Resveratrol improves in vitro maturation of oocytes in aged mice and humans.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of resveratrol on oocyte maturation in aged mice and humans.

DESIGN: Experimental laboratory study.

SETTING: University-based reproductive medicine center.

PATIENT(S): A total of 64 women 38-45 years of age undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and 48-52-week-old female C57BL/6J mice.

INTERVENTION(S): In vitro culture in the presence of three different concentrations of resveratrol (0.1, 1.0, and 10 μm) or dimethylsulfoxide.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Parameters of oocyte nuclear maturation, fertilization, immunofluorescence intensity of mitochondria, and normal morphology of spindle and chromosome of oocytes undergoing in vitro maturation (IVM) in aged mice and humans; blastocyst formation and levels of SRIT1, CAT, SOD1, and GPX4 gene expressions in aged mice.

RESULT(S): Resveratrol at 1.0 μm significantly increased first polar body emission rate in oocytes derived from aged mice and humans, and an increased percentage of fertilization and blastocyst formation was observed in aged mice. In addition, immunofluorescence intensity of mitochondria and normal morphology of spindle and chromosome of oocytes undergoing IVM were notably improved compared with control samples in aged mice and human. Furthermore, the use of resveratrol exhibited enhanced expression patterns of SRIT1, CAT, SOD1, and GPX4 in aged mice.

CONCLUSION(S): Resveratrol induced oocyte maturation and blastocyst formation in aged mice, and improved oocyte maturation and quality was examined in aged humans. In conclusion, 1.0 μm resveratrol was the appropriate concentration in IVM medium.