Expression of cumulus-oocyte complex genes and embryonic development in goats subjected to progestogen-based estrus synchronization

The objective was to investigate the effect of short-term (7 days) and long-term (14 days) progesterone-based estrus synchronization on number of follicles, progesterone concentrations, cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) gene expression, and embryonic development in goats. Nulliparous Thai-native goats (n = 45) were randomly assigned to one of two estrus synchronization treatments. Goats were treated with intravaginal sponges containing 60-mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP; Synchrogest esponjas, Spain) during 7 or 14 days (short-term or long-term protocol, respectively). Multiple follicular development was induced by intramuscularly injections of 300-IU eCG in both groups (1 day before sponge withdrawal). An ovariectomy was performed at 24 hours after sponge removal to evaluate number of follicle and collect oocyte for IVF. Oocyte quality (healthy or nonhealthy) was determined by morphology of COCs before IVM. Recovery of COCs and total cellular RNA isolation were applied to determine apoptosis-related gene expression. After IVF, embryos were evaluated during the eight-day culture as numbers of cleaved oocyte, morula, and blastocyst embryo. Total numbers of follicles and oocytes were similar for both treatments. Plasma progesterone concentrations were not different during MAP insertion period (P > 0.05). However, goats that received the short-term protocol had a greater number of 4 to 6-mm follicle, healthy oocytes, cleaved oocytes, and morula embryos than goats that received the long-term protocol (P < 0.01). In addition, the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 messenger RNA was greater (P < 0.05) in COCs derived from the 7 days MAP-treated when compared to the 14 days MAP-treated goats. These data highlight that the 7-day progestin-based treatment may contribute to quality of oocytes and embryonic development in goats.