Results
Title

Aging Model in Pig Oocytes as Viewed Through DNA Epigenetic Modification.

Authors

Arena, Haley A.; Sprungl, Kimberly; Reynolds, Skyla; Whitaker, Brian D.

Abstract

Oocytes of older animals are less likely to be fertilized during the optimal time window post ovulation, resulting in the potential diminished fertilization and embryonic development success. The activity of the epigenetic modifications during this period is a possible target to reverse these damaging effects of aging. The objective of this study was to study the effects of aging during in vitro oocyte maturation in pigs on epigenetic modifications. Oocytes (n = 54) were matured with or without Trichostatin A (TSA; 100 ng/mL), a known meiotic inhibitor, for 24 h, then for an additional 16 h without TSA or hormones for a total of 40 h. At the end of maturation, oocytes were denuded and their zona pellucida's removed. Oocytes were stained with anti-5-methylcytosine (5mC, 1:500). Fluorescent images of the oocytes were acquired, images were analyzed using ImageJ, and data analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test. Oocytes matured with TSA had significantly greater (P < 0.05) levels of DNA methylation by the end of in vitro maturation compared to those not supplemented with TSA These results suggest that TSA can be used to develop an in vitro model to study the effects of epigenetic modifications in oocytes from aged livestock.

Subjects

ZONA pellucida; OVULATION; TUKEY'S test; AGING; EPIGENETICS; EMBRYOLOGY

Publication

Journal of Animal Science, 2021, Vol 99, p108

ISSN

0021-8812

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1093/jas/skab054.177