%) Blastocy st (%) Control 57 95 ± 3.06 80.94a ± 3.55 72.33 a± 2.65 53.29 a±5.58 30.27a ± 5.22 Transplant 12 40.00 ± 14.52 15.00b ± 10.67 10.00b± 5.00 0.00b ± 0.00 Saline 10 33.80 ± 16.66 11.11b ± 11.11 9.00 b± 0.00 LC 17 63.33 ± 11.05 12.34b±1 4.01 10.33b ± 13.15 1.33b ±13.19 Results Our results indicated that the number of retrieved immature oocytes as well as successful IVM, IVF and IVD in transplanted groups was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). All transplanted ovaries contained some oocytes that survived following IVM, IVF and IVD, and no significant difference was seen between grafted groups. Values within the same column with different superscripts (a, b) are significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusions Table 1: Oocyte development after in vitro maturation Group Total GV % GVBD% MII % Control 102 54.80a±2.81 38.37 a ±5.93 79.00 a ±9.41 Transplant 40 11.66b±4.15 10.60 b ±3.71 27.50 b ±3.62 Saline 41 13.83b±3.97 9.80 b ±4.17 19.66 b ±4.38 LC 51 14.35b±2.59 11.02 b ±3.21 34.02 b ±2.30 A B Our study demonstrates that L-Carnitine alone did nit show any negative effect on further development of oocytes. It seems that usage of LC in combination with a scaffold could improve autotransplantation results and more studies are needed in this area GV: Germinal vesicle, GVBD: Germinal vesicle breakdown, MII: Metaphase II. Values within the same column with different superscripts (a, b) are significantly different (P<0.05). References: 1- Gosden, R. G. (2008). Ovary and transplantation. Reproduction, 136: 671-680. 2- Atilla, K., A. Coker and O. Sagol (2002). Protective effects of carnitine in an experimental ischemia- reperfusion injury. Clin Nutr, 21: 309-313. 3- Zhang, Q., and et. al. (2015). Effects of L-carnitine on follicular survival and graft function following autotransplantation of cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissues. Cryobiology.