Embryonic development in culture of the marsupials Antechinus stuartii (Macleay) and Sminthopsis macroura (Spencer) during preimplantation stages

1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Yousef ◽  
L Selwood

Forty-nine blastocysts from 11 brown antechinus, Antechinus stuartii, and 96 blastocysts from 17 stripe-faced dunnarts, Sminthopsis macroura, were used to develop a culture system for embryos during preimplantation stages. Blastocysts of brown antechinus were collected on Days 6-9 for unilaminar stages, Days 16-21 for bilaminar stages and Days 20 and 21 for trilaminar stages. Blastocysts of stripe-faced dunnarts were collected on Day 6 for unilaminar stages, Days 6-8 for bilaminar stages and Day 8 for trilaminar stages. Culture media were Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 4.5% glucose and Whittingham's T6 medium both of which were supplemented with 5, 10, 12.5 and 20% fetal calf serum (FCS). Antechinus serum (5%) and bovine serum albumin (0.1%, 0.2%) were also added to some media. Human amniotic fluid (HAF) and Monomed media were also tested. Blastocysts were cultured at 35 degrees C in 5% CO2 in air. DMEM + 10% FCS and HAF supported normal development for the longest periods and over the greatest range of stages. Developmental failure of blastocysts in vitro during expansion of the unilaminar blastocyst and formation of the bilaminar blastocyst suggests that these stages may be dependent on uterine signals. When cultured in DMEM + 10% FCS, the rate of development of bilaminar and trilaminar blastocysts into organogenesis was 4 h slower than in vivo in the stripe-faced dunnart and about 6 h slower than in vivo in the brown antechinus. Embryos of stripe-faced dunnarts were cultured to within 18 h of birth.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona E. Pedersen ◽  
Øzen Banu Øzdas ◽  
Wenche Farstad ◽  
Aage Tverdal ◽  
Ingrid Olsaker

In this study the synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) system with bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) co-culture is compared with an SOF system with common protein supplements. One thousand six hundred bovine embryos were cultured in SOF media supplemented with BOEC, fetal calf serum (FCS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Eight different culture groups were assigned according to the different supplementation factors. Developmental competence and the expression levels of five genes, namely glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP), connexin43 (Cx43), β-actin (ACTB) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), analysed as mRNA by using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, were measured on bovine embryos cultured for 9 days. Gene expression of these in vitro-produced embryos was compared with the gene expression of in vivo-produced embryos. There was no significant difference found in embryo developmental competence between the Day 9 embryos in BOEC co-culture, FCS and BSA supplements in SOF media. However, differences in gene expression were observed. With respect to gene expression in in vivo and in vitro embryos, BOEC co-culture affected the same genes as did supplementation with FCS and BSA. HSP was the only gene that differed significantly between in vitro and in vivo embryos. When the different in vitro groups were compared, a significant difference between the BOEC co-culture and the FCS supplementation groups due to Glut-1 expression was observed.



1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Yamauchi ◽  
H Sasada ◽  
S Sugawara ◽  
T Nagai

The effects of culture media used and culture period for in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes on their subsequent response to chemical and electrical activation, were investigated. Activated oocytes were identified by the presence of a pronucleus(ei) or cleavage. Porcine oocytes were cultured for 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 h in TCM199 with Earle's salts (199) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (199-FCS) before electrical stimulation. Although few oocytes were activated after 24 h and 30 h of culture (5.4% and 6.1% respectively), the percentage of activated oocytes increased significantly to 93.2% after 42 h in culture (P < 0.05); however, when the culture period was extended to 48 h, there was a significant decrease to 56.7% (P < 0.05). Oocytes were also cultured in four types of media: (1) 199-FCS; (2) 199 supplemented with 5 mg mL-1 bovine serum albumin (199-BSA); (3) Kreb's-Ringer bicarbonate solution supplemented with 10% FCS (KRB-FCS); and (4) KRB supplemented with BSA (KRB-BSA). After 42 h of culture in each medium, the oocytes were electrically activated. Although rates of maturation of oocytes cultured in the four media were similar (74.0-80.8%), all oocytes except those cultured in 199-FCS failed to be activated. In addition, oocytes were cultured for 36, 42 and 48 h in 199-FCS and then stimulated by treatment with ethanol. Significantly fewer oocytes were activated in the chemically-treated group than in the electrically-treated group. These results indicate that culture conditions used for the culture of porcine oocytes in vitro are important with respect to their subsequent response to artificial activation.



Zygote ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Martins Paschoal ◽  
Mateus José Sudano ◽  
Midyan Daroz Guastali ◽  
Rosiára Rosária Dias Maziero ◽  
Letícia Ferrari Crocomo ◽  
...  

SummaryThe objective of this study was to assess the viability and cryotolerance of zebu embryos produced in vitro with or without the addition of fetal calf serum (FCS) and forskolin (F). Embryos produced in vivo were used as a control. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid supplemented with amino acids (SOFaa), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and with (2.5%) or without (0%) FCS. On day 6 of growth, the embryos from each group were divided into treatments with or without 10 μM F to induce embryonic lipolysis, comprising a total of four experimental groups: 2.5% FCS, 0% FCS, 2.5% + F and 0% + F. For vitrification, embryos were exposed to vitrification solution 1 (5 M EG (ethylene glycol)) for 3 min and then transferred to vitrification solution 2 (7 M EG, 0.5 M galactose solution and 18% (w/v) Ficoll 70) before being introduced to liquid nitrogen. The presence of FCS in the culture medium resulted in the production of embryos with a similar rate of damaged cells compared with in vivo-produced embryos. After vitrification, the 2.5% FCS group had a significantly higher rate of damaged cells when compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The results of this experiment indicated that the omission of FCS and the addition of forskolin do not have deleterious effect on embryo production rates. In addition, embryos produced in the presence of FCS had greater sensitivity to cryopreservation, but this effect was reversed when forskolin was added to the medium, which improved embryo survival without affecting embryo development and quality after vitrification.



2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Skidmore ◽  
M. Billah ◽  
N. M. Loskutoff

The present paper describes experiments designed to investigate methods for cryopreserving embryos from dromedary camels. Because preliminary studies had shown ethanediol to be the best cryoprotectant to use for camel embryos, the current experiments were performed to determine the minimum exposure time to 1.5 m ethanediol required to achieve cryoprotection. The uteri of 30 donor camels were flushed non-surgically 8 days after mating. Embryos were recovered and 158 were assigned to one of three groups, which were exposed to 1.5 m ethanediol for either 10 min (n = 67), 5 min (n = 51) or 1 min (n = 40). Embryos were subsequently thawed and rehydrated by expelling either directly into holding medium (HM; HEPES-buffered Tyrode's medium containing sodium lactate and 3 mg mL−1 bovine serum albumin, 10% fetal calf serum, 100 IU mL−1 penicillin G, 100 μg mL−1 streptomycin and 25 μg mL−1 amphotercin B) or initially into HM containing 0.2 m sucrose for 5 or 10 min. The survival rate of all embryos immediately post-thawing, as judged by the morphological appearance of the embryos, was high (91%), but was greatly reduced after 2 h culture (59%). Ninety-two embryos were transferred to recipient camels resulting in 18 viable fetuses (1 min ethanediol exposure, n = 1/15; 5 min ethanediol exposure, n = 3/34; 10 min ethanediol exposure, n = 14/43). Of the embryos rehydrated directly in HM, six of 65 resulted in viable fetuses and those rehydrated initially in 0.2 m sucrose for 5 or 10 min resulted in nine of 47 and three of 46 fetuses respectively. From these experiments, we conclude that camel embryos can be cryopreserved using ethanediol as a cryoprotectant when the embryos are cooled slowly (to 33°C) before being plunged into liquid nitrogen for storage.



2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Angulo ◽  
G. T. Gentry ◽  
R. A. Godke ◽  
K. R. Bondioli

It has been reported that the addition of serum to embryo culture media alters gene expression and triggers the development of large offspring syndrome. The objectives of this study were to determine gene expression levels in embryos cultured in the absence or presence of 5% calf serum and in vivo-derived (IVD) embryos and to determine the effects of serum on the length of elongated embryos. Abattoir-derived oocytes were obtained from a commercial provider and fertilized at 24 h of maturation with semen from a bull previously used for IVF. At 18 h post-insemination (hpi), embryos were denuded and groups of 15 presumptive zygotes were cultured in 30-μL drops of modified SOF medium with amino acids and 6 mg mL–1 of BSA (mSOFaa). At 72 hpi, cleavage rate was assessed and embryos were randomly allocated into 2 treatments: mSOFaa without and with 5% calf serum. Embryos were then cultured to 168 hpi and blastocyst rates were assessed and recorded. Blastocysts (n = 5 to 10) from each treatment were transferred into synchronized recipients, and Day 14 embryos were recovered 7 days post-transfer. Embryos were photographed, measured, and immediately stored at –80°C in a minimal volume of PBS + 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol. Messenger RNA was isolated using a Dynabeads mRNA Direct Kit™ (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), and reverse transcription was performed using an iScript™ cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., CA). Quantitative PCR was performed to determine the transcript abundance for COX6A, IFNT1a, PLAC8, IGF2R, and GAPDH for each sample. The GAPDH was used as a reference gene, and gene expression was calculated as a ratio of expression levels between each gene of interest and GAPDH. Expression levels for each gene were determined from standard curves generated by serial dilutions of PCR amplicons starting with 0.4 pg/reaction. Blastocyst development rates were higher in embryos cultured with serum compared with the nonserum treatment (14.9 and 7.4% respectively; chi-square, P < 0.001). Lengths of elongated embryos from the serum (3395.3 ± 414.7 μm) and nonserum (2784 ± 741.8 μm) culture treatments differed from the IVD (6297.7 ± 677.2 μm) treatment (mean ± SE; ANOVA, P < 0.0052). There were no differences in the mean expression levels for COX6A, IFNT1a, PLAC8, and IGF2R across treatment groups, but in the serum treatment, 3 out 11 overexpressed IFNT1a, 4 out of 11 overexpressed IGF2R, and 2 out of 11 overexpressed PLAC8, defined as being 2 standard deviations above the mean of the IVD treatment for each respective gene. In the in vitro-produced nonserum and IVD treatments, overexpression by this definition was not observed. Although mean expression levels were not affected by culture with serum under these conditions, very high expression of IFNT1a, IGF2R, and PLAC8 was observed in some embryos cultured with serum, but not in embryos cultured without serum or IVD embryos.



2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Y. Hashiyada ◽  
H. Takahashi ◽  
D. Yamaguchi ◽  
K. Imai ◽  
M. Geshi

Frozen–thawed bovine trophoblastic vesicles (bTV) derived in vivo could secrete interferon-τ (IFN-τ) at the same level as fresh bTV on Days 4 to 6 after thawing. However, amounts of IFN-τ decreased following continuous in vitro culture (Hashiyada et al. 2012 38th IETS). Co-transfer of frozen–thawed bTV improved pregnancy rate of embryos due to the effects of IFN-τ secreted by bTV (Hashiyada et al. 2008 41th SSR). However, the relation between bTV size and IFN-τ secretion level during culture has not been well documented. The objective of present study was to characterise the concentration of IFN-τ related bTV volume and culture period after thawing of cryopreserved bTV. The bTV were prepared from Day 16 elongating blastocysts recovered nonsurgically. The dissected trophoblastic fragment, 1 to 1.5 mm in width, was cultured using TCM-199 supplemented with 20% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum and 0.1 mM β-mercaptoethanol. Formed vesicles after 24 h of culture were cryopreserved using D-PBS supplemented with 20% calf serum and 1.8 M ethylene glycol. After thawing, bTV were cultured individually with 100 μL/well/day until Day 2 (i.e. the day of thawing was defined as Day 0), and thereafter changed to 200 μL/well/day to termination at Day 10. Collection of culture media and measurement of bTV diameter were performed before cryopreservation and after thawing for every day. Interferon-τ in collected media was measured by radioimmunoassay. The estimated bTV volume was calculated based on the diameter. Data were analysed by Student's t-test. Nine fresh bTV before cryopreservation were used to assess the IFN-τ secretion for 24 h in relation to bTV volume. A significant positive correlation was observed between secreted IFN-τ (mean ± s.e.M, 19.9 ± 3.1 ng mL–1) and bTV volume (1.49 ± 0.6 mm3, r = 0.91; P < 0.01). Initial IFN-τ secretion from bTV cultured for 24 h after thawing was significantly decreased compared with that before cryopreservation (29.1 ± 2.1 ng mL–1 and 58.4 ± 4.8 ng mL–1; P < 0.01, n = 27). In continuous culture of bTV (n = 8), IFN-τ secretion increased gradually from Day 2 (23.1 ± 9.0 ng mL–1) to Day 4 (32.2 ± 8.4 ng mL–1), and then maintained this level until Day 7 (33.4 ± 14.9 ng mL–1). However, this amount of IFN-τ tended to decrease on Day 8 (24.8 ± 5.0 ng mL–1), 9 (16.5 ± 4.4 ng mL–1), and 10 (12.0 ± 1.7 ng mL–1). Interferon-τ secretion from bTV on Day 9 and 10 was lower than that on Day 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, respectively (P < 0.05). Volume of bTV increased also from Day 2 (0.2 ± 0.1 mm3) to Day 5, 6 (0.8 ± 0.3 mm3) and 7 (0.7 ± 0.2 mm3). However, bTV volumes shrank drastically on Day 8 (0.3 ± 0.1 mm3), 9, and 10 (0.2 ± 0.1 mm3). In comparison with bTV during culture, volumes on Day 4, 5, and 7 were greater than those on Day 2 and 3, and volumes on Day 6 and 7 were greater than on Day 8, 9, and 10 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the dynamics of IFN-τ secretion reflected the expansion or reduction of bTV in continued culture after thawing. Interferon-τ secretion might be related to bTV volume. Moreover, we reconfirmed that cryopreserved bTV highly express IFN-τ during 4 to 7 days after thawing.



2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Y. Hashiyada ◽  
H. Takahashi ◽  
K. Imai ◽  
M. Geshi

The co-transfer of bovine trophoblastic vesicles (bTVs) prepared from in vivo recovered conceptuses is known to promote the successful implantation of embryos, which expected lower viability, through the effects of interferon-τ (IFN-τ) secreted by bTVs. We have reported that the pregnancy rate was improved for co-transferred embryos with frozen-thawed bTVs using the direct-transfer technique (Hashiyada et al. 2008, 41st SSR). However, the IFN-τ secretion level from cryopreserved bTVs is not well known. The objective of the present study was to measure concentration of IFN-τ released from frozen-thawed bTVs individually cultured in vitro. bTVs were prepared from elongating blastocysts 3 to 20 mm in length, following superstimulatory treatment and recovered on Day 16 post-AI, by dissection using a surgical blade. Each trophoblastic fragment, 1 to 1.5 mm in width, was cultured in a well of a 96-well plate using TCM-199 supplemented with 20% (v/v) fetal bovine serum and 0.1 mM β-mercaptoethanol. Formed vesicles after 24 or 48 h of culture were cryopreserved using D-PBS supplemented with 20% calf serum, 1.5 M ethylene glycol (EG) and 0.1 M sucrose or 1.8 M EG. After thawing, each bTVs was cultured for 2 days to compare IFN-τ secretion between the 2 cryoprotectants. Furthermore, transition of IFN-τ level was assessed in continuous culture until Day 10 (the day of thawing was defined as Day 0). The volume of culture medium was 100 μL well–1 day–1 until Day 2 and thereafter changed to 200 μL well–1 day–1 until termination. Exchange and collection of culture media were performed on Day 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Collected culture media were stored at –30°C until use. IFN-τ was measured by RIA (Takahashi et al. 2005 Theriogenology 63, 1050–1060). Data were analysed by Student's t-test. Initial IFN-τ secretion from bTVs before cryopreservation did not differ between 24 and 48 h of culture period to form vesicles, 44.0 ± 2.9 (mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 64) and 52.8 ± 6.4 ng mL–1 (n = 27), respectively. IFN-τ secretion was no difference between the 1.5 M EG group and the 1.8 M EG group on Day 1 (41.2 ± 4.9 ng mL–1, n = 42 and 30.4 ± 2.2 ng mL–1, n = 31) and on Day 2 (38.0 ± 5.4 and 38.2 ± 4.5 ng mL–1), respectively. In the continuous culture group (n = 28), IFN-τ secretion tended to increase from Day 2 (25.2 ± 3.4 ng mL–1) to Day 4 (51.8 ± 12.3 ng mL–1) and 6 (55.4 ± 13.3 ng mL–1) (P < 0.05). However, this amount of IFN-τ on Day 6 significantly decreased on Day 8 (25.6 ± 2.7 ng mL–1; P < 0.05) and Day 10 (15.5 ± 2.2 ng mL–1; P < 0.01), gradually. These results indicate that cryopreserved bTVs could secrete IFN-τ at the same level as fresh bTVs on Day 4 to 6 after thawing and then these amounts of IFN-τ significantly decrease in vitro.



Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
YP Cruz ◽  
D Hickford ◽  
L Selwood

The inaccessibility of mammalian organogenesis stage embryos has precluded their widespread use in embryological and teratological studies. As organogenesis occurs during the last 1.5 days of the 10. 7 days of gestation in the stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura), the aim of the present study was to investigate whether day 9 and day 10 embryos and fetuses could be grown to term in vitro. High glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) supported embryonic growth for various periods of time, some to within 5 h of the predicted time of parturition. A roller culture system maintained at 35 degrees C was used to incubate organogenesis stage embryos (n = 43). Nine unincubated (control) embryos were either fixed for microscopic analysis or frozen for microprotein determination. The results of the present study indicate that with some optimization of the culture conditions (increasing oxygen in the gas phase in the culture tubes, replacing FCS with rat serum), it might be possible for organogenesis stage S. macroura embryos to be grown to term. A scoring scheme for assessing morphological development was devised for use as a standard in staging organogenesis stage embryos. This scheme reflects the highly compressed schedule of developmental events that occurs mainly during day 9 of gestation in S. macroura embryos. In comparison, during embryogenesis in Didelphis virginiana these developmental events occur from day 8 to day 10.5 of gestation, and birth occurs on day 13.



2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Varga ◽  
Carmen Diez ◽  
Lina Fernández ◽  
Jenny Álvarez ◽  
Adelino Katchicualula ◽  
...  

The optimum culture system for in vitro matured and fertilised oocytes still remains to be clarified. Culture media (CM) for mammalian embryos are routinely prepared fresh for use and preserved under refrigeration during one or two weeks. The purposes of this work were (1) to compare the efficiency of a synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) with two different bovine serum albumin (BSA) concentrations (3 and 8 g/L) for the in vitro production of bovine blastocysts, (2) to test the effect of timing on adding fetal calf serum (FCS) to the SOF, and (3) to evaluate the effects on bovine embryo development of freezing and lyophilisation as procedures for preserving the SOF. Supplementation of SOF with 3 g/L BSA increased Day-7 blastocyst expansion rates (18.3 ± 1.6 vs. 14.4 ± 0.7; P < 0.05), although no differences in hatching rates were found. Addition of FCS to SOFaa (SOF with amino acids) medium supplemented with sodium citrate (SOFaaci) at 48 and at 72 h post-insemination (PI) allowed obtaining higher Day-6 embryo development rates than when FCS was added at 18 or 96 h PI (Day-6 morulae + blastocyst rate: 30.0 ± 1.1, 40.8 ± 1.1, 43.9 ± 2.3 and 39.3 ± 0.5 for FCS addition at 18, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively). Hatching rates were significantly improved when serum was added at 72 h PI. Finally, both refrigeration and lyophilisation appeared as useful cryopreservation procedures for SOFaaci, although a significant loss of its ability to support embryo development, compared to the control fresh culture medium, was observed.



2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
M. J. Sudano ◽  
D. M. Paschoal ◽  
T. S. Rascado ◽  
L. C. O. Magalhães ◽  
L. F. Crocomo ◽  
...  

Phenazine ethosulfate (PES) is a metabolic regulator that inhibits fatty acid synthesis and favours the pentose-phosphate pathway. Supplementation of fetal calf serum (FCS) during culture has been correlated with the reduction of quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos (IVPE). The aim of the present study was to evaluate embryo development and apoptosis in blastocysts after the supplementation of PES and FCS in culture medium of IVPE. Oocytes (N = 4320) were matured and fertilized in vitro (Day 0). The zygotes (Bos indicus) were cultured in SOFaa medium with 4 concentrations of FCS (0, 2.5, 5, and 10%) and with the use or not of 0.3 μM PES from Day 4 (after 96 h of embryo culture). Embryo development was evaluated after 7 days of culture. Apoptosis in blastocysts (N = 60–80) was accessed through TUNEL reaction. Embryos (Bos indicus) recovered from superstimulated cows were used as in vivo control (n = 15). Data were analysed by ANOVA followed by LSD using PROC GLIMMIX (SAS; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) means ± SEM. Increasing FCS concentration in the culture media did not change cleavage (86.7 ± 1.7, 82.3 ± 1.6, 86.3 ± 1.4, 87.0 ± 1.5, P > 0.05) and augmented blastocyst production (30.5 ± 2.5a, 41.8 ± 2.4b, 40.5 ± 2.6b, 47.2 ± 2.8b, P < 0.05), respectively, for 0, 2.5, 5, and 10%. Additionally, increasing FCS concentration increased apoptosis in blastocysts (13.8 ± 1.2b, 19.1 ± 1.8b, 20.7 ± 1.9bc, 28.4 ± 2.3c, P < 0.05, respectively, for 0, 2.5, 5, and 10%). The addition of PES from Day 4 in the culture medium did not affect (P > 0.05) cleavage (87.0 ± 1.3 and 84.4 ± 1.3), blastocyst production (42.0 ± 2.8 and 43.0 ± 2.0), and apoptosis in blastocysts (20.7 ± 2.0b and 18.9 ± 2.1b), respectively, for control and PES Day 4 groups. Independent of FCS withdrawal or PES addition to culture medium, the in vivo control group presented the lowest apoptosis rate (6.3 ± 1.1a). Therefore, increasing FCS concentration augmented embryo development and reduced blastocyst quality. However, the addition of 2.5% of FCS in the culture medium increased the embryo development without the reduction of blastocyst quality. Moreover, the PES supplementation from Day 4 did not affect embryo development and blastocyst quality. São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP.



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