Regulation of embryonic development and apoptotic-related gene expression by brain-derived neurotrophic factor in two different culture conditions in ovine

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is a member of neurotrophic factor family on developmental competence of oocytes in sheep. In vitro maturation was performed in presence of various concentrations (0, 10, and 100 ng/mL) of BDNF. Meiotic maturation, levels of intracellular glutathione, embryonic developmental potential after parthenogenetic activation, number of total and apoptotic cells in blastocysts, and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in blastocyst cells were determined. Under unstressed condition, while at 100 ng/mL concentration, BDNF increased the IVM rate; an increase of glutathione level was observed at 10 ng/mL concentration. Moreover, when BDNF-treated oocytes were used for parthenogenetic activation, more blastocyst at both 10 and 100 ng/mL levels was obtained in comparison with the untreated group. Under heat stress (HS), the blastocyst rate was dramatically reduced in untreated oocytes compared to that obtained from 10 ng/mL BDNF groups. Total cell number in blastocysts was not affected by the treatment groups. The mean of Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive nuclei in blastocysts was not influenced by addition of BDNF in medium and that presence or absence of thermal stress during IVM than the control group. Moreover, our data revealed that the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in blastocysts was affected by both BDNF concentration and HS. Conclusively, supplementation of IVM medium with 10 ng/mL BDNF had a beneficial effect on sheep oocyte competence by increasing the rate of blastocyst especially when HS exists.