We aimed to elucidate the effects of PGE2 and PGF2α on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. First, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in the media supplemented with or without PGE2, PGF2α, or PGE2 plus PGF2α for the final 24, 12, or 6 h of culture. Then, the cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in the absence or presence of a PG endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) enzyme inhibitor (NS398) supplemented with PGE2, PGF2α, or PGE2 plus PGF2α. Finally, the expression of genes associated with PGs activity in cumulus cells (PTGS2, PG E-synthase-1 [PTGES1], and aldo-keto reductase 1 [AKR1B1]) or oocytes (receptors for PGE2 [PTGER2] and PGF2α [PTGFR]) of different competencies was quantified. Supplementation of the IVM medium with PGs did not improve in vitro embryo production or embryo quality (P > 0.05). During maturation, the relative abundance of PTGS2 transcripts increased (P < 0.05) only in the less-competent group, whereas those of PTGES1 increased in the less-competent and in the more-competent groups. Conversely, AKR1B1 expression decreased only in the less-competent group (P < 0.05). Receptors for the PGE2 and PGF2α genes were very low or undetectable in oocytes. In conclusion, PGE2 and PGF2α are not recommended for media supplementation during maturation because they have no effect on embryo development. Although genes related to PGs activity are differentially expressed in cumulus cells of cumulus-oocyte complexes of different competence during maturation, the expression of PGE2 and PGF2α receptor genes was either not detectable or was detected at low levels in oocytes.

我们旨在阐明PGE2和PGF2α对牛卵母细胞体外成熟（IVM）的影响。首先，卵卵母细胞复合物在补充或不补充PGE2，PGF2α或PGE2加PGF2α的培养基中成熟，最后培养24、12或6 h。然后，在不存在或存在补充有PGE2，PGF2α或PGE2加PGF2α的PG内过氧化物合酶2（PTGS2）酶抑制剂（NS398）的条件下，卵丘卵母细胞复合物成熟。最后，在卵丘细胞（PTGS2，PG E-合酶-1 [PTGES1]和醛基酮还原酶1 [AKR1B1]）或卵母细胞（PGE2 [PTGER2]和PGF2α[PTGFR]的受体）中与PGs活性相关的基因的表达）量化了不同能力。用PGs补充IVM培养基不能改善体外胚胎的产生或胚胎的质量（P> 0.05）。在成熟过程中，仅在能力较弱的组中PTGS2转录本的相对丰度增加（P <0.05），而在能力较弱的组中和PTGES1的相对丰度增加。相反，AKR1B1表达仅在能力较弱的组中降低（P<0.05）。PGE2和PGF2α基因的受体在卵母细胞中非常低或无法检测到。总之，不建议在成熟过程中补充PGE2和PGF2α，因为它们对胚胎发育没有影响。尽管与PGs活性有关的基因在成熟过程中在不同能力的卵-卵母细胞复合体的卵细胞中差异表达，但是在卵母细胞中PGE2和PGF2α受体基因的表达要么检测不到，要么检测到水平低。