Melatonin protects bovine embryos from heat stress and oxygen tension and improves embryo production in vitro

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine melatonin"s ameliorating effects against heat stress and oxygen tension in developing bovine embryos in vitro. The oocytes were collected from ovaries obtained from a local abattoir, followed by in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture. During in vitro culture, embryos were exposed to 5% (Group I) and 20% (Group II) oxygen tension with 10-3, 10-6, and 10-9 molar (M) melatonin, along with the control group without melatonin (Group III). Compared to the control group, melatonin at 10-6 and 10-9 concentrations increased in vitro development rates and decreased caspase 3/7 activity at 5% and 20% oxygen tension (P0.05). In conclusion, melatonin prevents the adverse effects of heat stress and O2 tension on preimplantation bovine embryos in vitro.

Keywords

• dna integrity embryo
• heat stress
• melatonin
• oxygen concentration