Response of porcine oocytes exposed to testosterone and substance P in vitro

Abstract

The overproduction of androgens during the course of foliculogenesis may lead to disturbances in ovulation – the main reason for the establishment of the pathological state known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Furthermore, recently attention has been drawn to the involvement of tachykinins such as substance P (SP) in this process. Apart from this, both in animals and women, the above factors may impair oocyte development. Taking into account the aforementioned data we sought to find and compare the response of isolated porcine oocytes to different doses of testosterone (T) and SP with the goal of clarifying their effect on oocyte growth and meiosis progress. In our experimental approach porcine oocytes were exposed to these factors for 4h, 20h or 44h of culture. The obtained results reveal that both T and SP inhibit growth of porcine oocytes, cumulus cell expansion and meiotic resumption in vitro. Our data show that the inhibitory effect of SP on porcine oocytes is far weaker than the impact of T.