Abstract
Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger. However, the effect of Mito-TEMPO on porcine embryo development, to our knowledge, has not been studied yet. In the present study, porcine embryos were classified into two groups (G1 and G2) based on the cytoplasm lipid contents at the zygote stage. The development of blastocysts derived from G2 zygotes was reduced (G2:16.2 ± 7.9% vs G1: 26.5 ± 5.9%; 1.6-fold, p < 0.05) compared to those from G1 zygotes. In G2 embryos, the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was also higher than that of G1 embryos. Superoxide in G2 embryos was significantly increased compared to that in G1 embryos. Mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production were lower in G2 embryos than in G1 embryos. Phosphorylation of Drp1 at Ser 616 increased in G1 embryos during the cleavage stages compared to that in the zygote but was not significantly different in G2 embryos. Then, the effects of Mito-TEMPO were investigated in G2 embryos. Blastocyst formation rate (G2: 19.1 ± 5.1% vs G2 + Mito-TEMPO: 28.8 ± 4.0%; 1.5-fold, p < 0.05) and mitochondrial aggregation were recovered after superoxide reduction by Mito-TEMPO treatment. Thus, we showed that Mito-TEMPO improves blastocyst development by superoxide reduction in porcine embryos in vitro.
Highlights
Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger
Embryos of G1 and G2 groups were classified based on the cytoplasm lipid contents at the zygote stage, and embryos developed from two groups showed the different developmental potential until blastocyst stage
We investigated if Mito-TEMPO, a mitochondrial superoxide scavenger, improves the quality and developmental competence of blastocysts by regulating mitochondrial functions in the porcine embryo
Summary
Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger. the effect of MitoTEMPO on porcine embryo development, to our knowledge, has not been studied yet. We showed that Mito-TEMPO improves blastocyst development by superoxide reduction in porcine embryos in vitro. In porcine oocytes and/or embryos, a high level of ATP production in the cytoplasm is necessary for oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryo development in vivo and in vitro[1]. During ATP production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals are generated by oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria[5]. This production of ROS is linked to oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development in pigs[6]. Severe oxidative stress resulting from increasing ROS is known to induce mitochondrial fission that elicits mitochondria’s dynamic response[12], aggregation[13] and dysfunctions[14]. The effects of Mito-TEMPO on porcine embryo development has not been investigated yet
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