Here, we evaluated the mode of programmed cell death during porcine oocyte maturation by comparing the two major pathways associated with programmed cell death, apoptosis (type I), and autophagy (type II). We investigated the expression and localization of major genes involved in autophagy and apoptosis at mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the effect of hormonal stimulation on autophagy and apoptosis was analyzed. We found that the activity of autophagy-associated genes was increased in the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) following follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment, while the addition of luteinizing hormone (LH) reversed this effect. The expression of proteins associated with autophagy was the highest in FSH-treated COCs. On the other hand, caspase-3 protein level was maximum in COCs cultured with LH. The treatment with rapamycin resulted in the effect similar to that observed with FSH treatment and increased autophagy activity. Thus, hormonal stimulation of pig oocytes resulted in distinct patterns of maturation. The high-quality oocytes majorly relied on the type II pathway (autophagy), while the type I pathway (apoptosis) was more prominent among poor-quality oocytes. Further investigation of this distinction may allow the development of techniques to produce high-quality oocytes in porcine in vitro fertilization.

Abstract
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
  1. Collection and preparation of ovarian tissue
  2. In-vitro maturation of pig oocytes with hormone treatmentmedium
  3. Quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis
  4. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis ofsurvival-related genes in each treatment group
  5. Western blot analysis
  6. Immunofluorescence
  7. Statistical analyses
 RESULTS
  1. Quality analysis of matured oocytes following treatment
  2. Expression of autophagic and apoptotic mRNAs in maturedoocytes
  3. Expression of survival-related genes
  4. Detection of proteins related to programmed cell death(PCD) in matured oocytes
  5. Immuno-detection of autophagic and apoptotic proteinsin matured oocytes
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES

• Sang Hwan Kim(Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University)
• Jong Taek Yoon(Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Department of Animal Life Science, Hankyong National University) Correspondence