This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, E. Articles by Hwang, W. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, E. Articles by Hwang, W. S.

Beneficial effects of brain-derived neurotropic factor on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes

¹ SooAm Biotech Research Foundation, Sooambuilding 1027-4, Bangbae3-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-851, South Korea, ² Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea and ³ Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chunbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, South Korea

Correspondence should be addressed to W-S Hwang; Email: hwangws{at}sooam.org

In an effort to improve the quality of in vitro produced porcine embryos, we investigated the effect of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a neurotropin family member, on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. The expression of BDNF and truncated isoforms of its receptor, tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), and p75 common neurotropin receptor was detected in both follicular cells and metaphase-I stage oocytes by RT-PCR. However, mRNA of full-length TrkB was not found in oocytes although it was detected in follicular cells. The expression pattern of BDNF and TrkB was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Supplementation with BDNF (30 ng/ml) during IVM significantly (P < 0.05) increased the first polar body extrusion and glutathione levels in oocytes, whereas the effect of BDNF on nuclear maturation was diminished when gonadotropin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were added to the culture media. However, treatment with BDNF (30 ng/ml) along with EGF (10 ng/ml) in the presence of gonadotropin significantly (P < 0.05) increased the developmental competence of oocytes to the blastocyst stage after both in vitro fertilization (IVF; 29.1% when compared with control, 15.6%) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT; 13.6% when compared with control, 3%). This appeared to reflect a stimulatory interaction between BDNF and EGF to enhance the cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes to support successful preimplantation development. In conclusion, BDNFenhanced nuclearand cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes by autocrine and/or paracrine signals. Also, when used together with EGF, BDNF increased the developmental potency of embryos after IVF and SCNT, demonstrating an improved in vitro production protocol for porcine oocytes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R A Anderson, R Sciorio, H Kinnell, R A L Bayne, K J Thong, P A de Sousa, and S Pickering Cumulus gene expression as a predictor of human oocyte fertilisation, embryo development and competence to establish a pregnancy Reproduction, October 1, 2009; 138(4): 629 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kawamura, N. Kawamura, W. Sato, J. Fukuda, J. Kumagai, and T. Tanaka Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Promotes Implantation and Subsequent Placental Development by Stimulating Trophoblast Cell Growth and Survival Endocrinology, August 1, 2009; 150(8): 3774 - 3782. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]