Exposing bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes to aromatizable androgen restore serum-induced low estradiol production in vitro. Issue 4 (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bernuci, M.P.; Bulgareli, D.L.; Vireque, A.A.; Pitangui, C.P.; de Sa, M.F.S.; Rosa-e-Silva, A.C.J.S.
• Is Part Of: Zygote. Volume 22:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 496
• Page End: 499
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Embryology -- Periodicals; Zygotes -- Periodicals; Gametes -- Periodicals; 571.864
• DOI: 10.1017/S0967199413000312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-1994

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Summary</title> <p>We aimed in this study to assess whether serum-decreased bovine cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) steroidogenesis during <italic>in vitro</italic> maturation (IVM) is caused by deficient androgen milieu. For this approach, bovine COCs were cultured in serum-supplemented IVM medium in the presence or absence of 1 μM androstenedione. After 24 h of culture, medium was collected and analyzed for its content of estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4). Medium E2 content markedly increased after incubation of COCs with androstenedione (17.52 ± 1.86 ng/ml to the androgen group; 0.32 ± 0.05 ng/ml to the non-androgen group). No significant difference in the P4 content was detected despite the presence of androstenedione (21.83 ± 1.61 ng/ml to the androgen group; 21.73 ± 1.67 ng/ml to the non-androgen group). Our data provide compelling evidence that bovine COCs steroidogenesis remains functional during culture in serum-supplemented medium and suggest that serum-induced decreased COCs estradiol secretion is caused by deficiency of an aromatizable androgen source.</p> </abstract>