Resveratrol from Red Grapes: An Useful Agent for Oocyte Maturation and Subsequent Embryonic Development

Oxidative stress caused from in vitro culture conditions contributes to inadequate oocyte maturation which leads to poor embryo development compared with in in vivo produced embryos. Therefore, it is important to protect oocytes and embryos against oxidative stress. One approach is to supplement the culture medium with antioxidant compounds such as resveratrol. Resveratrol (Res) is one of the most important polyphenols found in red wine well known as cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic. This review summarizes the effects of Res supplementation on oocyte maturation and embryo development in domestic species. In all species examined (caprine, bovine and porcine) supplementation of culture medium with low levels of Res improves oocyte maturation and blastocyst formation by increasing GSH concentration, decreasing ROS level and reducing apoptosis related gene expression. High concentration of Res decreases nuclear maturation induces apoptosis and is therefore detrimental to the developing embryos.