94 USE OF β-MERCAPTOETHANOL AND CYSTEINE FOR IN VITRO MATURATION AND CULTURE OF SHEEP EMBRYOS

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
J. Pradiee ◽  
L. L. Viana ◽  
E. C. S. Santos ◽  
A. Gonçalves ◽  
R. G. Mondadori ◽  
...  

During in vitro production (IVP), embryos are sensitive to suffering negative effects from catabolites, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under physiological conditions, the action of the ROS is blocked by antioxidants such as glutathione, but glutathione's concentration is reduced during the main steps of the IVP process. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of the media for in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC) with β-mercaptoethanol and cysteine on the rates of embryo development and viability after vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS). Ten IVP routines were conducted for IVP, using ovaries form pubertal sheep collected in a slaughterhouse. The ovaries were kept in a saline/antibiotic solution at 30°C during transport to the laboratory. The cumulus oophurus–oocytes complexes (COC) selected for IVM were allocated to 2 treatments: T1 (control), including no antioxidants in the IVM and IVC media (n = 676); and T2, including 50 μM β-mercaptoethanol and 600 μM cysteine, in the IVM and IVC media (n = 729). The IVM was conducted using the TCM 199 medium including oestradiol, FSH, LH, pyruvate, heat inactivated sheep serum and antibiotics, for 22 to 24 h. Sperm selection was conducted by swim-up in medium with tris-glucose-citric acid with fresh semen. For IVF, conducted for 18 to 22 h, 1 × 106 spermatozoa per mL were used in SOF medium including 2% heat-inactivated sheep serum. Both IVM and IVF were conducted with incubation with 5% CO2 at 39°C with saturated humidity. After IVF, the probable zygotes were denuded and cultured for 8 days in SOF medium with 0.4% BSA, at 39°C, in bags with 3 gases (5% CO2, 90% N2 and 5% O2). The criteria considered for embryo viability were: cleavage rate at Day 2 (cleaved/inseminated), embryo development at Day 7 (blastocysts/cleaved) and the reexpansion rate 24 h post-vitrification. Such frequencies were compared between treatments by the chi-squared test. The cleavage rate did not differ (P > 0.05) for T1 (60.3%) and T2 (64.3%). The rate of embryro development at Day 7 was also similar (P > 0.05) for T1 (33.6%) and T2 (36.6%). The reexpansion rate for T1 (76.9%) and T2 (54.1%) were also similar (P > 0.05). Thus, supplementation of IVM and IVC media with β-mercaptoethanol and cysteine presented no effect in the development and viability of vitrified sheep embryos. CAPES, MARFRIG Group.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
M. E. Dell'Aquila ◽  
F. Ariu ◽  
N. A. Martino ◽  
F. Minervini ◽  
A. Cardinali ◽  
...  

Verbascoside (VB), a bioactive polyphenol from olive mill wastewater with known antioxidant activity, was shown to act as a pro-oxidant molecule, by impairing energy/redox status and embryo developmental competence of prepubertal ovine oocytes when added at micromolar concentrations in a continuative 24-h in vitro maturation (IVM) exposure protocol (1). The aim of the present study was to determine whether a lower (nanomolar) VB concentration and a shorter exposure time (2 v. 24 h) during IVM may improve the maturation rates of prepubertal ovine oocytes and their subsequent embryonic development in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from the ovaries of slaughtered 1-mo-old prepubertal sheep oocytes underwent IVM in TCM 199 with 10% oestrus sheep serum, 0.1 IU mL–1 of FSH/LH, and 100 µM cysteamine, in 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C for 24 h. Based on our previous results (Dell'Aquila et al. 2014 Biomed. Res. Int. 2014, 878062), VB was added in the IVM medium at 1.03 nM, and 2 incubation times (24 and 2 h) were tested. In the 2-h exposure group, after 2 h of exposure to VB, oocytes were washed and cultured up to 24 h without VB. A group of oocytes were cultured in absence of VB, as controls. Matured oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed ram semen in SOF medium for 22 h and zygotes were cultured in vitro for 8 days. Metaphase II (MII) cleavage and blastocyst rates were analysed by Chi-squared test. Embryo quality was evaluated by staining and total cell count of the blastocyst and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. Differences were considered to be significant when P < 0.05. Compared to controls, VB treatment at the concentration of 1.03 nM and 24 h of exposure had no effect on MII rates (196/268, 73% v. 226/323, 70% MII/cultured oocytes; P > 0.05). However, this treatment allowed to obtain significantly higher rates of cleaved embryos/MII oocytes (156/196, 80% v. 165/226, 73%; respectively; P < 0.05), blastocyst yield/cleaved embryos (59/156, 38% v. 45/165, 27%, respectively; P < 0.05), and total blastocyst cell numbers (108.62 ± 19.87 v. 89.61 ± 26.32, respectively; P < 0.05) compared to control oocytes. The VB treatment at the same concentration but for 2 h induced only significantly higher cleavage rate (196/210, 93% v. 165/226, 73%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that VB treatment at 1.03 nM during 24 h of IVM exerted a positive effect on in vitro embryo development of prepubertal ovine oocytes by increasing the blastocyst yield and their quality. The hypothesis that VB at nanomolar concentrations may improve cumulus-oocyte energy/redox status is under investigation.The authors acknowledge support by the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (LR 7, Agosto 2007, no. 7, CRP-17602). The authors thank Dr D. Bebbere and L. Falchi, Dept. Veterinary Medicine, Sassari, for statistical analysis.


Author(s):  
Vijay Singh ◽  
A. K. Misra ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
Champak Barman

The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of cysteamine and b-mercaptoethanol supplementation on in -vitro maturation, cleavage of oocytes and development of embryo in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Oocytes were aspirated from abattoir ovarian follicles of 3-10 mm diameter followed by maturation in the media in vitro containing cysteamine/b-mercaptoethanol (treatment) and without antioxidant (control). Matured oocytes were co-incubated with sperm (approx.1×106/ml) of Murrah bull in mSOF medium using heparin (10 μg/ml). After 22 h of oocyte-sperm incubation, fertilized oocytes were stripped of cumulus cells and cultured in mSOF medium for 8 days to study embryo development. The oocyte maturation rate improved significantly (P<0.05) following addition of 50 or 100 μM of cysteamine and 10, 50 and 100 μM of b- mercaptoethanol (ME), respectively as compared to control. The cleavage rate was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher at 50 and 100 μM of cysteamine and at all concentrations of b-mercaptoethanol as compared to control and development of embryos to morula stage was significantly (P<0.05) improved with 50 μM cysteamine/ b-mercaptoethanol.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
K. M. Banwell ◽  
M. Lane ◽  
D. L. Russell ◽  
K. L. Kind ◽  
J. G. Thompson

Follicular antral oxygen tension is thought to influence subsequent oocyte developmental competence. Despite this, in vitro maturation (IVM) is routinely performed in either 5 or 20% O2 and while low O2 has been shown to be beneficial to embryo development in many species, the effect of altering O2 concentration during IVM has not been adequately investigated. Here we investigated the effects of a range of O2 concentrations during IVM on meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development after IVF. Ovaries from eCG-stimulated CBA F1 female mice (21 days) were collected and intact cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured for 17–18 h under 2, 5, 10 or 20% O2 (6% CO2 and balance of N2). Matured COCs were denuded of cumulus cells, fixed and stained (1% aceto-orcein) for visualisation of maturation status. No significant difference in maturation rates between treatment groups was observed. Following IVF (performed under 5% O2, 6% CO2 and balance of N2), no difference in fertilisation rates between treatment groups was observed in a randomly selected cohort 7 h post-fertilisation. There was also no significant difference in cleavage rates after 24 h or ability to reach blastocyst stage after 96 h, with a tendency (P = 0.079) for more blastocysts in 2% O2. However there was a significant increase in the number of trophectoderm cells present in the resulting blastocysts (P < 0.05) in the 2% O2 group (35 ± 2.1) compared to 20% O2 (25 ± 2.8). Our data suggests that O2 concentration during IVM does not influence nuclear maturation or subsequent fertilisation, cleavage and blastocyst development rates. However, maturation in 2% O2 significantly alters subsequent cell lineage within blastocysts to favour trophectoderm development. Such skewed trophectoderm cell number may influence embryo viability. Funded by NHMRC and NIH.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
I. La Rosa ◽  
R. Fernandez y Martín ◽  
D. A. Paz ◽  
D. F. Salamone

BMP4 regulates different events during development in all vertebrates and Noggin is one of its powerful inhibitors that blocks BMP4 interaction with its receptors (Groppe et al. 2002). In this work, the effect of these factors on bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development has been investigated. COCs were aspirated from abattoir ovaries and in vitro-matured for 22 h or 24 h in a 5% CO2 humidified atmosphere at 39°C in TCM containing 0.6% BSA, 2 mM FSH, 10 mM cysteamine, 1% antibiotic and 1% pyruvate, control group (C), plus 100 ng mL-1 of BMP4 (B), or 100 ngmL-1 of Noggin (NOG). Oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 and classified by their nuclear stage. Effects on embryo development were investigated for embryos produced by parthenogenic activation (PA) and IVF For PA, denuded oocytes were chemically activated in 5 μM ionomycine for 4 min, and immediately incubated in 1.9 mM of 6-dimethilaminopurine for 3 h. For IVF, frozen-thawed semen was centrifuged and resuspended in Bracket and Oliphant (BO) solution and incubated with 22 h matured COCs for 5 h. Embryos were cultured in CR2 medium free of serum and co-culture. Cleavage and blastocyst formation were registered at Day 2 and 9 respectively. Fischer’s exact test was used and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Nuclear progression was not affected by maturation treatments [% of MII: 79.4(C, n = 102), 72.4 (B, n = 98), 80.9 (NOG, n = 89)]. For PA, both factors significantly increased cleavage rates [%: 51.7 (C, n = 284), 65 (B, n = 186), 62.1 (NOG, n = 198)] while blastocyst rates were not affected [%: 8.8 (C), 7.5 (B), and 8.6 (NOG)]. On the other hand, for IVF, cleavage rate was statistically lower for Noggin group [%: 70.7 (C, n = 140), 71.3 (B, n = 157), 64 (NOG, n = 159)] while blastocyst rates were similar between groups [%: 15.7 (C), 13.4 (B), 14.5 (NOG)]. Any of the added factors affected cell number of the embryos at Day 2. Blastocysts did not differ in the number of cells at Day 9 (Student’s t-test was used) neither for PA [mean ± SD: 100 ± 33 (C, n = 9), 88 ± 14 (B, n = 3) and 68 ± 8,(NOG, n = 3)] nor for IVF [mean ± SD: 90 ± 24 (C, n = 9), 132 ± 18 (B, n =4) and 99 ± 8 (NOG, n = 3)]. It is noticeable that addition of these factors during in vitro maturation showed different effects on subsequent embryo development depending on whether the embryos were PA or IVF. Probably, these responses represent differences in the BMP signaling system between these embryos which could be associated with different imprinting pattern. Further experiments are needed to elucidate clearly the mechanisms implicated. To our knowledge, this is the first work to study BMP4 inhibition during bovine in vitro maturation. To “Merlo” and “Nueva Escocia” Slaughterhouses


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
H.J. Hernandez-Fonseca ◽  
R. Palomares-Naveda ◽  
E. Soto-Belloso ◽  
R. Gonzalez-Fernandez ◽  
A.D. De Ondiz-Sanchez ◽  
...  

Medium components during in vitro maturation (IVM) can significantly influence oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development in vitro (Rose TA and Bavister BD 1992 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 31, 72–77; Harper K and Brackett B 1993 Biol. Reprod. 48, 409–416). The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of EGF during IVM on further development of bovine embryos in vitro. Bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughterhouse. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were aspirated from follicles 2–5mm in diameter. COC were incubated for 24h in either of 3 maturation media: T1 (n=72): modified TCM-199; T2 (n=45): modified TCM-199 supplemented with 10ngmL−1 of EGF;; or T3 (n=46): modified TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). After 24h of IVM, COC were inseminated with 2×106 motile spermatozoa/ml. After 18h of gamete coincubation, presumptive zygotes were denuded and placed in culture in SOF rich in glutamine (g-SOf) for 72h, at which time, cleavage rate (%) wass assesed (embryos with &gt;4 cells). Subsequently, cleaved embryos were incubated for an additional 72h in c-SOF (SOF rich in citrate and glucose). Finally, embryos were cultured in modified TCM-199 for 24–48h, at which time blastocyst formation rate (%) was evaluated. Cleavage rates were similar between T2 and T3 but significantly greater than in T1 (P&gt;0.05; see Table 1). Addition of EGF during IVM (T2;; 11/45, 24.4%) did not yield more blastocysts compared to the other two treatments (6/57, 10.5% and 10/29, 34.5%, T1 and T3, respectively). Nonetheless, T3 (with serum) had a greater yield of blastocysts compared to T1 (P&gt;0.01). Results in this study show that the addition of EGF to chemically defined media results in similar cleavage rates and blastocyst yields to those obtained when using serum during IVM. Key words: in vitro maturation, EGF, cleavage, bovine, embryo. Table 1 Effect of EGF and serum during IVM on cleavage rate of bovine oocytes


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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
G. Singina ◽  
I. Lebedeva ◽  
E. Shedova ◽  
N. Zinovieva

In vitro maturation (IVM) and IVF of domestic animal oocytes is widely used for commercial and research purposes. The oocyte quality and capacity for further development acquired during in vitro maturation and reduced during the subsequent aging are the main limitative factors affecting the embryo production (Miao et al. 2009 Hum. Reprod. Update 15, 573–585). Our objective was to evaluate effects of prolactin (PRL) and dithiothreitol (DTT) on apoptosis and the embryo development of bovine oocytes matured in vitro using 2 different systems. A total of 1437 slaughterhouse-derived cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were matured for 24 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS, 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 μg mL–1 porcine FSH, and 5 μg mL–1 ovine LH. In system 1, 251 COC from a total of IVM oocytes were transferred to the aging medium (TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FCS) and cultured for 24 h in the absence (control) and the presence of either PRL (20 and 50 ng mL–1) or DTT (2.5, 5, and 10 μM). At the end of culture, oocyte apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL method. In system 2, another part of IVM oocytes (1186 COC) was co-incubated for 18 h with sperm in Fert-TALP medium modified by addition of 10 μg mL–1 heparin, PHE (20 μM penicillamine, 10 μM hypotaurine, 1 μM epinephrine), and 0.1% modified Eagle’s medium (MEM) nonessential amino acids. In this case, PRL and DTT (at the above listed concentrations) were added directly to the fertilization medium. After IVF, oocytes were cultured in CR1aa medium for assessment of the cleavage and blastocyst rates on Days 2 and 8, respectively. The nuclear status of blastocysts was evaluated by the cytogenetic method. The data from 3–7 replicates were analysed by ANOVA. Culture of matured COC in the aging medium (system 1) increased the rate of apoptotic oocytes from 8.1 ± 4.7% (0 h) to 48.6 ± 5.8% (24 h) (P < 0.01). This rate was reduced (P < 0.05) up to 22.5 ± 3.1% and 17.8 ± 5.1% in the presence of PRL (20 and 50 ng mL–1) and up to 15.0 ± 6.9% and 19.5 ± 3.7% in the presence of DTT (2.5 and 5 μM). The direct addition of PRL at a concentration of 20 ng mL–1 to the IVF medium raised the blastocyst rate from 21.6 ± 2.2% to 29.8 ± 2.4% (P < 0.05) but did not affect the cleavage rate (72.1 ± 2.2% v. 74.3 ± 2.1%). By contrast, 50 ng mL–1 PRL did not increase the yield of blastocysts and decreased the cleavage rate (from 74.3 ± 2.1% to 62.9 ± 2.4%, P < 0.05). When added to the IVF medium, DTT raised the blastocyst rate only at a concentration of 2.5 μM (P < 0.05). No effects of PRL and DTT on the number of cells in embryos at the blastocyst stage were found. Our findings indicated that PRL and DTT supplements during in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes may improve their capacity for the subsequent embryo development. This effect was probably due to the inhibitory influence of PRL and DTT on apoptosis of matured oocytes. The study was supported by the Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations and RFBR (project No. 14–48–03681).


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
S. M. Bernal ◽  
J. Heinzmann ◽  
D. Herrmann ◽  
U. Baulain ◽  
A. Lucas-Hahn ◽  
...  

Prepubertal bovine females have been suggested as a source of oocytes in order to accelerate genetic gain and decrease the generation interval. However, prepubertal oocytes have a lower developmental competence than their adult counterparts. In vitro maturation (IVM) systems using cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulators and 30-h culture have been suggested to improve blastocyst in vitro production rates from bovine oocytes (Albuz et al., 2010). The present study evaluated the effects of an addition of the cAMP modulators forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and cilostamide during extended IVM on blastocyst yields and gene expression in prepubertal and adult bovine females. Holstein-Friesian donors were submitted to ovum pick-up twice per week. Oocytes from groups of 12 animals, including lactating cows (>2 lactations) and prepubertal donors (6–10 months old) were used in the following treatment groups: TCM24 (24-h IVM, routine protocol/control), cAMP30 (2-h pre-IVM culture using forskolin-IBMX and 30-h IVM adding cilostamide), DMSO30 [2-h pre-IVM culture and 30-h IVM with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/vehicle control]. In vitro-matured oocytes were fertilized and presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro to assess embryo development. In vivo blastocysts were produced from superovulated cows and used for gene expression analysis. Cleavage rates, blastocyst formation, and mRNA abundance of selected genes were evaluated. The Glimmix procedure from SAS/STAT (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was performed to compare blastocyst and cleavage rates. One-way ANOVA was implemented to evaluate gene expression. A total of 793 oocytes from the different sources were submitted to the IVM treatments. Cleavage rates (prepubertal donors: 64.6 ± 4%, 59.1 ± 6.4%, 53 ± 4.4%, cows: 55.1 ± 4.3%, 59 ± 6.5%, 50.8 ± 4.4%, for TCM24, cAMP30, and DMSO30, respectively; P > 0.05) and blastocyst/zygotes rates (prepubertal donors: 27 ± 6%; 21.8 ± 3.5%; 17.6 ± 2.4%; cows: 28 ± 3.3%; 27.7 ± 2.9%; 22.7 ± 3.2% for TCM24, cAMP30, and DMSO30, respectively; P > 0.05) did not differ among in vitro treatments. The mRNA relative abundance of the EGR1 gene was down-regulated 6-fold in all in vitro-produced blastocysts compared with their in vivo counterparts (P < 0.05). Gene expression profiles for SLC2A8, DNMT3B, BCL-XL, and PRDX1 were similar in in vitro and in vivo blastocysts. These results show similar embryo production patterns in prepubertal and adult donors. Furthermore, DMSO did not show effects on embryo developmental rates when used during IVM. The gene expression levels of EGR1 confirm our recent findings in blastocysts obtained from oocytes from slaughterhouse ovaries (data not presented), showing its usefulness as an embryo quality marker. These preliminary results indicate that oocyte developmental capacity in prepubertal donors can be similar to that of the adult donors without addition of cAMP modulators.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rubessa ◽  
S. Di Francesco ◽  
M. V. Suárez Novoa ◽  
L. Boccia ◽  
V. Longobardi ◽  
...  

Most systems for producing mammalian embryos in vitro use glucose as an energy source in the media despite putative toxic effects (Schini and Bavister 1988 Biol. Reprod. 39, 1183–1192; Takahashi and First 1992 Theriogenology 37, 963–978). Currently there is a tendency to identify other suitable energy sources in an attempt to replace glucose from culture media. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), a glucose-derived high-energy compound, is the end product of the energy-consuming phase of glycolysis that enters the pay-off phase of the pathway characterised by a net gain of energy. The aim of this study was to determine whether G3P is a valid energy source for supporting in vitro embryo development in cattle. Abattoir-derived oocytes (n = 832, over 4 replicates) were matured in vitro in TCM-199 with 15% bovine serum (BS), 0.5 μg mL–1 FSH, 5 μg mL–1 LH, 0.8 mM L-glutamine, and 50 mg mL–1 gentamicin. Mature COC were fertilized in Tyrode’s modified medium, with 30 mg mL–1 heparin, 30 mM penicillamine, 15 mM hypotaurine, 0.15 mM epinephrine, and 1% BS. Both IVM and IVF were carried out at 39°C and 5% CO2 in air. After 20 to 22 h of gamete co-incubation, presumptive zygotes were denuded and cultured in SOF containing either 1.5 mM glucose (control group) or G3P at 3 different concentrations (0.125, 0.5, and 1.5 mM). It is worth specifying that in the 3 G3P-supplemented groups small amounts of glucose were left (0.15 mM) because it is known that a complete removal would affect embryo development by interfering with ribose synthesis through the pentose–phosphate pathway. In vitro culture was carried out at 39°C under humidified air with 5% CO2, 7% O2, and 88% N2 in air for 7 days, when the percentages of tight morulae-blastocysts (TMBL) and superior quality blastocysts (BL) were recorded. Differences in embryo yields among groups were analysed by chi-square test. Supplementation of IVC medium with 1.5 mM G3P reduced (P < 0.01) TMBL (5.0%) and BL (5.0%) rates compared with all other groups, indicating a toxic effect. However, when G3P was added at lower concentrations, no differences in TMBL (37.3 and 26.1, respectively, with 0.125 and 0.5 mM G3P) and in BL rates (35.3 and 25.5%, respectively, with 0.125 and 0.5 mM G3P) were observed compared with the control (32.7% TMBL and 31.4% BL, respectively). Within G3P-treated groups, the higher embryo yields were recorded with 0.125 mM compared with 0.5 mM (P < 0.05) and 1.5 mM (P < 0.01). Interestingly, embryos produced with G3P at the lower concentrations (0.125 and 0.5 mM) seemed to show a faster development compared with the control. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that G3P is a valid energy source for bovine preimplantation embryos and, hence, that G3P supplementation of IVC medium may be a suitable option for reducing glucose concentration in the media. However, further studies are needed to investigate lower concentrations of G3P and to better evaluate embryo viability.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
G. Zullo ◽  
A. Salzano ◽  
G. Bifulco ◽  
V. Longobardi ◽  
G. Albero ◽  
...  

It is known that in vitro mammalian embryo development is negatively affected by the increased oxidative stress occurring under culture conditions. The oxidative damage of cell components via reactive oxygen species interferes with proper cell function. Buffalo embryos are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress because of their high lipid content (Boni et al. 1992 Acta Med. Vet. 38, 153–161). l-Ergothioneine (LE) is a powerful scavenger of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and an inhibitor of iron or copper ion-dependent generation of OH from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether enriching the in vitro-culture medium with LE improves in vitro embryo production efficiency in buffalo. Abattoir-derived buffalo oocytes (n = 854, over 6 replicates) were in vitro matured and fertilized according to standard procedures (Gasparrini et al. 2006 Theriogenology 65, 275–287). Twenty hours after IVF presumptive zygotes were cultured in SOFaa supplemented by 8 mg mL–1 BSA in a controlled gas atmosphere consisting of 5% CO2, 7% O2, 88% N2, in humidified air, at 38.5°C with 0 (control; n = 214), 0.05 mM LE (n = 217), 0.1 mM LE (n = 204), and 1 mM LE (n = 219). Cleavage rate was assessed at the time of change of culture (Day 5) and the cleaved elements were cultured for a further 2 days. The embryos obtained by the end of culture, i.e. on Day 7 post-IVF, were scored for quality, based on morphological criteria, and for developmental stage, as previously described (Robertson, Nelson 2010 Manual of the International Embryo Transfer Society 86–105). The percentages of total transferable embryos and Grade 1 and 2 blastocysts in relation to cleaved oocytes were recorded. Because the chronology of development is known to be one of the most reliable parameters for assessing quality, the percentage of fast-developing embryos, i.e. hatched and expanded blastocysts, was also recorded. Data were analysed by Chi-squared test. Cleavage rate was not affected by the treatment (71.4, 66.8, 68.7, and 63.0%, respectively, with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mM LE). The total embryo output increased in groups supplemented with 0.05 and 0.1 mM LE (31.3, 42.2, 43.8, and 21.7%, respectively, with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mM LE; P < 0.05). However, the enrichment of in vitro culture with 0.1 mM LE also increased the percentage of Grade 1 and 2 blastocysts compared with the control and to 1 mM LE (21.6, 30.9, 33.9, and 21.7%, respectively, with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mM LE; P < 0.05). Likewise, 0.1 mM LE gave higher percentages of fast developing embryos than the control and 1 mM LE groups. In conclusion, these results demonstrated a beneficial effect of LE during culture on buffalo in vitro embryo development. The dose response trial indicated that the optimal concentration is 0.1 mM that also influenced the chronology of development and hence embryo viability.


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