Kaempferol alleviates the reduction of developmental competence during aging of porcine oocytes

Kaempferol (KAE) is a natural flavonoid present in different plant species and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer therapeutic properties. In the present study, we investigated the influence and underlying mechanisms of KAE supplementation on porcine oocytes during in vitro aging. The results show that KAE treatment can alleviate the aging-related reduction of developmental competence. We observed that the blastocyst production rate in aged oocytes treated with 0.1 mu M KAE was significantly higher than in untreated aging oocytes (36.78 +/- 0.86% vs. 27.55 +/- 2.60%, respectively, p < .05). The KAE-treated aging oocytes had significantly reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (p < .05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of the embryonic pluripotency-related genes Oct4, NANOG, and ITGA5 were significantly increased in blastocysts derived from KAE-treated oocytes (p < .05). During excessive oocyte culture, KAE treatment maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced apoptosis; however, this was not observed in untreated aging oocytes. In conclusion, our results suggest that KAE treatment can alleviate the aging of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function.