The Adjuvant Impacts of Antioxidant Micronutrients on Ovarian Follicle Development, Oocyte Maturation and Embryo Development of Mammalian Species: A Review

The antioxidant micronutrients refers to minerals (zinc, selenium and copper) and vitamins (A, C and E). Antioxidant micronutrients has been shown to play pivotal roles in development of ovarian follicle, maturation of oocytes and development of embryos, pregnancy and live birth. Antioxidant micronutrients supplemented to mammalian species and in vitro culture media were followed. Antioxidant micronutrients are involved in a variety of cellular processes, including protein synthesis, gene expression and cell signaling. They are cofactors for many enzymes involved in metabolism and cell growth. Early ovarian follicle development regulates through antioxidant micronutrients. Antioxidant micronutrients supplementation to the maturation and culture media could improve oocyte maturation and embryo development, leading to higher rates of pregnancy and live birth. Antioxidant micronutrients supplementation had been shown to reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Antioxidant micronutrients supplementation to vitrification medium of oocytes improves subsequent in vitro maturation and fertilization in vitro of oocytes. In conclusion, antioxidant micronutrients supplementation are promising supplements for improving the success of assisted reproductive technologies by optimizing the culture environment. This review is designed to discuss the progress in antioxidant micronutrients supplementation on development of ovarian follicle, maturation of oocytes and development of embryos, pregnancy and live birth.