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Effect of cumulin and super-GDF9 in standard and biphasic mouse IVM

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

In vitro maturation (IVM) is a technology that generates mature oocytes following culture of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) in vitro. IVM is characterized by minimal patient stimulation, making it attractive for certain patient groups. Recently, a biphasic IVM system, capacitation (CAPA)-IVM, has shown improved clinical outcomes relative to standard IVM; however, it remains less efficient than IVF. This study assessed whether supplementation of CAPA-IVM culture media with the novel TGFβ superfamily proteins cumulin and super-GDF9 improves subsequent mouse embryo development.

Methods

Immature mouse COCs were cultured by standard IVM or biphasic IVM ± cumulin or super-GDF9.

Results

Both cumulin and super-GDF9 in standard IVM significantly improved day-6 blastocyst rate (53.9% control, 73.6% cumulin, 70.4% super-GDF9; p = 0.006; n = 382–406 oocytes). Cumulin or super-GDF9 in CAPA-IVM did not alter embryo yield or blastocyst cell allocation in an unstimulated model. Moreover, cumulin did not alter these outcomes in a mild PMSG stimulation model. Cumulin in CAPA-IVM significantly increased cumulus cell expression of cumulus expansion genes (Ptgs2, Ptx3, Adamts1, Gfat2) and decreased Lhr expression relative to control. However, cumulin-induced mRNA expression of cumulus cell (Ptgs2, Ptx3) and oocyte genes (Gdf9, Bmp15, Oct4, Stella) in CAPA-IVM remained significantly lower than that of in vivo matured cells.

Conclusion

Cumulin did not provide an additional beneficial effect in biphasic IVM in terms of blastocyst yield and cell allocation; however in standard IVM, cumulin and super-GDF9 significantly improve oocyte developmental competence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Follicle Biology Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Nazli Akin, Anamaria-Cristina Herta, Katy Billooye, Johan Smitz & Ellen Anckaert

  2. Fertility & Research Centre, School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Dulama Richani, Xiuhua Liao, Yiqing Zhao & Robert B. Gilchrist

  3. Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Fuzhou, 350000, China

    Xiuhua Liao

  4. Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Yiqing Zhao

  5. Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    William A. Stocker & Craig A. Harrison

  6. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia

    William A. Stocker

  7. School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK

    David G. Mottershead

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  1. Nazli Akin
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  2. Dulama Richani
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  3. Xiuhua Liao
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Correspondence to Dulama Richani.

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Nazli Akin and Dulama Richani are joint first authors.

Ellen Anckaert and Robert B. Gilchrist are joint last authors.

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Akin, N., Richani, D., Liao, X. et al. Effect of cumulin and super-GDF9 in standard and biphasic mouse IVM. J Assist Reprod Genet 39, 127–140 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02382-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02382-z

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