article · Zygote
Carvacrol is a phenolic substance recognised for its antioxidant properties across various cell types, making it a candidate supplement for female germ cells and embryo culture. An investigation tested the effects of adding carvacrol to maturation media for bovine oocytes at concentrations of 3, 12.5, and 25 micromolar compared to an unsupplemented control. Analysis of the spent maturation media confirmed that all carvacrol treatments significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity compared to the control. Subsequent in vitro fertilisation showed that overall blastocyst production rates on days 7 and 10 were unaffected by the additive. However, embryo quality was altered, as the total cell count per blastocyst decreased significantly in groups treated with 3 and 25 micromolar concentrations. While carvacrol demonstrates robust antioxidant potential during maturation, the observed reduction in embryo cell counts indicates that lower concentrations must be tested to establish safe, beneficial dosing.
In vitro embryo production in cattle often faces oxidative stress, which harms egg and embryo development. Identifying natural antioxidants that safeguard germ cells without inducing negative side effects is vital. This research demonstrates that whilst carvacrol boosts antioxidant capacity in the culture environment, it can impair embryo quality at tested levels, highlighting the critical need for precise dosing.
This research is at an early experimental stage and is relevant to developers of animal assisted reproduction media and livestock breeding laboratories. Although carvacrol shows strong antioxidant activity, the reduction in blastocyst cell numbers indicates it cannot currently be integrated into commercial media formulations. Further testing at lower concentrations is required before any commercial application pathway can be realised.
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Summary Carvacrol (C 10 H 14 O), an efficient phenolic antioxidant substance for several cell types, may become a useful antioxidant for female germ cells and embryo culture. This study investigates the effects of carvacrol supplementation on bovine oocytes in in vitro maturation (IVM) and embryo production. In total, 1222 cumulus–oocyte complexes were cultured in TCM-199 + alone (control treatment) or supplemented with carvacrol at the concentrations of 3 µM (Carv-3), 12.5 µM (Carv-12.5), or 25 µM (Carv-25). After IVM, the oocytes were subjected to in vitro fertilization and embryo production, and the spent medium post-IVM was used for evaluating the levels of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiozoline-6-sulphonic acid quantification). A greater ( P < 0.05) antioxidant potential was observed in the spent medium of all carvacrol-treated groups compared with the control medium. Moreover, the addition of carvacrol to the maturation medium did not affect ( P > 0.05) blastocyst production on days 7 and 10 of culture; however, the total number of cells per blastocyst was reduced ( P < 0.05) in two carvacrol-treated groups (Carv-3 and Carv-25). In conclusion, carvacrol demonstrated a high antioxidant capacity in the spent medium after oocyte maturation; however, although embryo production was not affected, in general, carvacrol addition to IVM medium reduced the total number of cells per blastocyst. Therefore, due to the high antioxidant capacity of carvacrol, new experiments are warranted to investigate the beneficial effects of lower concentrations of carvacrol on embryo production in cattle and other species.
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DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000673
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