Effects of EGF or bFGF on the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos in vitro

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were added into the culture medium in different culturing stages. The effects of EGF or bFGF on the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos were studied in vitro. The results were as follows: The addition of EGF significantly enhanced the cleavage rate of porcine parthenogenetic embryos (P < 0.05). The addition of EGF or bFGF also significantly enhanced the rate of blastocysts formation of 2–4-cell porcine parthenogenetic embryos (P < 0.05). Additionally, the group of bFGF had more numbers of blastocysts and higher rates of blastocysts formation than the groups of EGF and the control. In conclusion, EGF and bFGF were found propitious to the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos in vitro, and bFGF increased the quality of blastocysts by increasing the total cell number in porcine parthenogenetic embryos.