Expression of TGFβ superfamily components and other markers of oocyte quality in oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue staining: relevance to early embryonic development.

ABSTRACT: Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) is a super-vital stain that has been used to select competent oocytes in different species. One objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between BCB staining, which correlates with an oocyte's developmental potential, and the transcript abundance for select TGFβ-superfamily components, SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5 phosphorylation levels, and oocyte (JY1) and cumulus-cell (CTSB, CTSK, CTSS, and CTSZ) transcript markers in bovine oocytes and/or adjacent cumulus cells. The capacity of exogenous follistatin or JY1 supplementation or cathepsin inhibitor treatment to enhance development of embryos derived from low-quality oocytes, based on BCB staining, was also determined. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from abattoir-derived ovaries were subjected to BCB

SUBMITTER: Ashry M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407812 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature