Sonic Hedgehog promotes in vitro oocyte maturation and term development of embryos in Taiwan native goats

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Shh (Sonic Hedgehog) protein on caprine oocyte maturation, early embryo development, and developmental competence after embryo transfer of vitrified-thawed in vitro -produced embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from abattoir were randomly allocated to the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 μg mL −1 recombinant mouse Shh protein. After IVM, COCs were fertilized with frozen-thawed semen and the presumptive zygotes were cultured on goat oviduct epithelial monolayers in M199 medium for 9 days. Our results showed that supplementation of Shh (0.25 or 0.5 μg mL −1 ) enhanced oocyte maturation as compared with the control group (92.4% and 95.0% vs. 86.2%, P P −1 Shh compared with the control group (41.4 ± 12.9). Expressions of Shh , SMO and Gli1 were observed in the ovaries, granulosa cells, COCs, cumulus cells, oocytes and oviduct epithelia. Notably, Ptch1 was expressed in nearly all of the aforementioned tissues and cells except cumulus cells. The embryos exhibited a higher survival rates in the Shh-supplemented group (37.5%) compared to those without Shh supplementation (14.8%; P in vitro and in vivo , suggesting a functional existence of Shh signaling during the final stage of folliculogenesis and early embryogenesis in caprine.