Heat Shock Affects Amino Acid Metabolism in Bovine Cumulus Cells and Denuded Oocytes During In Vitro Maturation

Simple Summary Heat shock disrupts normal energy metabolism in bovine oocytes and their surrounding cumulus cells, increasing metabolic stress. In response, both cell types adjust amino acid uptake and utilization to support survival, energy production, and redox balance. Amino acids such as glutamine, alanine, glycine, and branched-chain amino acids show altered turnover, reflecting their roles in mitochondrial metabolism, antioxidant defense, and osmotic regulation. Cumulus cells exhibit more pronounced metabolic flexibility, buffering the oocyte by supplying key amino acids and metabolic intermediates. Overall, changes in amino acid turnover represent an adaptive mechanism to maintain oocyte viability and developmental competence under heat stress.