Increased in vitro production of bovine embryos resulting from oocyte maturation in the presence of triciribine, a specific inhibitor of AKT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of triciribine, a selective Akt inhibitor, on various aspects of oocyte maturation and on the IVF of bovine embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in medium supplemented with: 0 (control), 1, 5, 10, and 20 μM of triciribine. The nuclear maturation was assessed by staining with acetic orcein, while the cytoplasmic maturation was evaluated by mitochondrial (MitoTracker® Red CMXRos) and lipid droplets distribution (LipidTOX). COCs were fertilized in vitro and cultured for nine days. Cleavage rates, blastocyst production, and hatching rates were determined on days three, seven, and nine of in vitro culture, respectively. Oocytes from COCs treated with 1 μM of triciribine were stained at 3, 6, and 9 h of IVM to determine the inhibitor's involvement in germinal vesicle breakdown. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the data was performed and the means were compared using the SNK test at a 5 % significance level. Exposure of COCs to 1, 5, and 10 μM of triciribine did not alter the number of matured oocytes (P < 0.05), a concentration of 20 μM reduced the number of oocytes in MII with a consequent increase in oocytes in MI (P < 0.05). This concentration markedly reduced the number of oocytes with peripheral cortical granules and the rates of cleavage and blastocysts (P < 0.05). On the other hand, when COCs were matured in the presence of 1 μM, there was an increase in the blastocyst rate (P < 0.05), but without altering the timing of meiosis resumption (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the Akt pathway participates in the nuclear and cytoplasmic events of in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes, but through mechanisms that do not interfere with germinal vesicle breakdown. Modulation of Akt activity in bovine COCs during IVM with 1 μM of triciribine increases the in vitro production of bovine embryos.