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Growth hormone and in vitro maturation of rhesus macaque oocytes and subsequent embryo development

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to use a nonhuman primate model to examine the effects of growth hormone (GH) on oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM).

Methods

Immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of GH receptors in rhesus cumulus oocyte complexes and the cytoplasm of embryonic blastomeres. Recombinant human GH (r-hGH) was added to IVM medium and cumulus expansion, nuclear maturation, cytoplasmic maturation and embryo development were analyzed.

Results

Cumulus expansion was highest in the presence of 1 and 10 ng/ml r-hGH. The addition of r-hGH during IVM increased the percentage of embryos progressing to at least the 9–16 cell stage. In a separate study, 100 ng/ml r-hGH was supplemented to IVM and embryo culture medium and no effect was observed.

Conclusions

The presence of GH receptors along with increased cumulus expansion and embryos progressing to the 9–16 cell stage supports the hypothesis that r-hGH may be involved in oocyte maturation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dana Hill and Pei-Hsuan Hung for technical assistance. Part of this study was conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research Facilities Improvement Program Grants Numbers C06 RR17348-01 and C06 RR12088-01 from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.

Funding

National Institutes of Health (RR00169 and RR13439 to C.A.V.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Roads 98 and Hutchison, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Jenna K. Nyholt de Prada & Catherine A. VandeVoort

  2. Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Jenna K. Nyholt de Prada & Catherine A. VandeVoort

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Catherine A. VandeVoort

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  1. Jenna K. Nyholt de Prada
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  2. Catherine A. VandeVoort
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Correspondence to Catherine A. VandeVoort.

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Capsule

GH receptors are present on macaque COCs and r-hGH in IVM medium increased cumulus expansion and percentage of embryos progressing to the 9–16 cell stage.

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Nyholt de Prada, J.K., VandeVoort, C.A. Growth hormone and in vitro maturation of rhesus macaque oocytes and subsequent embryo development. J Assist Reprod Genet 25, 145–158 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9208-3

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