ABSTRACT
Background and Aim:
Materials and Methods: Cumulus–oocyte complexes were collected from Kacang goat ovaries and cultured under IVM conditions either without supplementation (control) or with 100 ng/mL IGF-1. Relative expression of
Results: IGF-1 supplementation significantly increased the expression of both
Conclusion: Supplementation of IVM medium with 100 ng/mL IGF-1 enhanced the expression of HRas, Cdc25, and IRS-2 in Kacang goat oocytes, suggesting activation of molecular pathways associated with meiotic resumption and metabolic regulation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into IGF-1-mediated signaling during oocyte maturation and may help optimize IVM systems for indigenous goat breeds. This improvement in reproductive biotechnology is also relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), particularly in supporting sustainable livestock production, conservation of indigenous goat genetic resources, and food security. Nevertheless, further studies evaluating nuclear maturation, fertilization, and embryo developmental competence are required to confirm the functional significance of these molecular responses.
Keywords: insulin-like growth factor 1, IRS-2, signal transduction, sustainable livestock production, zero hunger.
INTRODUCTION
The success of IVM depends on both intrinsic oocyte quality and the composition of the maturation medium. Numerous growth factors have been investigated to enhance oocyte developmental competence by regulating cellular metabolism, meiotic progression, and survival pathways during maturation. Among these factors, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has received considerable attention because of its ability to activate intracellular signaling cascades, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Protein kinase B [AKT]) pathways. These pathways regulate several key molecules involved in meiotic progression and cellular metabolism, including Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (
Despite growing evidence supporting the beneficial role of IGF-1 during oocyte maturation, information regarding the molecular responses of Kacang goat oocytes to IGF-1 supplementation remains limited. Most previous studies have primarily focused on maturation rates, oxidative stress parameters, apoptosis-related markers, or embryonic developmental outcomes, whereas the regulation of key signaling molecules involved in meiotic control and metabolic support has received comparatively little attention. In particular, the expression patterns of
Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of IGF-1 supplementation during IVM on the mRNA expression of
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ethical approval
The experimental procedures and use of animal-derived biological materials in this study were reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia (Approval No. 1.KEH.146.10.2024). Ovarian samples were obtained exclusively from clinically healthy Kacang goats (Capra hircus) slaughtered for commercial purposes at a licensed local abattoir. No animals were purchased, housed, handled, restrained, or euthanized specifically for this research.
Ovary collection was performed immediately after slaughter by trained personnel in accordance with abattoir regulations and institutional biosafety guidelines. The collection procedure did not interfere with standard slaughterhouse operations and involved only the retrieval of reproductive tissues that would otherwise have been discarded as biological waste. Therefore, no additional stress, pain, discomfort, or invasive procedures were imposed on the animals beyond routine commercial slaughter practices.
All biological samples were transported, processed, and handled in accordance with the ethical standards established by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga. Laboratory procedures involving oocyte recovery,
Because the study used post-slaughter reproductive tissues collected from animals slaughtered for food production and did not involve any live-animal experimental interventions, additional animal welfare concerns were minimized while ensuring the study’s scientific objectives were achieved.
Study period and location
The study was conducted from July to December 2025. Oocyte collection, processing, and IVM procedures were performed at the Laboratory of Veterinary Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia. Gene-expression analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted at the Institute of Tropical Diseases, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed at the Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Study design
This experimental study employed a completely randomized design consisting of two treatment groups. The control group consisted of oocytes matured in standard IVM medium without IGF-1 supplementation, whereas the treatment group consisted of oocytes matured in the same medium supplemented with 100 ng/mL IGF-1. Following maturation,
Collection and transportation of ovarian samples
Ovaries were collected from healthy, non-pregnant female Kacang goats aged 6–12 months at a local slaughterhouse. The ovaries were removed between 05:00 and 06:00 and immediately placed in prewarmed 0.9% saline solution containing streptomycin (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). Samples were transported to the laboratory within 2 h using a thermally insulated container (Akebonno, Jakarta, Indonesia). Upon arrival, the ovaries were washed three times with (PBS, pH 7.4; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) to remove blood and tissue debris.
Oocyte selection and IVM
Follicular contents were aspirated using a 10 mL syringe fitted with an 18-gauge needle. Only cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) possessing at least three compact layers of cumulus cells and homogeneous ooplasm were selected under an inverted microscope, whereas degenerated or atretic oocytes were excluded.
Selected COCs were randomly allocated into two experimental groups. The control group was cultured in standard maturation medium, whereas the treatment group was cultured in the same medium supplemented with 100 ng/mL IGF-1. The maturation medium consisted of TCM-199 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), 10 μg/mL follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), 10 μg/mL luteinizing hormone (LH; Sigma-Aldrich), and 1% penicillin-streptomycin (Thermo Fisher Scientific). COCs were cultured in groups of 10 oocytes per 30 μL droplet under mineral oil (Sigma-Aldrich) for 22 h at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2.
RNA extraction and qPCR analysis
Total RNA was extracted from pooled matured oocytes using the PureLink RNA Mini Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA), followed by purification using the RNeasy Micro Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). RNA concentration was measured using a Qubit Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized using the iScript cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). The relative expression of
Table 1. Primers used for quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of
| Target gene | Primer sequence (5′→3′) | Melting temperature | Length | Annealing temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| F: 5′-GCCATCAACCACACCAAGTCC-3′ | 62.0°C | 20 bp | 58°C |
| R: 5′-GGAGCTGCAGCCAGAGCCAGA-3′ | 65.1°C | 22 bp | ||
|
| F: 5′-TGGAGTCTACAGGACCTGAGCAA-3′ | 63.8°C | 23 bp | 59.3°C |
| R: 5′-TGGGACTGCCCAGATGTTTCA-3′ | 61.3°C | 22 bp | ||
|
| F: 5′-GCAAGGACCTTTACGCCAAC-3′ | 59.8°C | 20 bp | 57.4°C |
| R: 5′-CTTGATCTTCATCGTGCTGGG-3′ | 61.4°C | 21 bp |
ICC
IRS-2 expression was evaluated at the protein level by ICC. Matured oocytes were fixed in methanol:acetic acid (3:1), permeabilized with 0.025% trypsin, and blocked using Ultra V Block (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Samples were incubated with anti-IRS-2 primary antibody (Solarbio, Beijing, China; Cat. No. K005574P), followed by a biotinylated secondary antibody and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase. Immunoreactivity was visualized using 3,3′-diaminobenzidine as the chromogen and methylene green as the counterstain.
Oocytes were examined under a light microscope at 400× magnification (Olympus, Japan). The immunoreactive score was determined from the product of staining intensity and the proportion of positive staining. A total of six slides per group were evaluated, with five oocytes examined per slide, for a total of 30 oocytes analyzed per group.
Statistical analysis
Data for
RESULTS
Relative expression of HRas and Cdc25
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that IGF-1 supplementation significantly increased the relative expression of
Table 2. Relative expression of
| Group | n | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | 6 | 4.91 ± 0.69ᵃ | 0.73 ± 0.04ᵃ |
| IGF-1 (100 ng/mL) | 6 | 9.97 ± 0.48ᵇ | 1.18 ± 0.08ᵇ |
Different superscripts within a column indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).
As illustrated in Figure 1, IGF-1 supplementation increased the expression of both
Figure 1. Fold-change in the relative expression of
IRS-2 protein expression
Immunocytochemical analysis revealed stronger IRS-2 immunoreactivity in the IGF-1-treated group than in the control group (Table 3). Because immunoreactive score data were analyzed using nonparametric methods, the results are presented as mean rank values. The IGF-1-treated group exhibited a significantly higher mean rank than the control group (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced IRS-2 protein expression following IGF-1 supplementation.
Table 3. IRS-2 protein expression in Kacang goat oocytes evaluated by immunocytochemistry.
| Group | n | IRS-2 expression (Mean rank) |
|---|---|---|
| Control | 6 | 6.63ᵃ |
| IGF-1 (100 ng/mL) | 6 | 10.60ᵇ |
Different superscripts indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). Six slides were evaluated per group, with five oocytes examined per slide.
Figure 2 illustrates the immunocytochemical localization of IRS-2 in Kacang goat oocytes. Oocytes from the control group exhibited light brown cytoplasmic staining, whereas those from the IGF-1-treated group showed intense brown cytoplasmic staining, indicating greater IRS-2 protein expression.
Figure 2. IRS-2 protein expression in Kacang goat oocytes evaluated by immunocytochemistry (400× magnification). The control group exhibited light brown cytoplasmic staining, whereas the IGF-1-treated group showed intense brown cytoplasmic staining, indicating increased IRS-2 protein expression.
Correlation among HRas, Cdc25 , and IRS-2
Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed strong and statistically significant positive correlations among the expression levels of
Figure 3. Heatmap showing correlation coefficients among
DISCUSSION
IGF-1 regulates molecular pathways associated with oocyte maturation
IGF-1 is a well-recognized growth factor involved in folliculogenesis, granulosa cell function, and oocyte maturation. Through activation of intracellular signaling pathways, particularly MAPK and PI3K/AKT, IGF-1 contributes to meiotic regulation, metabolic support, and cellular survival during oocyte maturation [5–11]. In the present study, IGF-1 supplementation during IVM significantly increased the expression of
Increased HRas and Cdc25 expression following IGF-1 supplementation
The increased expression of
Similarly, the increase in
However, direct maturation endpoints such as germinal vesicle breakdown, metaphase II attainment, polar body extrusion, and cumulus expansion were not evaluated in the present study. Therefore, the observed increases in
Enhanced IRS-2 expression indicates activation of IGF-1 signaling
The elevated IRS-2 protein expression further supports the gene-expression findings. IRS-2 is a major adaptor molecule in insulin and IGF-1 receptor signaling and serves as an important intermediary linking receptor activation to the PI3K/AKT pathway [1, 2, 16]. This signaling axis has been implicated in the regulation of cellular metabolism, survival, and responsiveness in reproductive cells, including oocytes and granulosa cells [2, 10, 11]. Accordingly, the increased IRS-2 immunoreactivity observed in the IGF-1-treated group may reflect enhanced responsiveness of Kacang goat oocytes to IGF-1-mediated signaling.
The positive correlations observed among
Comparison with previous studies
The present findings are consistent with previous reports investigating the effects of IGF-1 during oocyte maturation. A related study by
Previous studies in goats and other mammalian species have also reported that IGF-1 supplementation may improve maturation-related responses and early embryonic development, although the effective concentration and biological outcomes vary according to species, culture systems, and experimental conditions [6, 7, 10, 18]. Therefore, the present study provides valuable molecular information on the response of Kacang goat oocytes to IGF-1 and highlights the need for additional dose-response investigations.
Implications for reproductive biotechnology in Kacang goats
The upregulation of
Nevertheless, the present data do not directly demonstrate improvements in cleavage rate, embryo yield, blastocyst formation, fertilization success, or overall developmental competence. Accordingly, the implications of this study should be limited to molecular signaling events associated with IVM, rather than to broader reproductive outcomes.
Optimizing IVM systems in indigenous livestock breeds may also indirectly contribute to sustainable livestock production and related initiatives associated with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, this potential relevance should be interpreted cautiously because the present study did not evaluate field-level productivity, embryo production efficiency, or food-system outcomes.
Limitations of the study and future research directions
Several limitations should be acknowledged when interpreting the present findings. First, direct maturation outcomes, including metaphase II rate, polar body extrusion, cumulus expansion, and degeneration rate after 22 h of IVM, were not assessed. Second, embryo developmental outcomes, including cleavage rate and blastocyst formation, were not evaluated; therefore, developmental competence could not be directly confirmed [20]. Third, only a single IGF-1 concentration was examined, limiting the interpretation of dose-dependent biological responses [17]. Finally, the analysis was restricted to selected gene and protein markers and did not include post-translational validation or functional interrogation of the signaling pathways involved.
Future studies should integrate molecular analyses with direct assessments of oocyte maturation, fertilization success, embryo development, and dose-response evaluation. Investigations involving pathway-specific inhibitors, phosphorylation assays, and functional validation approaches would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms through which IGF-1 regulates oocyte maturation and developmental competence in Kacang goats.
CONCLUSION
Supplementation with IGF-1 during IVM increased
These findings provide novel molecular evidence on the response of Kacang goat oocytes to IGF-1 supplementation and contribute to a better understanding of the signaling events that occur during IVM in this indigenous breed. From a practical perspective, the results may support future efforts to refine IVM systems and reproductive biotechnologies aimed at the conservation, genetic improvement, and sustainable utilization of Kacang goat genetic resources.
A major strength of this study is the combined evaluation of gene and protein markers associated with IGF-1 signaling, allowing a more comprehensive assessment of molecular responses during IVM. However, several limitations should be considered. The study did not evaluate direct maturation outcomes such as metaphase II attainment, polar body extrusion, or cumulus expansion. In addition, embryo developmental competence, including cleavage and blastocyst formation, was not assessed. The investigation was limited to a single IGF-1 concentration and a selected set of molecular markers without functional pathway validation.
Future studies should integrate molecular analyses with assessments of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, fertilization success, embryo development, and dose-response evaluation of IGF-1 supplementation. Functional studies involving pathway inhibition, phosphorylation analysis, and additional signaling markers would further clarify the mechanisms through which IGF-1 regulates oocyte maturation. Overall, IGF-1 supplementation at 100 ng/mL promoted molecular changes associated with oocyte maturation in Kacang goat oocytes and represents a promising approach for further optimization of IVM systems in this important indigenous goat breed. In a broader context, optimization of IVM systems for Kacang goat oocytes is relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), as it may support sustainable livestock production, preservation of indigenous goat genetic resources, and improvement of reproductive efficiency in small ruminants.
DATA AVAILABILITY
The data generated during the study are included in the manuscript.
AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
WW and EML: Conceptualization, methodology, supervision, validation, manuscript review and editing, and final approval of the manuscript. EPH: Methodology, supervision, validation, manuscript review and editing, and final approval of the manuscript. VFH: Methodology, data analysis, interpretation of results, manuscript drafting, manuscript review and editing, and final approval of the manuscript. DYK: Investigation, data collection, laboratory work, data analysis, manuscript drafting, and final approval of the manuscript. PAF: Investigation, oocyte collection and
COMPETING INTERESTS
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Veterinary World remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in the published institutional affiliations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors acknowledge the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia, for supporting this research through the Penelitian Riset Grant Funding (PRGF) Scheme B Research Grant 2025 under Contract No. B/UN3.FKH/PT.01.03/2025. The authors also express their sincere gratitude to the Director of Research and Innovation, Universitas Airlangga, for providing funding support for this research.
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