ALTERED PROSTANOID PRODUCTION BY CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEXES IN A RAT MODEL OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Ovulation, oocyte maturation and PGE and PGF(2 alpha) production by oo cyte-cumulus complexes were evaluated in rats with non-insulin-depende nt diabetes induced by neonatal streptozotocin. Diabetic mts had norma l estrous cycles, but ovulated a lower number of oocytes at estrus. Wh en oocytes from control and diabetic rats obtained at proestrus were m atured ''in vitro'' during 1, 2 or 4 hours (hr) of culture, difference s were not found in the percent of germinal vesicle breakdown between both experimental groups. PGE and PGE(2 alpha), accumulation was highe r in ovulated oocyte-cumulus complexes when compared to immature or '' in vitro''-matured oocyte-cumulus complexes in both normal and diabeti c rats. When control and diabetic rats are compared, more PGE and PGF( 2 alpha) accumulation was observed in immature, ''in vitro''-matured a nd in ovulated oocyte-cumulus complexes. A lower number of oocytes ovu lated and increased oocyte-cumulus complexes prostaglandin production has been observed in this mildly diabetic experimental model. These ab normalities are similar to those previously found when 10 day embryos were evaluated in noninsulin-dependent diabetic rats.