MOLECULAR STUDIES ON OOCYTE MATURATION IN EGYPTIAN BUFFALO USING DIFFERENT MEDIA

Abstract

This study was conducted during the period from 2013 to 2017 at Cairo University research park (CURP) faculty of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt.to determine the role of 9-Cis retinoic acid during in vitro maturation/fertilization on oocytes in Egyptian buffalo. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of adding 9-cisRA with different concentrations to the maturation media on development (Maturation and cleavage rates) and quality (Gene expression, mitochondrial activity and ROS level) of buffalo oocytes.

1. Maturation and cleavage rates of buffaloes oocytes matured in 9-cis retinoic acid. 2. Expression level of genes selected responsible for oocyte quality (GDF9 – BMP15) using RT-qPCR. 3. Expression level of antioxidant-related genes (PRDX1, SOD1, CAT, HOMX1, and GPX4) using RT-qPCR. 4. Mitochondrial activity. 5. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results could be summarized as follows: 1. Maturation and cleavage rates of buffaloes oocytes matured in 9- cis retinoic acid A total number of (460) Egyptian buffalo oocytes were collected from ovaries from a nearly local slaughterhouse, collected oocytes were classified into Grade A and Grade B, For in vitro maturation, only COCs surrounded by at least three layers of compact cumulus cells and