Melatonin decreases excessive polyspermy for single oocyte in pigs through the MT2 receptor

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 23153 - 9
• Main Authors: Sun, Jing-Tao, Liu, Jia-Hui, Zhao, Lu, Chen, Hang-Yu, Wang, Ren-Fei, Li, Yong-Jia, Weng, Xiao-Gang, Liu, Zhong-Hua, Shen, Qian, Zhang, Bao-Xiu, Jin, Jun-Xue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05.10.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/136/1455; 631/136/2086; Animals; Blastocyst - drug effects; Blastocyst - metabolism; Diploids; Embryogenesis; Embryonic Development - drug effects; Embryonic growth stage; Endoplasmic reticulum; Female; Fertilization - drug effects; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Golgi apparatus; Humanities and Social Sciences; In vitro fertilization; In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques - methods; Maturation; Melatonin; Melatonin - pharmacology; multidisciplinary; Normal distribution; Oocyte; Oocytes; Oocytes - drug effects; Oocytes - metabolism; Organelles; Pig; Polyspermy; Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 - genetics; Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Statistical analysis; Supplements; Swine; Tryptamines - pharmacology; Melatonin; Polyspermy; Organelles; Oocyte; Pig
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74969-2

Melatonin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) improves porcine oocyte maturation and embryonic development by exerting antioxidative effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which melatonin prevents polyspermy after in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of melatonin on cytoplasmic maturation and the incidence of polyspermic penetration in porcine oocytes. No statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of first polar body formation between the groups (Control, Melatonin, Melatonin + Luzindole, and Melatonin + 4-P-PDOT). Interestingly, melatonin supplementation significantly improved the cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes by enhancing the normal distribution of organelles (Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) and upregulating organelle-related gene expressions ( P  < 0.05). However, these promotional effects were counteracted by melatonin antagonists, suggesting that melatonin enhances cytoplasmic maturation through its receptors in porcine oocytes. Melatonin supplementation also significantly improved the rate of diploid and blastocyst formation after IVF by promoting the normal distribution of cortical granules ( P  < 0.05). In conclusion, melatonin supplementation during in vitro maturation of porcine oocyte improves fertilization efficiency and embryonic developmental competence by enhancing cytoplasmic maturation.