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Astaxanthin ameliorates heat stress-induced impairment of blastocyst development In Vitro: –astaxanthin colocalization with and action on mitochondria–

  • Embryo Biology
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The effects of astaxanthin (Ax) on the in vitro development of bovine embryos cultured under heat stress were investigated in combination with the assessment of its cellular accumulation and action on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm).

Methods

Bovine ≥8-cell embryos were collected on day 3 after in vitro fertilization and exposed to single (day 4) or repeated (day 4 and 5) heat stress (10 h/day at 40.5 °C). Ax was added into culture medium under the repeated heat stress and blastocyst development was evaluated. The cellular uptake of Ax in embryos was examined using bright-field and confocal laser-scanning microscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The relationship between Ax and mitochondria localization was assessed using MitoTracker dye. The effects of Ax on ΔΨm were investigated using JC-1 dye.

Results

Blastocyst development in the repeated heat stress treatment decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with those in single heat stress or normal thermal treatment. The addition of Ax into culture medium did lead to a significant recovery in blastocyst development in the repeated heat-treated group. Ax was detected in cytoplasm of embryos and observed to colocalize with mitochondria. Ax recovered ΔΨm in embryos that was decreased by the heat treatment.

Conclusions

Ax ameliorated the heat stress-induced impairment of blastocyst development. Our results suggest that the direct action of Ax on mitochondrial activity via cellular uptake is a mechanism of the ameliorating effects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff at the second wholesale market of Kyoto City for providing bovine ovaries. We appreciate the donation of bull semen from the Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Kyoto University. This work was supported in part by ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 24658233.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    T. Kuroki, S. Ikeda, M. Sugimoto & S. Kume

  2. Animal Health Division, ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Tokyo, 163-0541, Japan

    T. Okada

  3. Division of Food Function and Chemistry, Research Institute for Production Development, Kyoto, 606-0805, Japan

    T. Maoka

  4. AstaReal Co., Ltd, Tokyo, 105-0011, Japan

    A. Kitamura

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  1. T. Kuroki
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  2. S. Ikeda
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  3. T. Okada
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  4. T. Maoka
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  5. A. Kitamura
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  6. M. Sugimoto
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  7. S. Kume
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Correspondence to S. Ikeda.

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Astaxanthin, mitochondria and heat-stressed embryo.

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Kuroki, T., Ikeda, S., Okada, T. et al. Astaxanthin ameliorates heat stress-induced impairment of blastocyst development In Vitro: –astaxanthin colocalization with and action on mitochondria–. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 623–631 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9987-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9987-z

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