Non-frozen preservation protocols for mature mouse oocytes dramatically extend their developmental competence by reducing oxidative stress

The objective of this study was to test whether aging induces oxidative stress (OS) during oocyte preservation at different temperatures and whether the oocyte competence can be extended by antioxidant supplementation. The increase in activation susceptibility was efficiently prevented when oocytes were preserved at 37C for 9 h in HCZB medium with 10.27 mM pyruvate and 10 M -tocopherol, at 25C for 30 h with 20.27 mM pyruvate, and at 15C for 96 h and at 5C for 48 h with 10.27 mM pyruvate. Satisfactory blastocyst development was achieved after oocyte preservation at 37C for 9 h, at 25C for 30 h, at 15C for 48 h and at 5C for 24 h using the above protocols but with cysteamine/cystine supplementation. Transfer of blastocysts obtained from the above protocols showed no difference in pregnancy outcome between newly ovulated and preserved oocytes. Because oocytes preserved at 15C for 48 h were fertilized after a 6-h recovery culture, aging of ovulated mouse oocytes has been successfully prevented for 54 h. Assays for ROS and glutathione indicated that in vitro preservation caused marked OS in oocytes. In conclusion, marked OS was observed following in vitro preservation of mature oocytes at different temperatures. Whereas any protocol that reduced OS could inhibit activation susceptibility, only those protocols that decreased OS while increasing glutathione synthesis could sustain oocyte competence.