The Effect of Ubiquinone on Malondialdehyde Content of Mouse Preantral Follicles During in Vitro Culture

Background Oxidative stress is unavoidable during in vitro culture. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ubiquinone as a potent antioxidant on lipid peroxidation and development rate of mice in vitro cultured preantral follicles.
Materials & Methods Preantral follicles were isolated mechanically from 14- to 16-day-old mice (n=123) and divided into control (n=78) and ubiquinone treated groups (n=45). Preantral follicles were cultured in the presence or absence (control) of 50 µM ubiquinone. Ovulation was induced at 12th day. The rates of growth, survival, antrum formation, ovulation, and MII oocytes were evaluated. Separately, malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation was assessed at different time points of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Statistical analysis was performed by Independent t test through using SPSS.
Results The growth and survival rate of ubiquinone treated preantral follicles was significantly higher than those of the control group. The rates of antrum formation, ovulation, and MII oocytes in the presence of ubiquinone were significantly higher than those of the control group. Whereas, MDA levels of ubiquinone treated preantral follicles was significantly lower compared with that of the control group.
Conclusion Supplemented culture medium with ubiquinone improves the development of preantral follicles by reducing the lipid peroxidation.