The role of L-carnitine in the control of oxidative stress and lipid β-oxidation during follicle growth, oocyte maturation, embryonic development and cryopreservation: a review.

L-carnitine has an important role in the control of oxidative stress and lipid β-oxidation during culture and cryopreservation of ovarian follicles, oocytes and embryos. This substance balances the acetyl-CoA/CoA ratio, maintains glucose metabolism and increases energy production in mitochondria. It also plays a key role in reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress, by transferring palmitate to mitochondria or eliminating it to avoid toxicity.

Preservation of bovine preantral follicle viability and ultra-structure after cooling and freezing of ovarian tissue.

Bovine preantral follicles within ovarian fragments were exposed and cryopreserved in absence or presence of 1.5M glycerol (GLY), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), undergoing a previous cooling at 20 degrees C for 1h (protocol 1) or at 4 degrees C for 24h (protocol 2) in 0.9% saline solution.