Introduction

 Allicin has strong antioxidant activity and considered to represent anti-aging effect in vitro. This study examined the effects of allicin treatment on aged porcine oocytes and their in vitro development.

Materials & Methods

 Porcine oocytes were maturated in vitro for 44 h (Control), 44+24 h and 44+24 h with 0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μM allicin (0 AL, 0.1 AL, 1 AL, 10 AL and 100 AL). We investigated the effects of appropriate concentration of allicin on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation and the developmental capacity of aged porcine oocytes.

Results and Discussion

 The 1 AL significantly increased on maturation rate and normal spindle formation rate compared to Control and 0 AL. The mRNA expression of cytoplasm maturation marker genes (MOS, BMP15, GDF9 and CCNB1) in 1 AL was higher than Control and 0 AL. Allicin enhanced the rearrangement of abnormal spindle in aged oocytes. Parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos development in 1 AL were significantly increased compared to others. Allicin treatment on aged oocytes improved their poor developmental capacity by rearranging the cytoskeleton. Thus, the allicin is effective agent to prevent the poor developmental competence of porcine oocytes.