Published date: Sep 03 2024

Journal Title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine

Issue title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM): Volume 22, Issue No. 7

Pages: 527–538

DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v22i7.16961

Raziye CheginiDepartment of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Morteza SadeghiHuman Genetic Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Sadegh ShirianDepartment of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

Fatemeh SabbaghziaraniCellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Ehsan AaliCellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Pouriya SoleimaniDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Mohammad Reza Ashtari MajelanCellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Fariba Zafarif.zafari@qums.ac.irCellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Shahram DarabiCellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.

Background: Melatonin and L-carnitine are free radical scavengers with antiapoptotic and antioxidant properties that improve oocyte development.

Objective: This study aimed to find the possible effect of combining 2 antioxidant agents of melatonin and L-carnitine on oocyte morphology, maturation, apoptosis, and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) genes in a mice model.

Materials and Methods: To overstimulation, 60 female NMRI mice were injected intraperitoneally using mare serum gonadotropin. On day 2 post-injection, 70 cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from each mouse. The collected oocytes randomly were then divided into 4 groups including, the control, melatonin, L-carnitine, and melatonin + L-carnitine groups. The morphology and maturation rate of the oocytes was evaluated using a light microscope. Apoptosis was identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and the expression of BMP-15 and growth and differentiation factor GDF-9 genes was also evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Oocyte diameter significantly was increased in combination treatment of L-carnitine and melatonin compared to other groups (p < 0.05). L-carnitine group showed the highest mean percentage of oocyte cytoplasmic pattern. Results of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling indicated that the lowest apoptosis rate belonged to the melatonin + L-carnitine group. Moreover, the combination groups showed the highest number of oocytes and maturation rate. The BMP-15 and GDF-9 genes were significantly upregulated in all treatment groups compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Our results suggested a combination of melatonin + L-carnitine administration as a more effective choice for in vitro promotion of oocyte maturation.

Key words: In vitro oocyte maturation, Melatonin, L-carnitine.

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