49 IMPROVED PORCINE CLONING EFFICIENCY WITH CELLS CULTURED FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AFTER A SINGLE TREATMENT WITH XENOPUS EGG EXTRACT

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Y. Liu ◽  
O. Østrup ◽  
J. Li ◽  
G. Vajta ◽  
P. M. Kragh ◽  
...  

Extracts from eggs of Xenopus laevis frogs can induce nuclear remodelling or increase transcriptional reprogramming in somatic cells. However, it is not known if this effect is passed on from one cell generation to another, or how it affects somatic cell nuclear transfer in porcine cells. This study aimed to investigate the effect of extract-treated cells over several generations on porcine cloning. Extracts were prepared from 2 frogs (B1 and B2) by the same protocol (Higa et al. 2006 Methods 39, 284–290). Fetal fibroblasts grown on poly-L-lysine coated coverslips were permeabilized by digitonin (7 μg mL–1, 2 min, 4°C) and incubated with 1 extract batch at 37°C for 30 min. After resealing the membrane in DMEM supplemented with 2 mM CaCl2 at 37°C for 2 h, the remaining cells were cultured in ES medium (Vejlsted et al. 2005 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70, 445–454) for 7 to 8 days when they formed colonies. The colonies were trypsinized and divided onto 2 coverslips for subculture, defined as Experimental Passage 1 (XP1). New subcultures were made every 7 to 8 days when 70 to 80% clusters become colonies until XP15. Colonies from XP3, 8 and 15 were isolated and trypsinized before being used in handmade cloning. Nontreated cells grown in DMEM were used as controls (no colony formation was observed). On each cloning day, cells from different XP number and controls were used. Rates of cleavage (Day 2) and blastocyst development (Day 6) were analysed with chi-square test (SAS version 9.2, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results are summarised in Table 1. No difference was observed in cleavage rate between groups. Blastocyst rates of all XP colony cells were significantly higher than their controls. For the same XP number and their controls, blastocyst rates were similar between the colony cells from the 2 extract batches, and there was no difference between their controls, either. In conclusion, the cloning efficiency in porcine cells could be increased with extract-treated cells used for several generations, and this effect was present at XP3, 8, and 15. Table 1.Developmental competence of cloned porcine embryos with extract-treated cells from different batches of extract (B1 and B2) and Experimental Passage (XP) numbers

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
S. K. Panda ◽  
A. George ◽  
A. P. Saha ◽  
R. Sharma ◽  
N. M. Kamble ◽  
...  

Despite recent successes in the birth of buffalo calves cloned through SCNT or hand-guided cloning (HGC), the cloning efficiency is very low in this species because of lack of information on factors that influence it. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of cytoplasmic volume on the developmental competence of cloned buffalo embryos produced by HGC. In vitro matured oocytes were stripped of their cumulus investment and zona pellucida using hyaluronidase and pronase, respectively. Protrusion cone-guided bisection of zona-free oocytes was performed to remove the nucleus. For reconstructing control HGC embryos, 2 enucleated oocytes (demi-cytoplasts) were fused with a single somatic cell. For reconstruction of embryos with lower or higher cytoplasmic volume, 1 or 3 demi-cytoplasts were fused, respectively, with the donor somatic cell. 2 different cell types, i.e. buffalo fetal fibroblasts (BFF) between passage 10 and 15 and buffalo embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like cells between passage 22 and 25 were used as nuclear donors in 2 different experiments. Data were analysed by 1-way ANOVA after arcsine transformation of percentage values. For BFF, the blastocyst rate for doublet and triplet embryos were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) than that for singlet embryos despite the cleavage rate for the 3 groups being similar. For the ESC-like cells, the cleavage and the blastocyst rate were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.01) for the singlet than that for the doublet embryos. The pregnancies were established only in doublet and triplet embryo groups using BFF cells and in the doublet embryo group using ESC-like cells. These results indicate that increasing the cytoplasmic volume could be helpful in improving cloning efficiency in terms of blastocyst production rate in buffaloes. Table 1.Effect of cytoplasmic volume on the developmental competence of cloned buffalo embryos This work was funded by NAIP grant C 2-1-(5)/2007 to SKS.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
D. Salamone ◽  
M. Catala ◽  
A. Gibbons ◽  
F. Pereyra Bonnet ◽  
M. Cueto

Different types of somatic cells have been used as nucleus donors for cloning. Most of them were previously cultured in vitro as a monolayer through several plate passages. The experiment reported here was conducted to study the potential usages of granulosa and cumulus cells for cloning without previous culture as a monolayer. A first-plate-passage fibroblast was also used. Oocytes were aspirated by laparoscopy from Criolla goats and matured in TCM-199 + 5% FCS at 39°C for 24 h. Matured oocytes were denuded by vortexing for 3 min in TL HEPES with 1 mg/mL bovine testis hyaluronidase. Metaphases were assessed and oocytes were enucleated by visualization with Hoechst 33342 (5 μg/mL) under UV light (<6 s). Granulosa and cumulus cells were also recovered by laparoscopy and maintained in maturation medium in cryotube for 20 h at room temperature or 39°C, respectively. Goat adult ear fibroblasts were cultured for 1 or 2 weeks and used 2 days after confluence. All types of donor cells were transferred to the perivitlline space of enucleated oocytes and fused by an electrical pulse. After 2 h, activation was induced by incubation in TL-HEPES with 5 µM ionomycin for 4 min and 2 mM 6-DMAP for 3 h. The oocytes were then washed with TL-HEPES and cultured in SOF medium and atmosphere of 5% CO2 + 5% O2 + 90% N2. Cleavage (Day 2) and development to blastocysts (Day 6) were recorded and analyzed by chi-square test. The cleavage rate for non-plated granulosa cells was higher than for the other treatment goups; cumulus cells had a lower rate of development to blastocysts (Table 1). These results suggest that granulosa cells collected and maintained for 24 h at room temperature could be used to produce cloned blastocysts. Table 1. Effect of non-plated granulosa and cumulus cells and first passage fibroblasts as donor nucleus oocytes in goat cloning


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. De Blasi ◽  
E. Mariotti ◽  
M. Rubessa ◽  
S. Di Francesco ◽  
G. Campanile ◽  
...  

Despite the increasing interest, buffalo oocyte cryopreservation is still inefficient, especially in terms of blastocyst development after IVF. The aim of this work was to evaluate chromatin and spindle organization of buffalo in vitro-matured oocytes after vitrification/warming by cryotop and after their simple exposure to cryoprotectants (CP). An overall amount of 251 COC was selected and matured in vitro. In the vitrification group, COC were first exposed to 10% ethylene glycol (EG) + 10% DMSO for 3 min, and then to 20% EG + 20% of DMSO and 0.5 m sucrose, loaded on cryotops, and plunged into liquid nitrogen within 25 s. Oocytes were warmed into a 1.25 m sucrose solution for 1 min and then to decreasing concentrations of sucrose (0.625 m, 0.42 m, and 0.31 m) for 30s each. In order to test CP toxicity, COC were simply exposed to the vitrification and warming solutions. Two hours after warming, oocytes were fixed and immunostained for microtubules using a method previously described (Messinger SM and Albertini DF 1991 J. Cell Sci. 100, 289–298), stained for nuclei with Hoechst, and examined by fluorescence microscopy. Fresh in vitro-matured oocytes were fixed and stained as controls. Data were analyzed by chi-square test; results are shown in Table 1. The percentages of MII oocytes in the control and vitrification groups were greater than in the toxicity group, in which a greater percentage of telophase II stage oocytes were found compared with both the control and vitrification groups, indicating occurrence of activation. Of the MII oocytes, both exposure to CP and vitrification procedures gave greater percentages of oocytes with abnormal spindle and abnormal chromatin configuration compared with the control. An unexpected datum was the evidence of a significant percentage of spontaneously activated oocytes in the toxicity group. We speculate that the lack of activation in the vitrification group may be related to the slowing down of metabolic activity subsequent to thermal shock, and hence, that activation after vitrification may occur later than 2 h post-warming. In conclusion, the simple exposure to CP causes activation of the COC and damage to the cytoskeleton similar to that induced by the whole vitrification protocol. The damages to the meiotic spindle and DNA fragmentation may lead to aneuploidy incompatible with subsequent embryo development and account for the poor embryo development currently recorded in buffalo. Table 1.Chromatin and spindle organization in oocytes vitrified and exposed to cryoprotectants


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
M. Taniai ◽  
M. Takayama ◽  
O. Dochi ◽  
K. Imai

Bovine IVF embryos are evaluated morphologically using light microscopy just before transfer. However, this evaluation method is subjective, and an objective method with more certainty is needed. Sugimura et al. (PLoS ONE 2012 7, e36627) reported a promising system for selecting healthy IVF bovine embryo by using time-lapse cinematography and 5 prognostic factors. This study was to investigate the efficacy of a 2-step evaluation system of IVF embryos using microscopy for selecting high developmental competence IVF embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected by ovarian follicular aspiration (2 to 5 mm diameter) obtained from a local abattoir. The COC (n = 488) were matured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 5% calf serum (CS) and 0.02 IU mL–1 of FSH at 38.5°C for 20 h in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 (20 COC 100 µL–1 droplets). After 10 h of gametes co-culture (5.0 × 106 sperm cells mL–1), the presumptive zygotes were cultured in 125 µL of CR1 aa medium supplemented with 5% CS in well of-the-well culture dishes (AS ONE, Japan; 25 zygotes well–1) at 38.5°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 for 9 days. Two-step evaluations of embryos were done at 27 and 55 h post-IVF (hpi). In the first step of evaluation, cleavage patterns at 27 hpi were categorized as mono-cell, 2-cell with even blastomeres and without fragments (normal cleavage), 2-cell with uneven blastomeres, and ≥3 blastomeres. During the second step of evaluation, embryos were classified by their number of blastomeres (2 to 5 cells, 6 to 8 cells, and >8 cells) and the absence or presence of multiple fragments (<20 or >20%) at 55 hpi. The data were analysed by chi-square test. The blastocyst rate (BL%) of embryos cleaved before 27 hpi (56.6%, n = 106) was higher (P < 0.01) than those of embryos cleaved after 27 hpi (37.0%, n = 235). A greater percentage (P < 0.05) of 2-cell embryos with normal cleavage (68.0%, n = 50) developed to blastocysts than from with =3 blastomeres at 27 hpi (40.6%, n = 32). Superior BL% (P < 0.01) was obtained from embryos categorized as 6- to 8-cell stage (58.6%, n = 140) and >8 cell stage (70.6%, n = 25) compared with those embryos at the 2- to 5-cell stage at 55 hpi (26.1%, n = 176). Embryos with no fragments (58.0%, n = 467) had higher BL% (P < 0.01) compared with those with <20% fragments (30.7%, n = 127) and having with >20% fragments (17.5%, n = 25) at 55 hpi. The highest of BL% was observed in embryos showing a normal cleavage to 2-cells with at 27 hpi and having >6 cells with no fragments at 55 hpi (95.2%, n = 21, P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that the 2-step evaluation system at 27 and 55 hpi using microscopy is an effective method for selecting IVF embryos with high developmental competence.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
J. Galiguis ◽  
M. C. Gómez ◽  
C. E. Pope ◽  
B. L. Dresser ◽  
S. P. Leibo

Although considerable progress has been made in the development of successful methods for cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes are much less cryotolerant. There appears to be an inverse relationship between cryosurvival and intracellular lipid levels. For example, cat oocytes, which appear microscopically as coffee-coloured, nearly opaque spheres due to their high lipid content, are extremely sensitive to cryopreservation. Oocyte delipidation thus represents a potential approach to improving cryosurvival. The objectives of the present study were to examine 1) the effects of calcium (Ca2+, 0 v. 10 nM), FBS (0 v. 10%), and cytochalasin B (CB, 7.5 v. 20.0 μg mL–1) during mechanical delipidation by high-speed centrifugation on in vitro development of IVM cat oocytes, and 2) the influence of centrifugation, degree of lipid polarization (partial v. full), and co-culture with cat fetal fibroblasts (CFF) on in vitro development of vitrified IVM cat oocytes. In Experiment 1, oocytes were randomly allocated to each centrifugation medium and centrifuged at 12 000 × g for 20 min. Oocytes were then fertilized with epididymal sperm (motile sperm mL–1) and cultured until Day 8 (Pope et al. 2006 Theriogenology 66, 59–71). In Experiment 2, oocytes were centrifuged with the optimal centrifugation medium obtained in experiment 1, allocated to each treatment and vitrified in a solution of 15% DMSO, 15% ethylene glycol, and 18% sucrose (2008 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 20, 188). Liquified oocytes were fertilized and cultured until Day 8. In both experiments, cleavage and degeneration rates were determined on Day 2 and blastocyst development on Day 8. Data were analysed by 2-way ANOVA and chi-square tests. In Experiment 1, of 939 oocytes that were centrifuged and fertilized, 40% of those treated in 0 nM Ca2+ cleaved and 22% developed into blastocysts, v. 33 and 6%, respectively, in 10 nM Ca2+ (P < 0.05). The respective cleavage and degeneration frequencies for oocytes treated in 10% FBS were 43 and 19% v. 19 and 3% in 0% FBS (P < 0.05). Cleavage and blastocyst development after treatment with 7.5 and 20.0 μg mL–1 CB were 36 and 15% v. 42 and 22%, respectively. In Experiment 2, 493 oocytes were vitrified/liquified and fertilized. The degeneration, cleavage, and blastocyst rates of non-centrifuged oocytes were 49, 21, and 0% v. 31 (P < 0.05), 38 (P < 0.05), and 7%, respectively, of centrifuged oocytes. Of centrifuged oocytes with partially extruded lipids, 34% degenerated, 34% cleaved, and 4% developed into blastocysts v. 29, 42, and 10%, respectively, of oocytes with fully extruded lipids. Degeneration, cleavage and blastocyst rates of co-cultured v. control oocytes were 18, 36, and 10%, v. 26 (P < 0.05), 34, and 3%, respectively. In summary, cryotolerance of domestic cat oocytes to vitrification was 1) affected by their lipid content, and 2) improved by mechanical reduction of intracellular lipids. When oocytes were fully delipidated in Ca2+-free medium containing 10% FBS and 20.0 μg mL–1 CB before vitrification and co-cultured after IVF with CFF, blastocyst development was similar to that of control, non-vitrified oocytes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
N. A. S. Rocha-Frigoni ◽  
B. C. S. Leão ◽  
P. C. Dall'Acqua ◽  
M. Ambrogi ◽  
G. Z. Mingoti

The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) on blastocyst development and cryotolerance of bovine embryos in in vitro culture (IVC) under oxidative stress induced by menadione (MD). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1421) were matured in TCM-199 with bicarbonate, hormones, and 10% FCS for 22 h. After fertilization, the presumptive zygotes were cultured up to 7 days in SOF medium with 2.5% FCS and 0.5% BSA (control), and also supplemented with 100 μM IGF-1 (IGF). At Day 6, MD was included in the culture medium (0 μM, control; or 5.0 μM, MD) during 24 h. Cultures were conducted at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in air. The cleavage and blastocysts rates were evaluated, respectively, at Days 3 and 7 (IVF = Day 0). At Day 7, a sample of the blastocysts was stained with 5 μM H2DCFDA (Molecular Probes, Canada) to evaluate the intracellular ROS levels or was stained for TUNEL (In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit, Roche, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Stained embryos were immediately evaluated under an epifluorescence microscope (excitation 495/550 nm and emission 404/590 nm, respectively, for ROS and TUNEL), and the images of embryos stained with H2DCFDA were analysed by Q-Capture Pro image software for determining the fluorescent intensity. Other blastocysts were vitrified (Ingámed®, Maringá-PR, Brazil), and after warming, they were cultured for 24 h to evaluate the re-expansion rates. The results were compared by ANOVA followed by Student’s t-test (mean ± s.e.M) and re-expansion rates by chi-square test (P < 0.05). The cleavage rates did not differ (P > 0.05) among groups (77.1 ± 1.9% to 82.75 ± 2.2%). The blastocyst rates were similar between control (35.4 ± 2.0%) and IGF (34.5 ± 3.7%), and both were higher (P < 0.05) than MD (21.3 ± 2.7%); the IGF+MD group (28.3 ± 1.6%) was similar (P > 0.05) to all groups. The intracellular levels of ROS were higher (P < 0.05) for the MD group (21.7 ± 0.7) than for control (17.0 ± 1.6), and both were similar (P > 0.05) to the IGF (19.2 ± 0.6) and IGF+MD (18.0 ± 1.0) groups. The highest rates of apoptosis were found in the MD group (22.3% ± 2.3) and the smallest in IGF (9.1% ± 0.7), and both differed (P < 0.05) from control (12.8% ± 1.0), and IGF+MD (15.6% ± 1.6). The re-expansion rates were similar between control (77.4%) and IGF (69.2%), and both were higher (P < 0.05) than MD (49.1%); however, the IGF+MD group (57.6%) was similar (P > 0.05) to IGF and MD groups. In conclusion, the supplementation with IGF-1 during IVC reversed the detrimental effects of MD on embryonic levels of ROS and apoptosis, as well as improved the embryo development and cryotolerance of blastocysts under oxidative stress. Financial support was provided by FAPESP (#2012/10083–8 and #2013/07382–6).


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


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
J. G. Zhao ◽  
X. Y. Yang ◽  
H. F. Liu ◽  
H. Li ◽  
S. Z. Huang ◽  
...  

Faithful reprogramming ensures the proper activation of genes during embryonic development of the somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) in bovine. It is unambiguous that all these remodeling factors are presented in the oocyte cytoplasm (Du et al. 2002 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 63, 183–191). It will be interesting to determine if the recipient cytoplasms derived from individuals have different development ability and reprogramming competence during NT. Oocytes recovered by Ovum pickup from five Holstein heifers at 14 months of age were used as recipient cytoplasms. Cultured granulosa cells of the same origin were used as donor cells. Oocytes were enucleated at 20 h post-maturation and a single donor cell was transferred into the perivitelline space of a recipient oocyte. After fusion and activation, the reconstructed embryos were cultured in B2 medium (Laboratoire CCD, Paris, France) on a monolayer of Vero cells for 7 days. The oocyte number, development ability, and NT efficiency of recipient cytoplasm derived from each individual were compared (Table 1). Differences among individuals were verified using a chi-square test, SAS 6.12 version (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). There were significant differences of survival after fusion and the rate of development to the blastocyst stage for embryos reconstructed with recipient cytoplasm from five different individual heifers (P < 0.05). However, maturation rate, fusion rate and cleavage rate of embryos reconstructed with recipient cytoplasm from five different individual heifers presented no significant differences (P > 0.05). Reconstructed embryos with recipient cytoplasm from one heifer (03025) showed a lower survival after fusion (61% vs. 80%, 86%, 77%, 91%) but a higher ability to develop to blastocyst stage (61% vs. 24%, 31%, 52%, 31%) than the embryos from the other four heifers. The current study showed that recipient cytoplasm from various individuals may present great differences in developmental ability in nuclear transfer. This may result from different compatibility between nucleus and mitochondria or the content of maternal RNA as well as proteins in the oocyte. Further studies are needed to elucidate the genetic factors that affect the reprogramming in nuclear transfer. Table 1. Nuclear transfer efficiency with various individual recipient cytoplasms


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mariotti ◽  
S. Di Francesco ◽  
M. De Blasi ◽  
C. Siniscalchi ◽  
M. V. Suárez ◽  
...  

The overall in vitro embryo production efficiency in buffalo is hampered by the poor IVF efficiency. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether the fertilizing ability of buffalo sperm is improved by the presence of bovine oviductal cells (BOEC) during IVF. Because of limited availability of buffalo oocytes, this was assessed by heterologous IVF. Bovine oviducts were obtained at a local abattoir from cows that were in the preovulatory phase of a normal estrous cycle. BOEC recovered from 5 oviducts as previously described (Gualtieri and Talevi 2000 Biol. Reprod. 62, 1754-1762) were pooled and plated in 100 μL drops of TCM-199 + 10% FCS, 100 U mL-1 penicillin, 100 μg mL-1 streptomycin and 0.25 μg mL-1 amphotericin B under mineral oil. Medium was changed every 48 h up to Day 6, when cell confluence and cilia activity were optimal. On day of IVF the medium was removed from the drops and replaced with TALP supplemented with 0.2 mM penicillamine, 0.1 mM hypotaurine, and 0.01 mM heparin (IVF medium). Frozen-thawed sperm from an IVF-tested buffalo bull, treated by Percoll gradients, were used for all IVF groups (2 × 106 sperm mL-1). In vitro-matured bovine oocytes (n = 409), over 3 replicates, were distributed in 4 fertilization groups: (A) IVF medium alone (control); (B) BOEC monolayer + IVF medium; (C) sperm preincubated for 6 h in IVF medium; and (D) sperm preincubated for 6 h with BOEC + IVF medium. After 20 h of coincubation at 38.5°C and 5% CO2 in air, putative zygotes were denuded, washed, and cultured in SOF medium. Forty-eight hours after IVF, cleavage rate was evaluated, and cleaved and uncleaved oocytes were fixed in 60% methanol and stained with DAPI for nuclei examination under fluorescence microscope. Data were analyzed by chi-square test. Although cleavage rate was not different among groups (46.2, 55.8, 50.0, and 50.0% for A, B, C, and D, respectively), the monospermic penetration rate increased (P < 0.01) in group B (79.3%) compared with group A (69.6%), with intermediate values in groups C (75.2%) and D (76.0%). Interestingly, the percentage of advanced embryos (>4 cells) was higher (P < 0.01) in groups C and D (47.9 and 37.1%, respectively) than in group A (12.1%), whereas group B (21.0%) was only different from group C. We demonstrated that the fertilizing capacity of buffalo sperm, evaluated as oocyte penetration rate after heterologous IVF, is enhanced by the presence of BOEC. This suggests that IVF of buffalo oocytes on BOEC monolayer may improve the IVF efficiency in buffalo. The higher incidence of advanced embryos in both groups with preincubated sperm may be accounted for by an earlier accomplishment of capacitation, leading to anticipated oocyte penetration. However, because the penetration rate in these groups was not improved compared with the control, we hypothesize that sperm viability may have decreased and hence that shorter incubation times should be tested in further studies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
S. Sato ◽  
O. Dochi ◽  
K. Imai

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main causes of cell damage in bovine embryos in vitro. Folic acid (FA) is an antioxidant that protects cells from ROS. We studied the effect of the addition of FA to maturation and culture media on development of bovine blastocysts and their survival rate after freeze-thawing. Cell-oocyte complexes (COC) were allowed to mature in HEPES (25 mM)-buffered TCM199 (TCM199) supplemented with 5% calf serum (CS), 0.02 AU mL−1 of FSH, and FA (0, 2.5, 25, and 50 µM) for 20 hours (20–25 COC/100-µL droplet of the medium). After 6 hours of gamete co-culture (5 × 106 sperm/mL), presumptive zygotes were cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with 5% CS and FA (0, 2.5, 25, and 50 μM) for 9 days (day of fertilization = Day 0). Expanded blastocysts that developed from Day 7 to 9 were frozen for further study. Each embryo was frozen in Dulbecco’s PBS (D-PBS) supplemented with 20% CS, 1.5 M ethylene glycol (EG), and 0.1 M sucrose (SUC). Embryos were equilibrated with their freezing medium for 15 min and loaded individually into a 0.25-mL straw. These straws were put into the cooling chamber of a programmable freezer precooled at −7°C. After 2 min, straws were seeded and held for 13 min at −7°C. Next, straws were cooled to −30°C at −0.3°C/min before being plunged into liquid nitrogen. Frozen embryos were thawed by allowing straws to stand in air for 7 s and warming them in a 30°C water bath for 20 s. Thawed embryos were washed twice with D-PBS supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum (FCS), which was warmed to 38°C. They were immersed into the same medium at 38°C for 10 min, and each embryo was cultured in a 20-μL droplet of TCM199 supplemented with 10% FCS and 0.1 mM β-mercaptoethanol (TCM-199-βME) for 72 h. Embryo cleavage rate was observed at 55 h post-insemination. Blastocyst rates were analysed at 9 days post-insemination. Rates of embryos developing into reexpanded, hatching, and hatched blastocyst stages were determined after 72 h of thawing. All data were analysed by the chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Cleavage and blastocyst rates after insemination at 55 hours and 9 days, respectively, were not significantly different among media containing 0 μM (n = 278; 74.1% and 39.9%), 2.5 μM (n = 260; 74.2% and 45.8%), 25 μM (n = 258; 75.6% and 45.7%), and 50 μM (n = 253; 76.3% and 42.7%) FA. Survival and hatching rates of frozen and thawed expanded blastocysts after 72 h in culture were 62.5% and 56.3%, respectively, in 0 μM FA (n = 16); 85.2% and 74.1% in 2.5 μM FA (n = 27); 66.7% and 62.5% in 25 μM FA (n = 24); and 68.0% and 64.0% in 50 μM FA (n = 25). Blastocysts cultured in media containing 2.5 μM FA tended to have a higher survival rate than those cultured in media containing 0 μM FA, although this difference was not significant (P = 0.09). Inclusion of FA did not appear to influence development or post-thaw survival of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro.


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