Effects of combination of melatonin and L-carnitine on in vitro maturation in mouse oocytes: An experimental study

Background: Melatonin and L-carnitine are free radical scavengers with antiapoptotic and antioxidant properties that improve oocyte development. Objective: This study aimed to find the possible effect of combining ۲ antioxidant agents of melatonin and L-carnitine on oocyte morphology, maturation, apoptosis, and expression of bone morphogenetic protein ۱۵ (BMP-۱۵) and growth differentiation factor ۹ (GDF-۹) genes in a mice model.  Materials and Methods: To overstimulation, ۶۰ female NMRI mice were injected intraperitoneally using mare serum gonadotropin. On day ۲ post-injection, ۷۰ cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from each mouse. The collected oocytes randomly were then divided into ۴ groups including, the control, melatonin, L-carnitine, melatonin + L-carnitine groups. The morphology and maturation rate of the oocytes was evaluated using a light microscope. Apoptosis was identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and the expression of BMP-۱۵ and growth and differentiation factor GDF-۹ genes was also evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Oocyte diameter significantly was increased in combination treatment of L-carnitine and melatonin compared to other groups (p < ۰.۰۵). L-carnitine group showed the highest mean percentage of oocyte cytoplasmic pattern. Results of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling indicated that the lowest apoptosis rate belonged to the melatonin + L-carnitine group. Moreover, the combination groups showed the highest number of oocytes and maturation rate. The BMP-۱۵ and GDF-۹ genes were significantly upregulated in all treatment groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results suggested a combination of melatonin + L-carnitine administration as a more effective choice for in vitro promotion of oocyte maturation.

Keywords:

In vitro oocyte maturation , Melatonin , L-carnitine. , بلوغ آمایشگاهی تخمک , ملاتونین , ال-کارنتین.