1. 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
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
a±5.58
30.27a ± 5.22
Transplant 12
40.00 ±
15.00b ±
10.00b± 5.00
0.00b ± 0.00
Saline 10
33.80 ±
11.11b ±
9.00 b± 0.00 LC 17
63.33 ±
12.34b±1 4.01
10.33b ±
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:
2- Atilla, K., A. Coker and O. Sagol (2002). Protective effects of carnitine in an experimental ischemia- reperfusion injury. Clin Nutr, 21:
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.