Quercetin improves the in vitro development of porcine oocytes by decreasing reactive oxygen species levels.
- Author:
Jung Taek KANG
1
;
Dae Kee KWON
;
Sol Ji PARK
;
Su Jin KIM
;
Joon Ho MOON
;
Ok Jae KOO
;
Goo JANG
;
Byeong Chun LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: antioxidant; porcine oocyte; quercetin
- MeSH: Animals; Antioxidants/administration & dosage/*pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques/*veterinary; Oocytes/cytology/*drug effects/physiology; Quercetin/administration & dosage/*pharmacology; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism; *Swine
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science 2013;14(1):15-20
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits or vegetables that has antioxidant properties and acts as a free radical scavenger. We investigated the effects of quercetin on porcine oocyte nuclear maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation. We then evaluated the antioxidant activities of quercetin by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in matured oocytes. Immature oocytes were untreated or treated with 1, 10, and 50 microg/mL quercetin during in vitro maturation (IVM). Quercetin treatment did not improve oocyte nuclear maturation, but significantly higher blastocyst rates (p < 0.05) of parthenogenetically activated oocytes were achieved when the IVM medium was supplemented with an adequate concentration of quercetin (1 microg/mL). However, cleavage rates and blastocyst cell numbers were not affected. Oocytes treated with 1 or 10 microg/mL quercetin had significantly lower (p < 0.05) levels of ROS than the control and group treated with the highest concentration of quercetin (50 microg/mL). Moreover, this highest concentration was detrimental to oocyte nuclear maturation and blastocyst formation. Based on our findings, we concluded that exogenous quercetin reduces ROS levels during oocyte maturation and is beneficial for subsequent embryo development.
