Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2. Maternofetal and Embryo Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor Branch, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
Abstract
Objective:
To investigate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on post-vitrification embryo development and gross morphology.
Methods:
Balb/c mouse embryos were cultured in potassium simplex optimised medium (KSOM) with varying CoQ10 concentrations [0 (control), 20, 40, and 60 μΜ]. The most effective CoQ10 concentration (40 μM) was selected for subsequent post-vitrification morphology study. Embryos were randomly divided into four groups: Group A (non-vitrified without CoQ10), Group B (non-vitrified with CoQ10), Group C (vitrified without CoQ10), and Group D (vitrified with CoQ10), followed by vitrification at the 8-cell stage. Survival rates and development until the blastocyst stage were evaluated through morphological examinations using ASEBIR's system, distinguishing normal and abnormal embryos.
Results:
Supplementation of 40 μM CoQ10 significantly increased blastocyst formation (95%) compared to the control group (92%), 20 μM (62%), and 60 μM (56%) (P<0.001). Following vitrification, Group D exhibited a significant increase in blastocyst formation (92%) compared to Group C (82%) (P<0.05). Morphological assessments indicated superior embryo quality in Group B over Group D during the cleavage stage, morula, and blastocyst (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
CoQ10 supplementation exhibits promising potential to enhance preimplantation embryo development, increase blastocyst formation rates, and improve embryo quality post-vitrification. This offers a promising approach to mitigate oxidative stress on embryos, potentially improving overall assisted reproductive technology outcomes.