Effect of 3-hydroxyflavone on pig embryos produced by parthenogenesis or somatic cell nuclear transfer

This study evaluated the effect of 3-hydroxyflavone (a flavonoid having hydroxyl group at 3 carbon position) on embryos using parthenogenetic activation (PA) and cloned pig embryos as model system. There was no evidence for embryo toxicity of 3-hydroxyflavone in a wide concentration range of 1-100 μM. On the contrary, 3-hydroxyflavone significantly improved the in vitro development and quality of PA embryos that was associated with the activation of ERK signaling molecules and reduction in Caspase 3 expression. Furthermore, 3-hydroxyflavone rescued the in vitro development and embryo quality of in vitro aged oocytes by inhibiting ROS activity and activating ERK signaling. The beneficial effects of 3-hydroxyflavone on PA embryos were consistent both in PVA- and BSA-containing embryo culture medium and in cloned embryos. These results suggest that, contrary to those of other structurally related flavonoid molecules, 3-hydroxyflavone may be useful as a therapeutic drug for improving the developmental potential of aged oocytes in assisted reproductive technologies.