All-
trans
retinoic acid (RA) is a metabolite of vitamin A and has pleiotropic actions on many different biological processes, including cell growth and differentiation, and
is involved in different aspects of fertility and developmental biology. In the current study, we investigated the effects of RA on camel (
Camelus dromedarius
)
cumulus-oocyte complex
in vitro
maturation (IVM). IVM medium was supplemented with 0, 10, 20, and 40 µM RA. Application of 20 µM RA significantly reduced the proportion of
degenerated oocytes and significantly improved oocyte meiosis and first polar body extrusion compared to the control and other experimental groups. Retinoic acid significantly reduced the
mRNA transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes, including
BAX
and
P53
, and reduced the
BAX/BCL2
ratio. In addition, RA significantly
reduced the expression of the Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway-related transcripts associated with the actin cytoskeleton,
ACTA2
and
TAGLN
;
however, RA increased TGFβ expression in cumulus cells. The small molecule SB-431542 inhibits the TGFβ pathway by inhibiting the activity of activin receptor-like kinases (ALK-4, ALK-5, and
ALK-7); however, combined supplementation with RA during IVM compensated for the inhibitory effect of SB-431542 on cumulus expansion, oocyte meiosis I, and first polar body extrusion in
activated oocytes. The current study shows the beneficial effects of RA on camel oocyte IVM and provides a model to study the multifunctional mechanisms involved in cumulus expansion and
oocyte meiosis, particularly those involved in the TGFβ pathway.