cAMP modulation during sheep in vitro oocyte maturation delays progression of meiosis without affecting oocyte parthenogenetic developmental competence

Removal of oocytes from their natural inhibitory follicular environment results in spontaneous resumption of meiosis independent of normal signaling events that occur in vivo. Controlling the onset of meiotic resumption via maintenance of elevated oocyte cAMP levels with adenylyl cyclase (AC) activation and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition, and subsequent hormone stimulation with follicle FSH has been shown to dramatically improve developmental competence of bovine and murine IVM oocytes. This study evaluated the effect of cAMP modulation during IVM of sheep oocytes on meiotic progression and development to blastocyst after parthenogenetic activation. Changes in oocyte cAMP levels were quantified during the first 2 h of in vitro maturation in control or cAMP-modulating medium. No significant changes in intra-oocyte cAMP were observed under control conditions, though a slight and transient drop was noticed at 15 min of maturation. Addition of the AC stimulator Forskolin and the PDE inhibitors IBMX altered the cAMP profile, resulting in 10-fold elevation of cAMP by 15 min and sustained >3-fold elevated levels from 30 to 120 min. The effect of cAMP elevation on meiotic resumption was measured by completion of germinal vesicle breakdown. Modulated oocytes were significantly delayed when compared to control media oocytes. Also, progression to MII was significantly delayed in modulated versus control oocytes at 20 and 24 h, though no differences persisted to 28 h. Lastly, when control and modulated oocytes were parthenogenetically activated, no differences in blastocyst formation were observed. Thus, while cAMP modulation delayed meiotic progression, it did not improve developmental competence of sheep IVM oocytes.