Effect of cysteine supplementation on in vitro maturation of bovine oocyte

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the effect of cysteine supplement during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from abattoir ovaries were matured in vitro in Hepes-TCM 199 supplemented with 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, 1 μg/ml 17-β-estradiol, 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), 0.5 μg/ml bFSH and 0 (control) and 100 or 500 μM/ml of cysteine for 24 h. When COCs matured in TCM 199 media with 500 μM/ml cysteine, the rate of maturation were increased as compared to the control group (53.33 vs. 33.33%, respectively) (P<0.05). Also, the percentage of degenerated oocytes in the treatment groups was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05).

Key words: Bovine, cysteine, in vitro maturation (IVM), oocyte.