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.