216 COMPARISON BETWEEN A TRI-GAS THERMO INCUBATOR AND A MODULAR CHAMBER WITH PREMIXED GAS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOVINE EMBRYOS IN VITRO

Abstract

In an attempt to optimize germplasm and reproduction biotechnology IVF laboratory conditions in South Africa, we compared the effects of 2 triple-gas incubation systems, a tri-gas thermo incubator and a modular chamber with premixed gas, on the development of bovine embryos in vitro. After aspirating ovaries collected from a local abattoir, 778 oocytes were matured for 24 h in M-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, and 1 μg mL–1 of FSH and LH at 39°C in 5% CO2. Oocytes were then fertilized in vitro in Brackett and Oliphant (BO) medium at 39°C in 5% CO2. Presumptive zygotes were randomly allocated to the tri-gas thermo incubator or the modular chamber with premixed gas and cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium at 39°C in 5% CO2, O2, and 90% N2. Total cleavage (Day 2), 8-cell (Day 2), morula (Day 6), and blastocyst (Day 7) rates were recorded postfertilization. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. There was no statistical difference in total cleavage rate between the 2 incubation systems. However, the 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst rates were significantly higher for the modular chamber group compared with the tri-gas incubator group (Table 1). In summary, this study suggests that the modular chamber with premixed gas was a better system for culturing zygotes of South African domestic animals to the blastocyst stage. Table 1.Effect of modular chamber and tri-gas incubator on embryo development in vitro This work was funded by the South African National Department of Agriculture, DST-PDP, and the National Research Foundation (NRF, Grant Nos. RT21 and 24000).