34 EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE AND trans-10,cis-12 CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION DURING MATURATION ON DEVELOPMENT AND CRYOTOLERANCE OF BOVINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED IN VITRO

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
J. Block ◽  
A. M. Zolini ◽  
E. Carrascal-Triana ◽  
A. Ruiz ◽  
P. J. Hansen ◽  
...  

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of supplementation of maturation media with L-carnitine and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on embryo development and survival following cryopreservation. Immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1796) were harvested from abattoir-derived ovaries and randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design to be matured in maturation medium [TCM-199 with Earle salts supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) bovine steer serum, 2 μg mL–1 oestradiol 17-β, 20 μg mL–1 bovine FSH, 22 μg mL–1 sodium pyruvate, 50 μg mL–1 gentamicin sulfate, and 1 mM glutamax®] supplemented with or without 100 mM CLA and with or without 3.03 mM L-carnitine for 22 to 24 h at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. The proportion of oocytes that cleaved was determined on Day 3 after insemination, and the proportion of oocytes developing to the blastocyst and advanced blastocysts stages (expanded, hatching, and hatched) was assessed on Day 7. Blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stage embryos (n = 270) were harvested on Day 7 and subjected to controlled-rate freezing following equilibration in 1.5 M ethylene glycol. Embryos were thawed and then cultured for 72 h in SOF-BE1 (Fields et al. 2011) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum and 50 μM dithiothreitol. Post-thaw re-expansion and hatching rates were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h. The experiment was replicated 5 times. There was no effect of supplementation of maturation medium with either CLA or L-carnitine on the proportion of oocytes that cleaved at Day 3 or that developed to the blastocyst and advanced blastocyst stages at Day 7 after insemination. There was no interaction between CLA and L-carnitine affecting cleavage rate or embryo development. Supplementation of maturation medium with L-carnitine did not affect post-thaw re-expansion or hatching rates. In contrast, treatment with CLA during maturation reduced (P < 0.05) post-thaw re-expansion (24 h: 75.2 ± 3.8% v. 60.3 ± 4.1%; 48 h: 82.0 ± 3.4% v. 64.9 ± 4.0%; 72 h: 78.9 ± 3.6% v. 65.9 ± 4.0%, respectively) and hatching (24 h: 33.7 ± 4.2% v. 23.5 ± 3.6%; 48 h: 61.1 ± 4.3% v. 44.0 ± 4.2%; 72 h: 62.6 ± 4.3% v. 50.2 ± 4.2%, respectively) rates at all time points. There was no interaction between CLA and L-carnitine affecting post-thaw viability. In conclusion, supplementation of maturation medium with L-carnitine did not affect embryo development or post-thaw viability. Although addition of CLA during maturation did not affect embryo development, post-thaw cryotolerance was reduced following CLA supplementation. There was no beneficial effect of supplementing maturation medium with both CLA and L-carnitine on embryo development or post-thaw cryosurvival.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
A. Ruiz ◽  
P. J. Hansen ◽  
J. Block

The objective was to determine the effects of addition of l-carnitine (LC) and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) during bovine embryo culture on cryosurvival, lipid content, and gene expression. For all experiments, embryos were produced in vitro using abattoir-derived oocytes. Following insemination, presumptive zygotes were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial to be cultured in SOF-BE1 supplemented with or without 3.03 mM LC and 100 μM CLA until Day 7. For Exp. 1, blastocyst- and expanded-blastocyst-stage embryos (n = 777) were slow-frozen in 1.5 M ethylene glycol. Embryos were thawed and then cultured for 72 h. Re-expansion and hatching rates were recorded at 24, 48, and 72 h. There was no effect of LC on post-thaw re-expansion rates, but CLA reduced (P < 0.05) and tended (P < 0.08) to reduce re-expansion rate at 24 and 48 h, respectively (76.5 ± 2.5 v. 70.4 ± 2.5 and 79.5 ± 2.2 v. 76.0 ± 2.2, respectively). Whereas hatching rate at 72 h tended (P < 0.08) to be higher for embryos cultured with LC (67.8 ± 2.5 v. 74.4 ± 2.5), treatment with CLA reduced (P < 0.05) hatching rate at 48 h (62.3 ± 2.6 v. 54.9 ± 2.6). In Exp. 2, to determine lipid content, expanded blastocyst-stage embryos (n = 263) were harvested and stained using Nile Red. Embryos were examined for fluorescence using an epifluorescence microscope, and intensity of fluorescence per unit area was quantified using ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). There was a significant interaction (P < 0.01) between LC and CLA affecting embryo lipid content. Whereas addition of CLA during culture increased lipid, treatment with LC and the combination of LC and CLA reduced lipid (22.8 ± 1.1 v. 19.1 ± 1.1 v. 28.4 ± 1.1 v. 19.2 ± 1.2 for no additive, +LC, +CLA, and +LC and CLA, respectively). For Exp. 3, the effect of LC and CLA on the relative abundance of genes involved in lipid metabolism (ELOVL6, SCD1, SQLE, HMGCS1, CYP51A1, FDPS, FDFT1, LDLR, and SC4MOL) was determined. Pools of 5 expanded blastocyst-stage embryos from each treatment were collected across 5 replicates. The RNA was purified and synthesised into cDNA for RT-qPCR analysis. The SDHA, GAPDH, and YWAZ were used as housekeeping genes. Addition of LC during culture reduced (P < 0.05) the abundance of 4 of the 9 genes analysed (SQLE, HMGCS1, CYP51A1, and FDPS) and tended (P < 0.08) to reduce a fifth (FDFT1). In addition, there was a tendency (P < 0.08) for LC to increase the abundance of SCD1. Addition of CLA during culture had minimal effects on transcript abundance. In particular, CLA treatment reduced (P < 0.01) ELOVL6 and tended (P < 0.08) to increase SCD1. In contrast to previous studies, post-thaw cryosurvival was not significantly improved by treatment with LC or CLA. Results indicate that reduced embryo lipid content caused by LC treatment is due, in part, to an alteration in the abundance of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Further research is still necessary to determine whether in vivo survival following transfer of cryopreserved embryos can be enhanced by treatment with LC or CLA.Support was provided by USDA AFRI Grant 2010–85122–20623.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
M. K. Jena ◽  
D. Malakar ◽  
A. K. De ◽  
S. Garg ◽  
Y. S. Akshey

The present study was carried out to see the developmental efficiency of zona-free and with zona parthenogenetic goat embryos cultured in Research Vitro Cleave from Cook Australia (RVCL), Embryo Development Media (EDM), modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF), and modified Charles Rosenkrans media (mCR2a). Zona-free embryos were cultured in 4 media, whereas with zona embryos were cultured in 3 media except mCR2a. Ovaries were collected from slaughterhouse and oocytes were isolated by puncturing the follicles in medium containing Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline, 3% BSA, and 50 μg mL-1 gentamicin. Oocytes were matured in maturation medium containing TCM-199 (HEPES modified), 0.05 mg mL-1 Na pyruvate, 0.003 mg mL-1 L-glutamine, 5.5 mg mL-1 glucose, 3 mg mL-1 BSA, 5 μg mL-1 FSH, 10 μg mL-1 LH, 1 μg mL-1 estradiol-17β, 50 μg mL-1 gentamicin, and 10% FBS in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. The COC (15 to 20 oocytes) were placed in 100-μL droplets of maturation medium and incubated in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2 in air) with maximum humidity at 38.5°C for 27 h. Matured oocytes were made cumulus free by treatment with hyaluronidase (0.5 mg mL-1) and zona-free by pronase (2 mg mL-1) in zona-free parthenogenesis. Then the oocytes were activated by 5 μM Ca ionophore for 5 min in a CO2 incubator and then treated with 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. Activation was also done by electrical activation with DC 1.78 kV cm-1, 20 μs, and 2 pulses. Then the zona-free oocytes were kept for in vitro culture in 4 types of media such as RVCL, EDM, mSOF, andm CR2a for 7 days in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. The cleavage rate andmorulae formation were observed in RVCL 40.95%, 13.95%, in EDM 46.92%, 14.75%, in mCR2a 56.66%, 5.88%, and in mSOF 48.23%, 14.63%, respectively. The cleavage rate and morulae formation were also found 55.9%, 14.63% during chemical activation and 32%, 12.5% in electrical activation. Hence, better result was found in chemical activation than electrical activation. For with zona parthenogenesis, the matured oocytes were chemically activated by 5 μM Ca ionophore for 5 min and 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. Then the oocytes were cultured in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF in 100-μL micro-drops media for 7 days. The cleavage, morulae, and early blastocyst production rate were as follows: cleavage rate 75.68%, 72.03%, and 57.11%; morulae 44.61%, 30.29%, and 40.22%; and early blastocyst 17.49%, 11.88%, and 25.01% in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF, respectively. Hatched blastocyst formation rate was 6.75%, 5.48%, and 1.15% in RVCL, EDM, and mSOF, respectively. It could be concluded that zona-free parthenogenetic embryos were produced better in EDM medium and with chemical activation. With zona parthenogenetic embryo development was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in RVCL and EDM media.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
J. Block ◽  
L. Bonilla ◽  
P. J. Hansen

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
E. L. Carrascal-Triana ◽  
A. M. Zolini ◽  
A. Ruiz ◽  
J. M. Penitente-Filho ◽  
C. A. A. Torres ◽  
...  

The aim of the present experiments was to determine whether treatment with the antioxidants ascorbic acid and dithiothreitol, or an inhibitor of caspase-3, Z-DEVD-FMK, during cryopreservation could improve the cryotolerance of bovine embryos produced in vitro. For all experiments, bovine embryos were produced in vitro using abattoir-derived ovaries. At Day 7 after insemination, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stage embryos were harvested and subjected to controlled-rate freezing following equilibration for 8 to 10 min in freezing medium [Hepes-TALP (Parrish et al. 1986) plus 1.5 M ethylene glycol and 0.5 M sucrose] with treatments as described below. Embryos were thawed and then cultured for 72 h in SOF-BE1 (Fields et al. 2011) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2. Re-expansion and hatching rates were recorded at 24, 48, and 72 h. For Experiment 1, embryos (n = 578) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 mM ascorbic acid. For Experiment 2, embryos (n = 243) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 50, 100, or 200 μM dithiothreitol. For Experiment 3, embryos (n = 227) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 50, 100, or 200 μM Z-DEVD-FMK. Embryos frozen in freezing medium containing ascorbic acid had increased (P < 0.05) re-expansion and hatching rates at 24, 48, and 72 h compared with embryos not treated with ascorbic acid (Table 1). The optimal concentration of ascorbic acid for post-thaw cryosurvival was 0.1 mM. In particular, embryos treated with 0.1 mM ascorbic acid during cryopreservation had increased (P < 0.05) re-expansion rates at 24, 48, and 72 h, as well as hatching rates at 48 and 72 h, compared with control-treated embryos (Table 1). There was no effect of treatment with dithiothreitol or Z-DEVD-FMK on re-expansion or hatching rates at 24, 48, or 72 h after thaw. In conclusion, addition of ascorbic acid to freezing medium improves the cryosurvival of bovine embryos produced in vitro. Further research is necessary to determine whether treatment with ascorbic acid can increase pregnancy rates. Table 1.Effect of ascorbic acid during cryopreservation of bovine embryos (%, means ± standard error of the mean)


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
M. L. Uchuari ◽  
M. Artica ◽  
J. C. Villanueva ◽  
W. F. Huanca ◽  
W. Huanca

Maturation time of oocytes from alpacas is around 38 to 40h (Huanca et al. 2009) that would induce an increase in reactive oxygen species during in vitro maturation and IVF and cause cytotoxic damage to gametes. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal concentration of methionine during in vitro maturation on cleavage rate of alpacas oocytes following IVF. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and transported in a thermos flask containing a saline solution 0.9% and antibiotic, antimycotic at 35°C. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from follicles &gt;2mm and evaluated with a stereomicroscope for selection. Only cumulus-oocyte complexes with a homogeneous cytoplasm and with 2 or more layers of cumulus cells were selected to be cultured in maturation medium TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS (v:v) plus 0.5μg mL−1 FSH, 10μg mL−1 hCG, 0.2mM sodium pyruvate, 50μg mL−1gentamycin and 1μg mL−1 oestradiol under mineral oil by 38h. Testes of mature males were collected from a slaughterhouse and transported to the laboratory. Caudal epididymide was isolated, and fluid, rich in spermatozoa, was aspirated in syringes containing 2mL of Tris-fructose-egg yolk extender. Motile spermatozoa were obtained by centrifugation at 700×g in a Percoll discontinuous gradient (22.5: 45.0%) for 10min. The supernatant was removed by aspiration, and the pellet was resuspended in TL stock and centrifuged again at 700×g for 5min. Spermatozoa and oocytes were co-incubated by 18h at 39°C with 5% CO2. Presumptive zygotes were culture in KSOMaa medium and evaluated at 72h. The treatments include 0, 14 and 21 μM of methionine in maturation and culture medium. Data were analysed by ANOVA, and results are presented in Table 1. The results suggest that addition of methionine in maturation and culture medium improve the cleavage rate in oocytes from alpacas. Table 1.Cleavage rate (%) following in vitro maturation at different concentrations of methionine Proyect 405-PNICP-PIAP-2014, INNOVATE-PERU, is acknowledged.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
D. Malakar ◽  
A. K. De ◽  
Y. S. Akshey

In rodents, chimeric blastocysts produced by combining embryonic cells of 2 different species have been used to investigate cell lineage and cell interaction during development. Interspecific chimerism offers new approaches to the study of reproductive incompatibilities between species. The aim of the present study was to produce interspecies embryos between sheep oocytes and goat spermatozoa through in vitro fertilization. Sheep ovaries were collected from a nearby abattoir and transported to the laboratory in 0.9% normal sterile saline containing antibiotics (50 μg mL–1 of gentamicin sulfate) at 30 to 35°C. Oocytes were aspirated by the puncturing method in a medium consisting of TCM-199 and 3 mg mL–1 of BSA. Only A and B grade COC with 3 or more layers of cumulus cells with homogeneous ooplasm were taken for maturation. The oocytes were washed 4 to 5 times in maturation medium containing TCM-199 (HEPES modified), 10 μg mL–1 of LH, 5 μg mL–1 of FSH, 1 μg mL–1 of estradiol-17β, 50 μg mL–1 of sodium pyruvate, 5.5 mg mL–1 of glucose, 3.5 μg mL–1 of L-glutamine, 50 μg mL–1 of gentamicin, 3 mg mL–1 of BSA, and 10% EGS (heat-inactivated goat serum). The COC (15 to 20 oocytes) were placed in 100-μL droplets of maturation medium, covered with paraffin oil in a 35-mm Petri dish, and incubated in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2 in air) with maximum humidity at 38.5°C for 24 h. Fresh semen was collected from a proven buck. The semen was washed at 300g 2 times in sperm-TALP (Parrish et al. 1986) medium to remove the seminal plasma and incubated with fert-TALP medium containing sperm-TALP supplemented with 50 μg mL–1 of heparin and 3 mg mL–1 of BSA for 1.5 h for capacitation. The matured sheep oocytes with expanded cumulus cells were coincubated with capacitated buck spermatozoa at a concentration of 2 × 106 sperm mL–1 for 10 h in 5% CO2 in air with maximum humidity at 38.5°C. The presumptive zygotes were then cultured in embryo development medium containing TCM-199 (HEPES modified), 0.03 mg mL–1 of sodium pyruvate, 0.1 mg mL–1 of L-glutamine, 0.05 mg mL–1 of gentamicin, 10 μL mL–1 of essential amino acids, 5 μL mL–1 of nonessential amino acids, 10 mg mL–1 of BSA (fraction V), 10% fetal calf serum, and 50 mm cysteamine along with sheep oviductal cells for further development. The cleavage was recorded at 36 to 48 h postinsemination, and morula- and blastocyst-stage embryos were obtained on Day 5 and Day 7, respectively. The cleavage percentage was found to be 58.6%. Among the cleaved embryos, 43% reached the morula stage, and among morula, 31% reached the blastocyst stage. We concluded that interspecies embryos between sheep and goat can be produced successfully in vitro up to the blastocyst stage. Table 1. In vitro production of different stages of interspecies (sheep × goat) embryos


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Huanca ◽  
R. Condori ◽  
J. Cainzos ◽  
M. Chileno ◽  
L. Quintela ◽  
...  

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of incubation time on nuclear maturation (Experiment 1) and determine the cleavage rate of alpaca oocytes after of IVF time (Experiment 2) In Experiment 1, CCOs were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and transported to the laboratory in a thermos flask containing a saline solution 0.9% with antibiotic antimycotic at 35°C. CCOs were aspirated from follicles >2 mm and pooled in a conical tube to sedimentation previous to evaluation under stereomicroscope and CCOs with a cytoplasm homogeneous and 2 or more layers of cumulus cells were transferred to plates with a 40-μL drop of maturation medium TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS (v : v) plus 0.5 μg mL-1 FSH, 10 μg mL-1 hCG, 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, 50 μg mL-1 gentamicine, and 1 μg mL-1 Estradiol under mineral oil with 10-12 oocytes/drop. Oocytes were incubated under the following maturation times: 30, 34, and 38 h at 39°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and high humidity. After each maturation time, CCOs were removed from maturation medium and washed with PBS supplemented with 10% FCS and 1 mgmL-1 of hyaluronidase and fixed in ethanol: acetic acid (3 : 1). Oocytes were placed on the slide with minimum medium and stained with 1% orcein for 5 min The slides were examined under a phase contrast microscope at × 400 to evaluate status of nuclear maturation and classified as germinal vesicle (GV); metaphase I (M-I), anaphase-telophase; metaphase II (M-II) and degenerated. Experiment 2: The same maturation method as Experiment 1 was used. Testes were collected of mature males from slaughterhouse and transported to the laboratory. Caudal epididymide was isolated. A prick was made on the convoluted tubules with a sterile hypodermic needle and the fluid, rich in spermatozoa, was aspirated in syringes containing 2 mL of Tris-fructose egg yolk extender. Motile spermatozoa were obtained by centrifugation: 700 g on a Percoll discontinuous gradient (22.5 :45.0%) for 25 min. The supernatant was removed by aspiration and pellet (containing viable spermatozoa) was resuspended in TL stock. Spermatozoa and oocytes were co-incubated for 18-20 h at 39°C with 5% CO2 and then cultivated in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS (v: v), 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, and 50 μg mL-1 gentamicine and evaluated at 48 h. Data were subjected to ANOVA. For Experiment 1, the proportions of oocytes reaching M-II stage was 18.9 ± 15.7, 42.9 ± 16.2, and 65.8 ± 8.1% for the 30, 34, and 38 h of culture, respectively, with difference to maturation time (P < 0.05). For Experiment 2, the cleavage rate was 9.5, 7.7, and 15.4% to 30, 34, and 38 h after of fertilization time 48 h culture. These results indicate that 38 or more h is required for the maturation and fertilization of alpaca oocytes. Grant 064 FINCyT-PIBAP 2008.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
C. M. O'Meara ◽  
T. Fair ◽  
P. Lonergan

Progesterone plays a key role in the reproductive events associated with pregnancy establishment and maintenance. High concentrations of circulating progesterone in the immediate post-conception period are associated with an advancement of conceptus elongation, an associated increase in interferon-tau production and higher pregnancy rates in cattle. Progesterone-induced changes in the uterine environment are thought to be responsible for the reported advancement in conceptus elongation; however, the function of the progesterone receptor in embryos is not known. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the effect of adding a progesterone receptor antagonist (mifepristone, RU486) at various stages of early embryonic development and at varying concentrations to examine the effects on subsequent embryo development in vitro. Bovine zygotes (n = 2902), 2-cell (n = 1991) and 8-cell (n = 1244) embryos, derived by in vitro maturation and fertilization, were cultured in synthetic oviduct fluid medium in the absence or presence of RU486 at concentrations ranging from 0.0004 to 20 μg mL–1. Cleavage rate (of zygotes), 8-cell development rate (of 2-cell embryos) and development to the blastocyst stage (for all cell stages) were recorded at Day 2, 3 and 8 post-insemination (day of IVF = Day 0), respectively. Cultures of zygotes in the presence of RU486 at concentrations of 0.004 and 0.04 μg mL–1 resulted in a decline in cleavage rate (62.5 ± 2.55% and 48.8 ± 5.07% for respective treatments vs controls without RU486 81.9 ± 5.97%; P ≤ 0.05). These same concentrations resulted in a significant decline in blastocyst development on Day 8 (18.8 ± 1.82% and 17.4 ± 4.85% for respective treatments compared to controls 35.1 ± 4.89%; P ≤ 0.05). Cultures at concentrations of 0.4 μg mL–1 resulted in a 10-fold decrease in blastocyst development (3.3 ± 1.3%; P ≤ 0.05) and concentrations in excess of 10 μg mL–1 completely ablated blastocyst development (P ≤ 0.05). Cultures of 2-cell embryos with RU486 at concentrations below 8 μg mL–1 had no effect on 8-cell rate or blastocyst development. However, cultures with RU486 at 10 μg mL–1 resulted in a significant decline in the proportion reaching the 8-cell stage (59.1 ± 4.59% vs 38.1 ± 2.13% for control and treated, respectively) and developing to the blastocyst stage (32.8 ± 4.68% vs 17.8 ± 3.77% for control and treated, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Cultures with RU486 at a concentration of 20 μg mL–1 resulted in a dramatic effect in 8-cell rate (16.3 ± 2.55%; P ≤ 0.05) and prevented blastocyst development. Similarly, cultures of 8-cell embryos with RU486 at concentrations at or below 10 μg mL–1 had no effect on blastocyst development. However, cultures at concentrations of 15 or 20 μg mL–1 resulted in no blastocyst development. In conclusion, addition of the progesterone and glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 to culture media has a clear stage-specific and concentration-dependent effect on bovine embryo development, which is more pronounced at earlier developmental stages. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland (07/SRC/B1156).


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 361-362
Author(s):  
McKenzie L Haimon ◽  
Eliab Estrada-Cortés ◽  
Thiago F Amaral ◽  
Surawich Jeensuk ◽  
Froylan Sosa ◽  
...  

Abstract Choline is a nutrient that plays a role as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine, and the methyl donor betaine. Embryos produced in vitro are usually cultured without an exogenous choline source. We hypothesized that exposure to 1.8 mM choline chloride would increase percent of embryos becoming blastocysts in culture and pregnancy rate after transfer of embryos into recipients. A total of 39 Brahman and Senepol donors were used to produce embryos for transfer into recipient crossbred females. Donors were assigned to have their embryos cultured in either 1.8 mM choline chloride or, as a control, 1.8 mM extra NaCl. The percent of oocytes cleaved were measured 3 days after insemination and percent blastocyst at day 7.5. Embryos were transferred into recipient cows and pregnancy was diagnosed at 28–31 days of gestation and then confirmed at 50–56 days. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Treatment did not affect cleavage rate (67.3 + 1.6 vs 68.6 + 1.6% for choline vs control; P = .0.5632) or percent of cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts (17.6 + 1.3 vs 18.1 + 1.3%; P = 0.5355). Similarly, there was no effect of treatment on pregnancy days 28–31 [42.5% (48/113 cows) vs 47.3% (54/114 cows) for choline vs control; P = 0.4339] or at days 50–56 [39.1% (36/92) vs 38.5% (32/83); P = 0.5348]. In summary, 1.8 mM choline chloride does not impact embryo development to the blastocyst stage or pregnancy establishment. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the phenotype of the subsequent calves to determine whether early exposure to choline has consequences for postnatal function. Support: USDA-NIFA 2020-67015-30821.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewi Pranatasari ◽  
Kustono Kustono ◽  
Diah Tri Widayati

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of gonadotropin hormone supplementation into in vitro maturation medium on maturation, fertilization and embryo development of Bligon goats. This research steps consist of oocyte collection, in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro embryo development. At the maturation stage the oocyte that had been collected and divided into two groups based on the maturation medium, that was tissue culture medium (TCM) with supplementation of GnRH 0 IU/mL and GnRH 25 IU/mL. Oocyte and embryo morphology data were analyzed descriptively. Maturation rate and embryo development data were analyzed by using independent sample t-test. Fertilization data was analyzed descriptively. The result showed the percentages of mature oocytes from gonadotropin supplementation of 0 IU/mL and 25 IU/mL were 54.10±25.97 and 54.89±26.44%, respectively. Expansion cumulus cells surrounding the oocytes might indicated the mature oocytes. Cleavage rate of the 2 cells stage were 13,02±11,09 and 27,01±16,65%; respectively, and for the 4 cells stage were 10,16±10,01% and 16,67±14.91%. Embryos obtained from the treatment, indicated uniform of blastomeres in the size, tight, compact, intact, and round-spherical shape. It could be concluded that supplementation of gonadotropin hormone into in vitro maturation medium could not increase the rate of oocyte maturation and 4 cell embryo development, but it could increase 2 cell embryo development of Bligon goats. Hormone supplementation could improved the maturation and embryo quality.


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