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Exposing bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes to aromatizable androgen restore serum-induced low estradiol production in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2013

M.P. Bernuci*
Affiliation:
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
D.L. Bulgareli
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
A.A. Vireque
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
C.P. Pitangui
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
M.F.S. de Sa
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
A.C.J.S. Rosa-e-Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
*
All correspondence to: Marcelo Picinin Bernuci. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049–900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Tel: +55 16 3602 5110. Fax: +55 16 3602 2231. e-mail: mbernuci@usp.br

Summary

We aimed in this study to assess whether serum-decreased bovine cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) steroidogenesis during in vitro maturation (IVM) is caused by deficient androgen milieu. For this approach, bovine COCs were cultured in serum-supplemented IVM medium in the presence or absence of 1 μM androstenedione. After 24 h of culture, medium was collected and analyzed for its content of estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4). Medium E2 content markedly increased after incubation of COCs with androstenedione (17.52 ± 1.86 ng/ml to the androgen group; 0.32 ± 0.05 ng/ml to the non-androgen group). No significant difference in the P4 content was detected despite the presence of androstenedione (21.83 ± 1.61 ng/ml to the androgen group; 21.73 ± 1.67 ng/ml to the non-androgen group). Our data provide compelling evidence that bovine COCs steroidogenesis remains functional during culture in serum-supplemented medium and suggest that serum-induced decreased COCs estradiol secretion is caused by deficiency of an aromatizable androgen source.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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