The effect of copper supplementation on in vitro maturation of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes and subsequent developmental competence after parthenogenetic activation.

Copper (Cu) ions have redox activity and act as cofactors of enzymes related to respiration, radical detoxification, and iron metabolism. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of copper (II) chloride dihydrate (CuCl2·2H2O) on porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent embryonic development following parthenogenetic activation (PA). Nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, cumulus expansion, the mRNA expression levels of various genes, and developmental competence were analyzed. During IVM, the maturation medium was supplemented with various concentrations of Cu (0, 0.7, 1.4, and 2.8 μg/mL). After 42 h of IVM, Cu supplementation significantly increased the number of oocytes in the metaphase II stage. Further, the 1.4 μg/mL Cu group showed significantly higher intracellular GSH levels than the control group. However, Cu supplementation increased intracellular ROS levels regardless of their concentration. Additionally, the mRNA levels of Has-2, the cumulus cell expansion-related gene, were higher in all the Cu-treated groups than in the control group. The cumulus cell expansion index was higher in the 0.7 and 1.4 μg/mL Cu groups than in the other groups. In the 0.7 μg/mL Cu group, the mRNA expression levels of PCNA, Zar1, and NPM2, which are related to developmental competence, were significantly higher than those in the control group. Moreover, increased levels of Sod1 transcript, correlated with the antioxidative response, were observed in the 0.7 and 1.4 μg/mL Cu groups. The apoptosis rate in Cu-treated cumulus cells and oocytes was decreased compared to that in the corresponding control groups. Upon evaluation of subsequent embryonic development after PA, the 0.7 μg/mL Cu group showed significantly improved cleavage and blastocyst formation rate compared to the control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that Cu supplementation at appropriate concentrations in IVM medium improves porcine oocyte maturation and the subsequent embryonic potential of PA embryos by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.