PUNICA GRANATUM L. MAINTAINS SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE EXPRESSION IN VITRIFIED BOVINE OVARIAN TISSUE

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian tissue vitrification is an alternative for the preservation of germplasm banks in animals with high zootechnical value. However, despite its efficacy, the technique has some limitations due to the high cytotoxicity of cryoprotectants, which cause damage to ovarian follicles. One of the mechanisms involved in this damage is oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant enzymes such as SOD. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of Punica granatum, a well-known potent antioxidant, during the vitrification of bovine ovarian tissue on Superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene expression. METHODOLOGY: To this, fragments of bovine ovarian cortex were vitrified with 10 µg/mL of ethanolic extract from Punica granatum (EE-PG) and stored in liquid nitrogen for 5 days. After warming, the tissues were incubated for 24 hours to assess the resumption of cellular metabolism and subsequently stored at -80°C for qPCR analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference when comparing the use of 10 µg/mL of EE-PG with the fresh control and vitrified control groups. This indicates that the EE-PG maintained SOD expression levels. SOD is an enzyme responsible for the first line of cellular antioxidant defense. It catalyzes the conversion of the superoxide anion into a less harmful product, hydrogen peroxide, which possibly contributes to reducing damage and preserving follicular structures. CONCLUSION: In summary, the addition of 10 µg/mL of EE-PG to the vitrification solution maintains SOD expression in vitrified bovine ovarian tissue, making it a promising alternative for preserving reproductive potential.