Effects of β-mercaptoethanol on in vitro maturation and glutathione level of buffalo oocytes

AIM: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) on in vitro maturation rate and glutathione (GSH) level of buffalo oocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oocytes were recovered from buffalo’s ovaries collected from government approved slaughter house (near Kamela darwaza, Surat) of Surat Municipal Corporation. The obtained oocytes were in vitro matured in maturation media supplemented with 0 μM (117 oocytes), 100 μM (46 oocytes) and 200 μM (42 oocytes) concentration of β-ME. After 24 h of incubation, maturation rate of oocytes and intra-cellular GSH level were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that the presence of β-ME did not influence (p>0.05) the oocyte maturation rate. However, GSH level increased significantly (p<0.05) in matured oocytes when supplemented with 100 μM and 200 μM β-ME (6.19±0.10 and 6.37±0.20 pmol/oocyte) as compared to control media (4.68±0.26 pmol/oocyte). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that β-ME may have a potential to increase the meiotic maturation of in vitro cultured oocytes and protect it from oxidative damage.