The nitric oxide donor (+)-S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) is capable of inducing parthenogenetic activation in pig oocytes matured in vitro. However, quite a long exposure to the nitric oxide donor, exceeding 10 h, is necessary for successful oocyte activation. Repeated short-term treatment with 2 mm SNAP significantly increased the activation rates despite the fact that the overall exposure time to the nitric oxide donor did not exceed 4 h. With regard to the activation rate, 12 repeated treatments lasting 10 min each were found to be the most efficient regimen (63.3%). The continuous exposure to the nitric oxide donor for the same overall time induced parthenogenetic activation in 12.5% oocytes (2-h continuous treatment with 2 mm SNAP). The development of parthenogenetic embryos increased after repeated short-term treatment with SNAP. After continuous treatment with 2 mm SNAP for 10 h, only 6.7% of the oocytes cleaved, and none developed beyond the 4-cell stage. Thirty-minute treatment repeated four times with 2 mm SNAP induced cleavage in 37.5% of the oocytes, 18.3% developed to the morula stage, and 6.7% reached the blastocyst stage. Based on the results, it is concluded that pulsatile treatment can significantly improve parthenogenetic activation rate when compared with the continuous treatment using nitric oxide donors.

Research Institute of Animal Production Prátelství Czech Republic

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Gasotransmitters in Gametogenesis and Early Development: Holy Trinity for Assisted Reproductive Technology-A Review