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Expression profile of viability and stress response genes as a result of resveratrol supplementation in vitrified and in vitro produced cattle embryos

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Abstract

Background

Resveratrol, a potent antioxidant, is known to induce the up-regulation of the internal antioxidant system. Therefore, it holds promise as a method to mitigate cryopreservation-induced injuries in bovine oocytes and embryos. This study aimed to (i) assess the enhancement in the quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos following resveratrol supplementation and (ii) monitor changes in the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress (GPX4, SOD, CPT2, NFE2L2), mitochondrial function (ATP5ME), endoplasmic reticulum function (ATF6), and embryo quality (OCT4, DNMT1, CASP3, ELOVL5).

Methods and results

Three groups of in vitro bovine embryos were cultured with varying concentrations of resveratrol (0.01, 0.001, and 0.0001 µM), with a fourth group serving as a control. Following the vitrification process, embryos were categorized as either good or poor quality. Blastocysts were then preserved at − 80 °C for RNA isolation, followed by qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes. The low concentrations of resveratrol (0.001 µM, P < 0.05 and 0.0001 µM, P < 0.01) significantly improved the blastocyst rate compared to the control group. Moreover, the proportion of good quality vitrified embryos increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the groups treated with 0.001 and 0.0001 µM resveratrol compared to the control group. Analysis of gene expression showed a significant increase in OCT4 and DNMT1 transcripts in both good and poor-quality embryos treated with resveratrol compared to untreated embryos. Additionally, CASP3 expression was decreased in treated good embryos compared to control embryos. Furthermore, ELOVL5 and ATF6 transcripts were down-regulated in treated good embryos compared to the control group. Regarding antioxidant-related genes, GPX4, SOD, and CPT2 transcripts increased in the treated embryos, while NFE2L2 mRNA decreased in treated good embryos compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Resveratrol supplementation at low concentrations effectively mitigated oxidative stress and enhanced the cryotolerance of embryos by modulating the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress response.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Research Centre, Egypt, for funding this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Reproduction and A.I, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    Yasser H.A. Saber, Sally Ibrahim, Karima Gh. M. Mahmoud & Wahid M. Ahmed

  2. Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Refaat S.A. Ragab & Adel A.M. Seida

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  1. Yasser H.A. Saber
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  2. Sally Ibrahim
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  3. Karima Gh. M. Mahmoud
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  4. Wahid M. Ahmed
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  5. Refaat S.A. Ragab
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  6. Adel A.M. Seida
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Contributions

YHAS and SI contributed to the study design, methodology, analyses, interpretation of results and writing. KGhMM and WMA participated in study design and revision. AAS and RSAR contributed to experimental design, interpretation of results and manuscript revision.

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Correspondence to Yasser H.A. Saber.

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No approval of research ethics committees was required because experimental work was conducted with ovaries from slaughterhouse.

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Saber, Y.H., Ibrahim, S., Mahmoud, K.G.M. et al. Expression profile of viability and stress response genes as a result of resveratrol supplementation in vitrified and in vitro produced cattle embryos. Mol Biol Rep 51, 692 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09614-2

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