122 EFFECTS OF EMBRYO SEX AND GLUCOSE OR FRUCTOSE IN CULTURE MEDIA ON BOVINE EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
M. Barceló-Fimbres ◽  
G. E. Seidel Jr
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Energy Substrates ◽  
Sexed Semen ◽  
Embryo Sex

The objective of the present study was to determine if glucose, fructose, or both, in culture medium affects female embryos differently from male embryos. Embryos of predetermined sex were produced by use of sexed semen. Blastocysts were produced in vitro in a factorial design from 1851 oocytes fertilized with 3 sperm types [non-sexed control, X-bearing, and Y-bearing (~95% accuracy)]. Semen from 3 bulls (A, B, and C) was used, with 2 replicates for each bull. Zygotes were cultured with 4 energy substrates (no-hexose control, glucose, fructose, and glucose + fructose). Chemically defined medium (CDM) plus 0.5% fatty acid-free BSA (De La Torre-Sanchez et al. 2006 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 18, 585–596) was the culture medium to which the energy substrates were added. For the first 2.5 d of culture, the medium contained 0.5 mm hexose, and for the last 4.5 d, it contained 2.0 mm hexose. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. There was no effect of hexose treatments on cleavage rates (P > 0.1; Table 1). However, blastocyst rates per oocyte were higher for the fructose treatment than for the control, glucose, or glucose + fructose (P < 0.05) groups. Glucose treatment resulted in retarded development compared with no hexose or fructose (P < 0.05). Analysis of a subset of data with only the fructose and glucose treatments resulted in an interaction of hexose (glucose and fructose) and X-bearing andY-bearing sperm for blastocysts per oocyte: fructose X-sperm 20.4%a; fructoseY-sperm 17.7%ab; glucose X-sperm 10.6%bc, and glucoseY-sperm 14.7%c (means without common superscripts differ; P < 0.05). Glucose was detrimental to female embryos, and fructose improved development to the blastocyst stage for both sexes. Lower cleavage rates were found after fertilization with X-bearing sperm (Table 1); however, blastocyst rates per oocyte were not different after fertilization with X- or Y-bearing sperm or non-sexed sperm (P > 0.1). There was no bull effect on rates of cleavage or blastocysts per oocyte (P > 0.1). In conclusion, fructose improved embryonic development of embryos of both sexes; glucose retarded development of, and was toxic to, female embryos. Sexed sperm resulted in similar cleavage and blastocyst production as non-sexed sperm, and female embryos had retarded embryonic development relative to male embryos. Table 1. Main effect least-squares means for development of bovine embryos (±SE)

scholarly journals 133 INSULIN, TRANSFERRIN AND SELENIUM WITH OR WITHOUT BSA IN A SERUM-FREE CULTURE SYSTEM FOR BOVINE EMBRYO, AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR EMBRYOS CULTURED IN SMALL GROUPS

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Daniaux ◽  
B. Verhaeghe ◽  
I. Donnay
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Hatching Rate ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
Abnormal Accumulation ◽  
Development In Vitro

Serum in embryo culture medium may be a potential cause of abnormal accumulation of lipid droplets, which is correlated to a higher sensitivity to cryopreservation. Moreover, serum may introduce pathogens. With the aim of developing a serum-free culture medium, we first (Experiment 1) investigated the effect of adding ITS (5 μg/mL insulin, 5 μg/mL transferrin, 5 ng/mL selenium) as a serum substitute in SOF medium on embryos cultured in large groups (20 embryos per culture drop of 20 μL) and we then (Experiment 2) analyzed the effect of adding BSA. In this second experiment, our serum-free culture media were also tested on embryos cultured in small numbers (5 embryos per drop of 20 μL) in order to mimic ovum pickup (OPU) conditions. Embryos were obtained from slaughterhouse oocytes, matured in vitro for 24 h in a serum-free enriched 199 medium (Donnay et al. 2004 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 274) containing ITS, and fertilized for 18 h. In experiment 1, embryos were cultured in SOF (Holm et al. 1999 Theriogenology 52, 683–700) supplemented with 0.1 mg/mL polyvinylpyrrolidane (PVP) without (SOF) or with ITS (SOF-ITS), or with 5% FCS (SOF-FCS). Cavitation occurred earlier in presence of serum (Table). Adding ITS to SOF increased blastocyst rates at Day 7 and Day 8 post-insemination (p.i.) and also the hatching rate. In experiment 2, embryos were cultured in SOF-FCS, SOF-ITS, or SOF-ITS supplemented with 4 mg/mL fatty acid free BSA (SOF-ITS-BSA). Within each condition, no differences were observed for blastocyst and hatching rates between embryos cultured in large or in small groups. Adding BSA to SOF-ITS increased blastocyst rate at Day 6 p.i. and also the hatching rate. At Days 7 and 8 p.i., blastocyst rates were higher in SOF-FCS than in SOF-ITS and tended to be higher than in SOF-ITS-BSA, especially for embryos cultured in small groups. Cell numbers of the resulting embryos were unaffected. These results indicate that: (1) ITS as supplement to SOF medium promotes embryo development in vitro. (2) BSA as protein supplement to SOF-ITS medium accelerates blastulation and improves hatching rate. (3) SOF-ITS and SOF-ITS-BSA are two serum-free culture media that can sustain development of embryos, also when cultured in small number, even though SOF-FCS tended to afford better rates of development. Further studies will include evaluation of other quality parameters including resistance to cryopreservation. This work was supported by the Ministery of Agriculture of the Region wallonne de Belgique.

In vitro culture and non-invasive metabolic profiling of single bovine embryos

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 306
Author(s):  
Monika Nõmm ◽  
Rando Porosk ◽  
Pille Pärn ◽  
Kalle Kilk ◽  
Ursel Soomets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Metabolic Profiling ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Bovine Embryos ◽  
Non Invasive

Selecting high-quality embryos for transfer has been a difficult task when producing bovine embryos invitro. The most used non-invasive method is based on visual observation. Molecular characterisation of embryo growth media has been proposed as a complementary method. In this study we demonstrate a culture medium sampling method for identifying potential embryonic viability markers to predict normal or abnormal embryonic development. During single embryo culture, 20µL culture media was removed at Days 2, 5 and 8 after fertilisation from the same droplet (60µL). In all, 58 samples were analysed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that it is possible to remove samples from the same culture medium droplets and not significantly affect blastocyst rate (25.2%). Changes in any single low molecular weight compound were not predictive enough. Combining multiple low molecular weight signals made it possible to predict Day 2 and 5 embryo development to the blastocyst stage with an accuracy of 64%. Elevated concentrations of lysophosphatidylethanolamines (m/z=453, 566, 588) in the culture media of Day 8 well-developing embryos were observed. Choline (104m/z) and citrate (215m/z) concentrations were increased in embryos in which development was retarded. Metabolic profiling provides possibilities to identify well-developing embryos before transfer, thus improving pregnancy rates and the number of calves born.

284 COMPARATIVE FERTILITY OF FRESHLY-COLLECTED VERSUS FROZEN - THAWED SPERMATOZOA FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IN THE FISHING CAT (PRIONAILURUS VIVERRINUS)

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
G. Magarey ◽  
J. Herrick ◽  
K. Thiangtum ◽  
W. Tunwattana ◽  
W. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Ovarian Follicles ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
International Transport

Wild populations of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Southeast Asia are in decline, primarily due to habitat loss. Because the fishing cat population in North American zoos is small (n = 69) and inbred (F = 0.17) with relatively low genetic variation (86%), infusion of new founder genes from Asia is a conservation priority. Importation of cryopreserved semen for use with IVF and ET may offer one alternative to the international transport of living animals. In this study, our objectives were to (1) compare motility longevity of fresh vs. frozen-thawed fishing cat spermatozoa in two culture media, (2) evaluate ovarian responses to exogenous gonadotropins, and (3) assess development of IVF embryos produced with fresh vs. frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Raw semen was collected via electroejaculation from male fishing cats (n = 4), divided into groups, and washed. Two sperm pellets were resuspended in either Ham's F10 medium (HF10; with 5% FBS) or our feline optimized culture medium (FOCM; with 0.4% BSA); another pellet was diluted in TEST egg yolk, cooled to 5�C over 3 h, glycerated (4%), and cryopreserved in straws over LN2 vapor. Frozen sperm samples were thawed, washed, and diluted in either HF10 or FOCM. Fresh and frozen-thawed sperm motility (percent motile, rate of forward progress) in each medium (10 � 106 motile sperm/mL) was assessed (at 0, 1, 3, and 6 h) in microdrops under oil during culture (38�C; 6% CO2 in air). Female fishing cats (n = 10) were treated with exogenous gonadotropins (150 IU eCG, 100 IU hCG, 85-h interval) and ovarian follicles were aspirated laparoscopically. Recovered oocytes were inseminated with fresh (2 � 105 motile sperm/mL) or frozen-thawed (5 � 105 motile sperm/mL) spermatozoa in FOCM microdrops; resulting embryos were either cryopreserved or cultured in FOCM (with 5% FBS added at 72 h post-insemination) for 7 days. Sperm motility over time did not differ (P > 0.05) between media for either fresh or frozen-thawed samples; however, across media, frozen-thawed sperm motility was lower (P < 0.05) and declined faster (P < 0.05) compared to fresh spermatozoa. Females produced an average (�SEM) of 9.8 � 2.9 mature ovarian follicles, allowing recovery of 7.3 � 2.6 high-quality oocytes per female. Oocyte cleavage percentage at 42 h p.i. was lower (P < 0.05) with frozen-thawed spermatozoa (38%, 11/29) compared to freshly collected spermatozoa (68%, 17/25). Overall, 35% (6/17) of cultured embryos developed to blastocysts with no difference (P > 0.05) between embryos produced with frozen-thawed (4/11) vs. fresh (2/6) spermatozoa. Although fishing cat sperm motility and fertility appear compromised after cryopreservation, our results demonstrate the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa to produce IVF embryos that are capable of developing to blastocyst stage in vitro. This work was supported by (NIH RR015388).

144 USE OF A NOVEL BOVINE EMBRYO CULTURE MEDIUM TO IMPROVE BLASTOCYST DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL FOLLOWING VITRIFICATION

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
J. Block ◽  
L. Bonilla ◽  
P. J. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Cleavage Rate ◽  
Fresh Embryos ◽  
Hatching Rates

The objective of the present study was to determine whether culture of bovine embryos in a proprietary serum-free culture medium, Block-Bonilla-Hansen-7 (BBH-7), could improve development to the blastocyst stage and enhance survival following vitrification. For Exp. 1, embryos were produced in vitro and cultured in BBH-7 or modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF; as in zygote 10:341 except with 10 μL mL-1 of nonessential amino acids, 20 μL mL-1 of essential amino acids, and 1 mg mL-1 of polyvinyl alcohol instead of albumin) in 5% (v/v) oxygen. Grade 1 expanded blastocysts were harvested at Day 7 post-insemination and vitrified using the open-pulled straw method (Vagta et al. 1998 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51, 53-58). Vitrified embryos were thawed and cultured in vitro in either mSOF or BBH-7 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 50 μM dithiolthreitol. Re-expansion and hatching rates were recorded at 24, 48, and 72 h post-thaw. There was no effect of culture medium on cleavage rate. The proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst and advanced blastocyst stages (expanded, hatching, and hatched) at Day 7 was higher (P < 0.001) for embryos cultured in BBH-7 than for embryos cultured in mSOF (41.9 ± 2.0 v. 14.7 ± 2.0% and 31.1 ± 1.3 v. 6.4 ± 1.3%, respectively). There was no effect of culture medium on re-expansion rates at 24, 48, and 72 h post-thaw or on hatching rates at 48 or 72 h. However, the proportion of embryos that were hatching or had hatched by 24 h post-thaw was higher (P < 0.001) for BBH-7 than for mSOF (59.0 ± 0.5 v. 26.7 ± 0.5%). For Exp. 2, late lactation and/or repeat breeder, lactating Holstein cows were synchronized for timed embryo transfer using the OvSynch-56 protocol. Embryos were produced in vitro and cultured in BBH-7 in 5% (v/v) oxygen. Vitrified embryos were produced as for Exp. 1. Fresh embryos were grade 1 expanded blastocysts harvested at Day 7 after insemination. A single embryo was transferred at Day 7 after putative ovulation to all cows with a corpus luteum confirmed by ultrasonography. Pregnancy was diagnosed at Day 28-30 of gestation by ultrasonography. There was no difference in the proportion of recipients that became pregnant after receiving either a fresh (7/18 = 39%) or vitrified (10/27 = 37%) embryo cultured in BBH-7. The results of the present study indicate that BBH-7 can be used to increase the proportion of oocytes that develop to the blastocyst stage. Moreover, the results demonstrate that vitrified embryos produced after culture in BBH-7 can achieve pregnancy rates similar to those obtained using fresh embryos. Support: USDA 2006-55203-17390 and Southeast Milk Checkoff Program.

scholarly journals In vitro production of cattle blastocysts in chemically defined medium with or without insulin supplementation

1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Bredbacka ◽  
Peter Bredbacka
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Serum Albumin ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Chemically Defined Medium ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Vitro Production ◽  
Bovine Oocytes

In this study we evaluated the use of a chemically defined medium in the production of blastocysts from bovine oocytes fertilized in vitro. As culture medium we used CRI-PVP, a modification of CRlaa medium with bovine serum albumin replaced by polyvinylpyrrolidone. After 168 h of culture (192 h after insemination) 8.7%, 10.5 and 12.8% of the cleaved embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in the presence of 0, 2 or 200 nM insulin, respectively. The supplementation of 200 nM insulin tended to increase cell numbers in morulae and blastocysts (P=0.10). It is concluded that CRI-PVP can be used as a chemically defined medium in the production of blastocysts from bovine 1-cell embryos. However, further modifications are needed, and the insulin concentrations used may be below the optimum for blastocyst production.

98 EXPERIMENTAL TRANSFER OF BOVINE IVF-DERIVED 32-CELL STAGE EMBRYOS INTO THE UTERUS: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
M. Hoelker ◽  
D. Salilew-Wondim ◽  
F. Rings ◽  
D. Tesfaye ◽  
K. Schellander
Keyword(s):  
Culture Media ◽  
Uterine Cavity ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Bovine Embryos ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Developmental Rates ◽  
Uterine Environment

Usually, in vitro-produced bovine embryos are cultured in vitro in static culture systems for 7 to 9 days in media composed according the oviducal fluid although it is well accepted that around Day 4.5–5 the bovine embryo enters the uterine cavity, providing environmental conditions different from the oviduct. Therefore, one has to raise the question whether changing culture media properties after Day 5 of culture could have beneficial effects on early development of bovine embryos. To answer that question, we transferred bovine IVF derived 32-cell stage embryos into the uterine cavity of synchronized recipients. All embryos had been matured and fertilized under routine standard conditions and were cultured in synthetic oviducal fluid supplemented with essential and nonessential amino acids (SOFaa) supplemented with either 0.3% fatty acid free bovine serum albumin (BSAfaf/Uterus) or 10% serum (serum/uterus) at 38.5°C, 5% O2, and 5% CO2 in humidified air prior transfer into the uterine environment, allowing further development to the blastocyst stage within the physiological environment prior recollection at Day 7 by routine uterine flushing followed by comparison with statically in vitro-developed embryos cultured in media supplemented with serum (serum/serum group) or BSAfaf (BSAfaf/BSAfaf group). All in all, a total of 1031 in vitro-derived 32-cell stage embryos were transferred to 21 synchronized Simmental recipient heifers. Of these, a total of 680 embryos (66%) could be recollected at Day 7. Embryos of the serum/serum group reached a higher blastocyst rate compared with embryos of the BSAfaf/BSAfaf group (68% v. 41%; P < 0.05, ANOVA, Tukey test), whereas the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage did not differ after 9 days of in vitro culture, indicating higher developmental kinetics of bovine 32-cell stage embryos when culture media is supplemented with serum. Moreover, embryos of the serum/uterus group reached significantly lower developmental rates to the blastocyst stage until Day 7 compared with embryos of the serum/serum group (12.9% v. 68.4%). Likewise, embryos in the BSAfaf/uterus group reached significantly lower developmental rates to the blastocyst stage until Day 7 compared with embryos in the BSAfaf/BSAfaf group (16.0% v. 40.1%). When allowed to develop for additional 48h in vitro, developmental rates to the blastocyst stage at Day 9 were still higher in BSAfaf/BSAfaf treatment compared with the BSAfaf/uterus treatment (91.4% v. 74.4%) and the serum/serum treatment compared with the serum/uterus treatment (92.5% v. 56.0%). Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate that uterine transfer of bovine 32-cell stage embryos results in reduction of developmental kinetics as well as lower developmental rates compared with embryos statically cultured in vitro. That might indicate, that a considerable proportion of bovine 32-cell stage embryos might not be able to adapt to the uterine environment.

Effects of serum or fatty acid supplementation of synthetic oviduct fluid medium on development of bovine embryosin vitro

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 62-62
Author(s):  
N.C. Farrar ◽  
M.E. Staines ◽  
G.J. McCallum ◽  
P. Haggarty ◽  
J.J. Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Fluid Medium ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Defined Culture ◽  
Oviduct Fluid ◽  
Transmission Of Disease

Serum, which is routinely included in many embryo culture media, can decrease the viability of bovine and ovine embryos produced in cultures employing synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF; Kuran et al., 1999) and represents a possible route for transmission of disease. Alternative approaches include the use of chemically defined culture media but results from studies which avoid sera and its derivatives (e.g., albumin) are generally less favourable due to a lack of knowledge regarding the embryo's response to specific nutrients, most notably fatty acids. As a preliminary step towards investigating fatty acid influences on bovine embryo developmentin vitro, the present study examined the effect of adding palmitic acid (C16:0) to SOF plus bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the performance of this semi-defined culture medium and contrasted it with embryo production in SOF supplemented with serum.

Glucose and glycine synergistically enhance the in vitro development of porcine blastocysts in a chemically defined medium

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Mito ◽  
Koji Yoshioka ◽  
Shoko Yamashita ◽  
Chie Suzuki ◽  
Michiko Noguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Culture Medium ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Atp Content ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
In Vitro Development ◽  
Defined Culture ◽  
Vitro Development

In the present study, the effects of glucose and/or glycine on the in vitro development of Day 5 (Day 0 = IVF) porcine blastocysts were determined. The addition of 2.5–10 mM glucose to the chemically defined culture medium porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 significantly increased blastocyst survival rates compared with those of blastocysts cultured in the absence of glucose. The addition of 5 and 10 mM glycine to PZM-5 containing 5 mM glucose significantly enhanced the development to hatching and the number of hatched blastocysts compared with no addition of glycine. However, the addition of glycine to PZM-5 with no glucose did not improve blastocyst development. The ATP content of Day 6 blastocysts cultured with glucose was significantly higher than that of blastocysts cultured in the absence of glucose, regardless of glycine supplementation. The diameter and total cell numbers were significantly greater, and the apoptotic index was significantly lower, in Day 6 blastocysts cultured with both glucose and glycine. These results indicate that glucose is an important energy source for the porcine blastocyst and that glucose and glycine act synergistically to enhance development to the hatching and hatched blastocyst stage in vitro.

172 ADMINISTRATION OF GLUTATHIONE OR THIOREDOXIN TO MEDIUM REDUCES INTRACELLULAR REDOX STATUS AND IMPROVES EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE BLASTOCYST STAGE OF PORCINE IVM/IVF OOCYTES

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
M. Ozawa ◽  
T. Nagai ◽  
M. Fahrudin ◽  
N. W. K. Karja ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Normal Embryo ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intracellular Redox Status ◽  
Intracellular Redox

Successful in vitro production of blastocysts from immature oocytes can be carried out using in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF), and embryo culture (IVC) at a high level of repeatability in the porcine. However, the rates of in vitro development of IVM/IVF oocytes to the blastocyst stage remained around 20%. The environment in vitro is so simple and materially limited that there exist several stressors in vitro that disturb normal embryo development. Oxidative stress, which is caused by excess production of reactive oxygen species, is a major disturbing factor for the development of pre-implantation embryos in vitro. The series of present experiments were conducted using culture conditions with enhanced reducing capacity by the addition of glutathione (GSH) or thioredoxin to the culture medium to monitor developmental competence of porcine embryos and to verify their intracellular redox status. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained from ovaries recovered from prepubertal gilts. Putative zygotes were produced by IVM of oocytes, followed by IVF (designated as Day 0). They were then cultured in modified NCSU-37 media containing GSH or thioredoxin as an antioxidant, or without any antioxidant (control), and blastocyst development rates on Day 6 were monitored. In addition, intracellular GSH content as a reducing parameter and intracellular H2O2 level as an oxidative parameter were measured; the intracellular redox status in the embryo was verified by the ratio of the GSH to the H2O2. Measurements in each group were replicated six times. Percentages of the embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage were significantly increased when 0.5 or 1.0 �M GSH (29.6 � 2.7% or 30.4 � 3.5%, and P < 0.05 or 0.01, respectively) or 1.0 mg/mL thioredoxin (30.6 � 2.4%, P < 0.01) was added to the medium compared to the percentage in the control group (20.1 � 2.2%). Intracellular redox status in embryos at the 8- to 12-cell stage or blastocysts was drastically reduced in GSH- or thioredoxin-added groups compared to that in the control group (P < 0.05 to 0.001). Furthermore, GSH or thioredoxin addition to the medium increased total cell numbers (48.3 � 2.1 to 49.2 � 2.1) and lowered ratios of apoptotic cells (6.2 � 0.6% to 7.0 � 0.7%) in blastocyst compared to those values in the control group (P < 0.05; cell number = 39.3 � 2.0, apoptosis rate = 11.1 � 1.1%) (37 to 53 embryos in each group were used for the TUNEL assay). These results suggest that the administration of GSH or thioredoxin to the culture medium improves in vitro embryonic development after IVM/IVF of oocytes, and that these beneficial effects are associated with maintenance of the intracellular redox status in a reduced state in porcine embryos.

100 SEQUENTIAL VERSUS SINGLE-STEP MEDIUM FOR RHESUS MACAQUE EMBRYO CULTURE

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Embryo Culture ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Equal Variance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Health Studies

The nonhuman primate (NHP) is a valuable translational model for human health studies and is widely used to investigate pre-implantation embryo development. Central to these investigations is the dependency on in vitro embryo culture (IVC). Since 2001, the single-step hamster embryo culture medium (HECM) has been the accepted standard for NHP IVC. With recent advances in formula optimization for IVC in human clinics, a re-examination of optimal NHP IVC media is warranted. Thus, two types of commercially available IVC media routinely used in human applications were compared with HECM-9: Global (single-step; LifeGlobal Group, Guilford, CT, USA), and Quinns Advantage (sequential; SAGE, Trumbull, CT, USA). Normally cycling, adult rhesus monkeys (n = 3) underwent controlled ovarian stimulations, and follicles were aspirated via laparoscope. Recovered ova were fertilized in vitro and the resultant zygotes (n = 138) were cultured for 9 days in HECM-9, Global, or Quinns with 10% protein supplement at 37.5°C in humidified tri-gas (6% CO2, 5% O2, and 89% N). Single-step media (HECM-9 and Global) were refreshed every two days while embryos were cultured for Days 1–3 in Quinns Advantage Cleavage medium without being replaced and in Quinns Advantage Blastocyst medium for Days 4–9 with medium changes every 2 days. Embryos were observed for cleavage, compaction, and blastocyst development. Proportional data with equal variance and normal distribution were analysed by one-way ANOVA, and significance was determined post-hoc by the Holm-Sidak method with P < 0.05. Developmental stage data ± s.e.M are presented in Table 1; a change in superscript indicates a significant difference within the column. There was no difference in embryonic cleavage or morula compaction between the three culture media evaluated, indicating no obvious differences in their effects on embryonic development 1 to 3 days after fertilization. However, a greater proportion of blastocysts developed in Global medium compared with HECM-9, and though it was not statistically different, embryos cultured in Global tended to reach the blastocyst stage more frequently than those in Quinns. Although not significant due to large variances in each group, blastocyst expansion also tended to occur more frequently in Global medium than in HECM-9 or Quinns. Taken together, these data indicate that single-step Global is as supportive of early embryonic development as HECM-9 but is better formulated to facilitate later stage differentiation and would be better suited for use in updated standard NHP IVC protocols. Table 1.Cleavage, compaction, blastocysts, and expansion of embryos in HECM-9, Global, and Quinns media

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