scholarly journals Effects of gonadotrophin treatments on meiotic and developmental competence of oocytes in porcine primordial follicles following xenografting to nude mice

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Kaneko ◽  
Kazuhiro Kikuchi ◽  
Junko Noguchi ◽  
Manabu Ozawa ◽  
Katsuhiko Ohnuma ◽  
...  

Our objective was to improve the developmental ability of oocytes in porcine primordial follicles xenografted to nude mice, by treating the host mice with gonadotrophins to accelerate follicular growth. Ovarian tissues from 20-day-old piglets, in which most of the follicles were primordial, were transplanted under the kidney capsules of ovariectomized nude mice. Gonadotrophin treatments were commenced around 60 days after vaginal cornification in the mice. Ovarian grafts were obtained 2 or 3 days after treatment with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG-2 and eCG-3 groups), after porcine FSH infusion for 7 or 14 days, or after infusion of porcine FSH for 14 days with a single injection of estradiol antiserum (FSH-7, FSH-14 and FSH-14EA groups, respectively). Gonadotrophin treatments accelerated follicular growth within the xenografts compared with that in control mice given no gonadotrophins, consistent with higher (P < 0.05) circulating inhibin levels in the gonadotrophin-treated mice. In contrast, circulating mouse FSH levels were significantly (P < 0.05) depressed. We recovered large numbers of full-sized oocytes with meiotic competence to the mature stage from the eCG-3, FSH-7, and FSH-14EA, unlike in the control group. Moreover, 56% of matured oocytes with the first polar body (n = 39) were fertilized in vitro in the FSH-14EA group. After in vitro fertilization and subsequent culture for 7 days, one blastocyst was obtained from each of the eCG-3, FSH-7 and, FSH-14EA groups, whereas no blastocysts appeared in the other groups. Exogenous gonadotrophins –not mouse FSH – stimulated the growing follicles that had developed from the primordial follicles in the xenografts: the effects were incomplete but improved to some extent the meiotic and developmental abilities of the oocytes.

Zygote ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Yun ◽  
Peng An ◽  
Jing Ning ◽  
Gui-Ming Zhao ◽  
Wen-Lin Yang ◽  
...  

SummaryOocyte-specific linker histone, H1foo, is localized on the oocyte chromosomes during the process of meiotic maturation, and is essential for mouse oocyte maturation. Bovine H1foo has been identified, and its expression profile throughout oocyte maturation and early embryo development has been established. However, it has not been confirmed if H1foo is indispensable during bovine oocyte maturation. Effective siRNAs against H1foo were screened in HeLa cells, and then siRNA was microinjected into bovine oocytes to down-regulate H1foo expression. H1foo overexpression was achieved via mRNA injection. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results indicated that H1foo was up-regulated by 200% and down-regulated by 70%. Based on the first polar body extrusion (PB1E) rate, H1foo overexpression apparently promoted meiotic progression. The knockdown of H1foo significantly impaired bovine oocyte maturation compared with H1foo overexpression and control groups (H1foo overexpression = 88.7%, H1foo siRNA = 41.2%, control = 71.2%; P < 0.05). This decrease can be rescued by co-injection of a modified H1foo mRNA that has escaped from the siRNA target. However, the H1e (somatic linker histone) overexpression had no effect on PB1E rate when compared with the control group. Therefore we concluded that H1foo is essential for bovine oocyte maturation and its overexpression stimulates the process.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
K. Kikuchi ◽  
K. Yoshioka ◽  
F. Tanihara ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
...  

Development to term of vitrified porcine follicular oocytes is reported in the present study. Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected from slaughtered prepubertal gilts and were vitrified according to our method published recently (Somfai et al. 2013 J. Reprod. Dev., in press). Briefly, after pretreatment with 7.5 μg mL–1 of cytochalasin B (CB) for 30 min in modified NCSU-37 (a basic medium, BM) at 38.5°C, groups of 88 to 121 COC were equilibrated in a mixture of 2% ethylene glycol (EG), 2% propylene glycol (PG), and 7.5 μg mL–1 CB for 13 to 15 min. Then, COC were washed in vitrification solution (17.5% EG, 17.5% PG, 5% polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and 0.3 M trehalose in BM) and then dropped with 2 μL of vitrification solution onto the surface of aluminum foil floating on liquid nitrogen (LN2). Microdroplets (each containing 10–25 COC) were transferred into cryotubes. After storage in LN2 for 2 to 4 weeks, the oocytes were warmed by dropping the microdroplets directly into 2.5 mL of warming solution (0.4 M trehalose in BM) kept in a 35-mm Petri dish on a 42°C hotplate for less than 1 min. Then, the warming dish was placed on a 38°C hotplate and COC were consecutively transferred for 1-min periods into BM containing 0.2, 0.1, or 0.05 M trehalose at 38°C. The COC were matured in vitro for 44 h using porcine oocyte medium (POM) supplemented with 10% follicular fluid (Yoshioka et al. 2008 J. Reprod. Dev. 54, 208–213). Then, oocytes were denuded, and their live/dead status and nuclear maturation were determined by their morphology and the presence of the first polar body, respectively. To assess their developmental competence, vitrified and non-vitrified (control) oocytes were in vitro fertilized (IVF; Kikuchi et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041) and then in vitro cultured in porcine zygote medium-5 (PZM-5; Yoshioka et al. 2008 J. Reprod. Dev. 54, 208–213). Blastocyst rates were recorded on Days 5, 6, and 7 of culture (Day 0 = the day of IVF). The experiment was replicated 4 times. Data were analysed with 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey test. The results revealed that 86.4% (364/424) of oocytes survived after vitrification, which was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of controls [100% (326/326)]. Live oocytes in vitrified and control groups did not differ statistically in terms of nuclear maturation (63.9 v. 65.3%). Blastocyst rates of surviving vitrified oocytes were significantly lower compared with controls on Days 5 (2.4 v. 12.7%), 6 (4.8 v. 17.6%), and 7 (5.6 v. 18.4%). To test their ability to develop to term, 16 and 27 blastocysts on Day 5 developing from vitrified COC were transferred into 2 recipients. Both recipients became pregnant and farrowed a total of 10 live piglets (4 and 6 piglets, respectively). These data demonstrate that large groups of immature porcine oocytes could be cryopreserved by this method showing high survival and maturation rates. Furthermore, despite a low rate of blastocyst development, transfer of Day-5 blastocysts generated from vitrified oocytes resulted in piglet production for the first time in the world. Partially supported by JSPS and HAS under the Japan-Hungary Research Cooperative Program.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
L. T. K. Do ◽  
Y. Sato ◽  
M. Taniguchi ◽  
T. Otoi

The developmental ability of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) embryos decreases as the taxonomic distance between the donor and recipient species increases. Treatment of cat iSCNT embryos using bovine oocytes with 50 nM of trichostatin A (TSA) improves in vitro embryonic development (Wittayarat et al. 2013 Cell. Reprogram. 15, 301–308). This study investigated whether the TSA treatment effects differ between the development of cat iSCNT embryos reconstructed with porcine and bovine oocytes. Porcine and bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were in vitro matured for 44 h and 24 h, respectively. After cumulus cell removal, enucleation was performed by aspiration of the metaphase II plate and the first polar body using a piezo-driven pipette. A cat fibroblast cell was then injected into cytoplasm of successfully enucleated oocyte. Reconstructed cybrids were electrically activated by a single 1.5 kV cm–1 pulse for 100 µs (pig-cat embryos), or a 2.3 kV cm–1 pulse for 30 µs (cow-cat embryos). Pig-cat and cow-cat embryos were cultured in porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 and modified synthetic oviducal fluid medium (mSOF), respectively. After electrical activation, pig-cat and cow-cat embryos were cultured in medium supplemented with 5 µg mL–1 cytochalasin B + 50 nM TSA (TSA group) or without TSA (control group), and the cow-cat embryo medium was also supplemented with 10 µg mL–1 cycloheximide. After 2 h, TSA-treated pig-cat and cow-cat embryos were incubated in medium supplemented with TSA for 22 h, followed by 48 h incubation without TSA. Pig-cat and cow-cat control embryos were cultured in medium without TSA for 70 h after activation. Then, all pig-cat and cow-cat embryos were cultured in porcine blastocyst medium (PBM) or mSOF medium supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum, respectively, for 5 additional days. Four to seven replicates were performed for each experiment. Data were analysed using Student's t-test. For pig-cat embryos, no difference was observed in cleavage rates between both groups, but development to the blastocyst stage was higher in the pig control group (n = 147, 8.0%) than that of pig TSA group (n = 131, 0.7%; P < 0.05). In contrast, development to the blastocyst stage in cow-cat embryos was not observed in the cow control group (n = 125, 0%), but it was observed in cow TSA group (n = 136, 3.7%). These results indicate that TSA treatment effects are species-specific, but those effects remain to be clarified.


Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 455-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
YH Choi ◽  
CC Love ◽  
LB Love ◽  
DD Varner ◽  
S Brinsko ◽  
...  

This study was undertaken to evaluate the development of equine oocytes in vitro and in vivo after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with either fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa, without the use of additional activation treatments. Oocytes were collected from ovaries obtained from an abattoir and oocytes classified as having expanded cumulus cells were matured in M199 with 10% fetal bovine serum and 5 microU FSH ml(-1). After 24-26 h of in vitro maturation, oocytes with a first polar body were selected for manipulation. Fresh ejaculated stallion spermatozoa were used for the experiment after swim-up for 20 min in sperm-Tyrode's albumen lactate pyruvate. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa from the same stallion were treated in a similar way. Spermatozoa were immobilized and injected into the oocytes using a Piezo drill. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in G1.2 medium for 20 or 96 h after the injection was administered, or were transferred to the oviducts of recipient mares and recovered 96 h later. In addition, bovine oocytes with first polar bodies were injected with the two types of stallion spermatozoa and fixed 20 h after injection to examine pronuclear formation. Fertilization rate (pronucleus formation and cleavage) at 20 h after injection of spermatozoa was not significantly different between fresh and frozen-thawed sperm groups in either equine or bovine oocytes. Pronucleus formation after injection of spermatozoa into bovine oocytes was significantly higher than that for equine oocytes (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in cleavage rate or average number of nuclei at 96 h between equine oocytes injected with fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa. However, embryos developed in vivo for 96 h had a significantly higher number of nuclei in both sperm treatments compared with those cultured in vitro. These results indicate that good activation rates may be obtained after injection of either fresh or frozen-thawed equine spermatozoa without additional activation treatment. Injection of frozen-thawed equine spermatozoa results in similar embryo development to that obtained with fresh equine spermatozoa. In vitro culture of equine zygotes in G1.2 medium results in a similar cleavage rate but reduced number of cells compared with in vivo culture within the oviduct. Bovine oocytes may be useful as models for assessing sperm function in horses.


Author(s):  
Luis Aguila ◽  
Favian Treulen ◽  
Jacinthe Therrien ◽  
Ricardo Felmer ◽  
Martha Valdivia ◽  
...  

The efficiency of producing embryos using in vitro technologies in livestock species rarely exceeds the 30 to 40% threshold, indicating that the proportion of oocytes that fail to develop after in vitro fertilization and culture is considerably large. Considering that the intrinsic quality of the oocyte is one of the main factors affecting blastocyst yield, the precise identification of non-invasive cellular or molecular markers that predict oocyte competence is of major interest to research and practical applications. The aim of this review was to explore the current literature on different non-invasive markers associated with oocyte quality in mammalian species, with an emphasis on the bovine model. Apart from some controversial findings, the presence of cycle-related structures in ovaries, a follicle size between 6 and 10 mm, large number of surrounding cumulus cells, slightly expanded investment without dark areas, large oocyte diameter (&amp;gt;120 microns), dark cytoplasm, and the presence of a round and smooth first polar body have been associated to better competence. In addition, the combination of oocyte and zygote selection by BCB test and spindle imaging have the potential to further optimize the identification of oocytes with better developmental competence for in vitro-derived technologies in livestock species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Sepvian Dewi Kurniawati ◽  
Suryanie Sarudji ◽  
Widjiati Widjiati

This study was aimed to determine the effect of urea in maturation medium on in vitro oocyte maturation rate. The medium used was TCM-199 added with Hepes, NaHCO3, Kanamycin 0.15 IU/mL, PMSG, 0.15 IU/mL hCG, and 10% FBS. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) of cows derived from follicle aspiration were divided into three groups. In control group (P0), the COCs were matured in vitro in a maturation medium without urea addition, meanwhile in the P1 and P2 groups, the medium was added with urea 20 and 40 mg/dL, respectively. Each petri dish contained three drops of maturation medium (300 µl/drops) according to the groups. Microdrops were coated with mineral oil and then incubated in a 5% CO2 incubator, at 39 ˚C with maximum humidity. Aceto-orcein staining was conducted to evaluate the maturation of oocytes based on the achievement of metaphase II phase that is indicated by the presence of metaphase plate and/or first polar body. The result showed that the oocyte maturation rates of P0, P1, and P2 were 51.25, 52.43 (p >0.05), and 46.88 % (p <0.05) respectively. It could be concluded that the presence of urea at 40 mg/dL in maturation medium reduced the percentage of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6346
Author(s):  
Benazir Abbasi ◽  
Yan Dong ◽  
Rong Rui

Postovulatory aging of the mammalian oocytes causes deterioration of oocytes through several factors including oxidative stress. Keeping that in mind, we aimed to investigate the potential of a well-known antioxidant, resveratrol (RV), to evaluate the adverse effects of postovulatory aging in porcine oocytes. After in vitro maturation (IVM), a group of (25–30) oocytes (in three replicates) were exposed to 0, 1, 2, and 4 μmol/L of RV, respectively. The results revealed that the first polar body (PB1) extrusion rate of the oocytes significantly increased when the RV concentration reached up to 2 μmol/L (p < 0.05). Considering optimum RV concentration of 2 μmol/L, the potential of RV was evaluated in oocytes aged for 24 and 48 h. We used fluorescence microscopy to detect the relative level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while GHS contents were measured through the enzymatic method. Our results revealed that aged groups (24 h and 48 h) treated with RV (2 μmol/L) showed higher (p < 0.05) ROS fluorescence intensity than the control group, but lower (p < 0.05) than untreated aged groups. The GSH content in untreated aged groups (24 h and 48 h) was lower (p < 0.05) than RV-treated groups, but both groups showed higher levels than the control. Similarly, the relative expression of the genes involved in antioxidant activity (CAT, GPXGSH-Px, and SOD1) in RV-treated groups was lower (p < 0.05) as compared to the control group but higher than that of untreated aged groups. Moreover, the relative mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bax in RV-treated groups was higher (p < 0.05) than the control group but lower than untreated groups. Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 in the RV-treated group was significantly lower than control but higher than untreated aged groups. Taken together, our findings revealed that the RV can increase the expression of antioxidant genes by decreasing the level of ROS, and its potent antiapoptotic effects resisted against the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential in aged oocytes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Somfai ◽  
M. Ozawa ◽  
J. Noguchi ◽  
H. Kaneko ◽  
K. Ohnuma ◽  
...  

The present study investigated the ability of in vitro-matured (IVM) porcine oocytes to be fertilized in vitro after vitrification. Oocytes matured in vitro for 46 h according to Kikuchi et al. (2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041) were cryopreserved by solid surface vitrification (SSV; Dinnyes et al. 2000 Biol. Reprod. 63, 513–518) or subjected to the steps of SSV without cooling (toxicity control, TC). Oocyte viability was assessed 2 h after treatment by morphology and fluorescein diacetate staining. Live oocytes were in vitro-fertilized (IVF) and cultured (IVC) for 6 days according to Kikuchi et al. (2002). Fertilization and pronuclear development of oocytes were assessed 10 h after IVF by aceto-orcein staining. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were recorded during IVC. Glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide levels in oocytes were analyzed by DTNB-glutathione disulfide reductase recycling assay and 20,70-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence assay, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and paired t-test. The rate of live oocytes after SSV was lower compared to the control and the TC groups (54.4%, 100%, and 100%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Sperm penetration rates of SSV oocytes were lower than those of the control group (51.9% and 67.8%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Significantly fewer penetrated oocytes in the SSV group formed male pronuclei than those in the control and the TC groups (66.7%, 96.5%, and 98.5%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). There were no differences in second polar body extrusion and monospermy rates between the treatment groups. The cleavage rate of SSV oocytes was significantly lower than that of the control and the TC groups (13.3%, 46.6%, and 47.7%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Blastocyst rates of control and TC oocytes were similar (20.7% and 23.6%, respectively), whereas only a single embryo developed to the blastocyst stage in the SSV group. GSH content of SSV oocytes was significantly lower than that of the control oocytes (7.3 pM and 10.5 pM, respectively), whereas the peroxide level was higher in SSV oocytes than in the control oocytes (59.0 and 50.5 FIU, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). Our results reveal a cryopreservation-related drop of intracellular GSH level in oocytes, which may cause their decreased ability to form a male pronucleus and their increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. These factors might contribute to the low developmental competence of vitrified oocytes. This work was supported by a grant-in-aid for the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers (P05648) and the Bilateral Scientific and Technological Collaboration Grant between Hungary and Japan (TET, no. JAP-11/02).


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Suh ◽  
S. Purcell ◽  
G. Seidel Jr

Ovarian follicular development in mares during the transitional period before the breeding season leads to an accumulation of antral follicles of various sizes. The quality of oocytes at this stage may be compromized until the first seasonal ovulation. In this study, we evaluated the developmental competence of oocytes recovered from transitional and cyclic mares, and the effect of zygote activation after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment consisting of oocytes from transitional and cyclic mares, two follicle sizes (10 to 20 and 20+ mm), and two treatments (control and activated) was conducted. Follicular oocytes of 14 mares were aspirated in March and April (transitional) and May to July (cyclic) five times per each period at 10-day intervals, without use of hCG. Oocytes aspirated from mares were matured in vitro in a defined medium similar to SOF plus FSH, LH, epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), estradiol (E2), prostaglandin (P4) and 10% FCS, for 30 ± 1 h under 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C; oocytes with a first polar body were used for ICSI. Motile sperm from frozen-thawed semen were used for sperm injection with a piezo-driven pipet. For activation after ICSI, presumptive zygotes were cultured in G1.3 containing 0.02 µM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 2 h, and then in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 3 h under 6% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. Zygotes were cultured in 50 µL drops of DMEM/F12 containing 10% FCS for 9 days at 38.5°C in 5% CO2/5% O2/90% N2. Medium was replaced every 3 days. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were calculated based on non-degenerating injected oocytes. Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. A total of 115 and 78 oocytes were recovered from cyclic and transitional mares. Average maturation rates to MII in the respective groups were 76.5 and 65.4%, respectively (P < 0.07), and those of 10 to 20 and 20+ mm follicle groups were 70.6 and 80.0%, respectively (P > 0.05). The average cleavage rate in cyclic mares was higher than in transitional mares, and that of the activated group averaged over follicle sizes was higher than that of controls (P < 0.05; Table 1); those of 10 to 20 and 20+ mm follicle groups were not different (P < 0.05; Table 1). Blastocyst rates per oocyte within main effects were not different (P < 0.05; Table 1). Oocytes from transitional mares had lower cleavage rates than those of cyclic mares, but blastocyst development was similar. Activation of zygotes clearly improved cleavage rates of in vivo-derived immature equine oocytes after ICSI. Table 1. Main effect means of responses after ICSI


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
N. Maedomari ◽  
K. Kikuchi ◽  
M. Fahrudin ◽  
N. Nakai ◽  
M. Ozawa ◽  
...  

Metaphase-II chromosome transfer (M-II transfer) of oocytes is considered to be one of the advanced procedures to improve fertilization and developmental abilities of oocytes with poor cytoplasmic maturation. The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental capacity after IVF and IVC of porcine oocytes reconstructed from karyoplasts and cytoplasts produced by centri-fusion (Fahrudin et al. 2007 Cloning Stem Cells 9, 216–228). In brief, IVM oocytes (Kikuchi et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 1033–1041) with a visible first polar body were centrifuged at 13 000g for 9 min to stratify the cytoplasm. Then the zonae pellucidae were removed with pronase treatment. Zona-free oocytes were layered on a 300-µL discontinuous gradient of Percoll in TCM-HEPES with 5 µg mL–1 of cytochalasin B. After centrifugation at 6000g for 4 s, fragmented cytoplasms with approximately equal volumes were obtained, stained with Hoechst-33342, and classified into cytoplasm with (K; karyoplast) or without (C; cytoplast) chromosomes. One karyoplast was fused with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 cytoplasts (K, K + 1C, K + 2C, K + 3C, and K + 4C, respectively) by an electric stimulation with a single DC pulse (1.5 kV cm–1 for 20 µs) and cultured for 1 h. Zona-free oocytes without any reconstruction served as control oocytes. The diameters of the reconstructed and control oocytes were measured. All specimens were fertilized in vitro with frozen–thawed boar sperm, and cultured using the well of the well (WOW) system (Vajta et al. 2000 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55, 256–264). Their fertilization status and developmental competence were examined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range tests. The diameter differed significantly among K to K + 4C oocytes (75.0–127.1 µm; P < 0.05), whereas the diameter of K + 2C oocytes was similar to that of the control oocytes (110.5 µm). Regardless of the cytoplast volume, sperm penetration rates (73.1–93.8%) for K to K + 4C oocytes were not significantly different compared to control oocytes (78.0%). Male pronuclear formation rates of K to K + 4C oocytes (92.3–97.1%) were also not different significantly different compared to control oocytes (96.6%). However, monospermy rates of K oocytes was significantly higher (61.6%; P < 0.05) than those of the reconstructed (K + 1C to K + 4C; 18.2–34.9%) and control oocytes (32.9%). The blastocyst formation rates in K, K + 1C, K + 2C, and K + 3C groups (0.0–9.8%; P < 0.05) were significantly lower than those in the control and K + 4C groups (17.8% and 15.3%, respectively; P < 0.05). The total cell numbers per blastocyst in K + 1C and K + 2C groups (7.5 and 8.3 cells, respectively) were significantly lower than in the control, K + 3C, and K + 4C groups (15.3–26.2 cells; P < 0.05). These results suggest that the cytoplast volume of porcine M-II transferred oocytes, produced by reconstruction from a karyoplast and cytoplast(s) and centri-fusion, is important for their ability to develop to the blastocyst stage and influences cell number.


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