Ovarian storage time and semen source do not affect IVF outcome in domestic cats (Felis catus), but reproductive season does.

The in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF), and morphological changes in buffalo cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) cryopreserved by ultrarapid freezing using conventional (CON) and open pulled staw (OPS) methods were tested. COCs were cryopreserved using a vitrification solution comprised of Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline+0.5 M sucrose+0.4% BSA and two concentrations (4.5 or 5.5 M) of each cryoprotectant ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by either the CON or the OPS method. Vitrified COCs were stored in LN for 7 days and then thawed; morphologically normal COCs were used for IVM (n = 1070) and IVF (n = 933) in 2 separate experiments to record morphological damage of COCs due to vitrification, nuclear maturation 24 h after culture (9 replicates), and fertilization 24 h after insemination (10 replicates). The COCs were matured in vitro in TCM-199 media with hormone supplements and fertilized using TALP-BSA as described previously (Purohit et al. 2005 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 87, 229–239). Freshly collected COCs were separately used for IVM (n = 110) and IVF (n = 130) and kept as controls. The arcsin transformed data of the proportions of oocytes matured or fertilized was compared by Duncan's new multiple range test. The highest proportion of morphologically normal oocytes was seen in 5.5 M EG with the CON method (94.5%) and the lowest was seen in 4.5 M DMSO with the OPS method (82.4%). At the end of experiment 1, it was apparent that IVM in all vitrification groups was significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to the control group (66.4%). Among the various vitrification treatments, the highest IVM occurred in 5.5 M EG with the OPS method (39.2%) and the lowest in 4.5 DMSO with the CON method (19.3%). Comparison of both concentrations of EG and DMSO showed that the proportion of COCs attaining Metaphase-II (M-II) increased with increasing concentration of both of the cryoprotectants. However, at equal concentration of EG and DMSO, the proportion of COCs attaining M-II was significantly higher in the OPS method compared to the CON method. In experiment 2, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) IVF was seen for fresh COCs (45.4%) compared to vitrified COCs. Among the vitrification treatments, the highest fertilization was seen in 5.5 M EG with the OPS method (33.6%) and the lowest in 4.5 M DMSO with the CON method (15.17%). A dose-dependent increase in the proportion of oocytes fertilized was seen with increasing concentration of both EG and DMSO [CON: 4.5 M (15.2%), 5.5 M (25.6%); OPS: 4.5 M (21.3%), 5.5 M (27.5%)] in both CON and OPS methods. Comparison of the 2 cryoprotectants revealed that EG was better compared to DMSO.At equal concentrations of EG or DMSO, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportion of fertilized oocytes was seen in the OPS method compared to the CON method. It was concluded that vitrification results in some damage to oocytes, with decrease in their subsequent IVM and IVF. Developmental capacity of vitrified buffalo oocytes can be improved by using OPS instead of conventional straws.

Developmental potential of bovine oocytes cultured in different maturation and culture conditions

This study aimed at assessing the effect of the addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (10 ng/ml BDNF) and/or cysteamine (100 μm CYS) during pre-maturation and BDNF, CYS or leptin (10 ng/ml LEP) during maturation culture in vitro on embryo development and oocyte gene expression in cattle. Oocytes were obtained by the aspiration of 2- to 8-mm follicles from slaughtered cows. In Experiment 1, oocytes were pre-matured for 24 h with 10 μm butyrolactone I in the presence or not of BDNF and/or CYS followed by in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). In Experiment 2, oocytes were submitted to IVM with BDNF, CYS or LEP or no supplements followed by IVF and IVC. In Experiment 3, oocytes were pre-matured with BDNF and CYS followed by IVM or only in vitro matured with BDNF. Samples for quantitative PCR (qPCR) were collected after pre-maturation (BGV) and after IVM of pre-matured oocytes (BMII) or immediately after follicle aspiration (immature control = GV) and IVM (matured control = MII). Embryo production was not affected by the inclusion of the different factors either during pre-maturation or maturation culture (∼ 43% blastocysts, p>0.05). Transcripts analysis showed that most genes (NLRP5, ZAR1, GPX1, KEAP1, SPHK2, HSP70 and PSMP1) were downregulated (p<0.05) after IVM irrespective of being previously pre-matured. The relative abundance of BAX, BCL2, IGFBP3 and ARFRP1 transcripts was unaffected by pre-maturation or maturation (p>0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of in vitro pre-maturation (BDNF and/or CYS) or maturation media (BDNF, CYS or LEP) did not improve embryo development. Gene expression was not affected by pre-maturation treatment, but some genes were downregulated after maturation, probably related to selective and differential degradation.

Fertilizability and developmental capacity of individually cultured bovine oocytes

This study examined the effects of O(2) concentration (5% vs 20%) during in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC) or supplementation of IVM and IVC media with cysteamine (50 and 100 μm, respectively; IVM, IVF and IVC carried out in 20% O(2)), on blastocyst rate and relative mRNA abundance of some apoptosis-related genes measured by real-time qPCR in immature and in vitro-matured buffalo oocytes and in embryos at 2-, 4-, 8- to 16-cell, morula and blastocyst stages. The blastocyst rate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) while the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly lower (p < 0.05) under 5% O(2) than that under 20% O(2). The mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic genes BCL-2 and MCL-1 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and that of pro-apoptotic genes BAX and BID was lower (p < 0.05) under 5% O(2) than that under 20% O(2) concentration at many embryonic stages. Following cysteamine supplementation, the blastocyst rate and the relative mRNA abundance of BCL-XL and MCL-1 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and that of BAX but not BID was lower (p < 0.05) at many stages of embryonic development, although it did not affect the percentage of TUNEL positive cells in the blastocysts significantly. The mRNA expression pattern of these genes during embryonic development was different in 5% vs 20% O(2) groups and in cysteamine supplemented vs controls. At the 8- to 16-cell stage, where developmental block occurs in buffalo, the relative mRNA abundance of BCL-2 and MCL-1 was highest under 5% O(2) concentration and that of BAX and BID was highest (p < 0.05) under 20% O(2) concentration. These results suggest that one of the mechanisms through which beneficial effects of low O(2) concentration and cysteamine supplementation are mediated during in vitro embryo production is through an increase in the expression of anti-apoptotic and a decrease in the expression of pro-apoptotic genes.

Effects of resazurin on bovine oocyte fertilization and embryo development in vitro.

A novel approach for in vitro production of bovine embryos: use of the oxoid atmosphere generating system

Embryo quality is influenced by the culture conditions that affect in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC) rates. The present study investigated the feasibility of producing bovine embryos after the replacement of fetal calf serum (FCS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) by ovalbumin (OVA). The IVM and IVC medium were supplemented with 10% FCS, 4 mg/mL BSA, or 4 mg/mL OVA. The IVF medium was supplemented with 6 mg/mL BSA or OVA. For IVM, supplementation with FCS, BSA, and OVA did not affect nuclear maturation or cortical granule migration. Higher rates of formation of two pronuclei were obtained when FCS was employed for IVM (79.97%), regardless of the supplement used for IVF, and when BSA was used for IVF (59.4%), regardless of the supplement used for IVM. Supplementation with OVA for IVM+IVC (20.40%) and for IVF (22.15%) was inferior to supplementation with FCS for IVM+IVC (30.47%) and with BSA for IVF (28.91%) for blastocyst development. Hatching rates were lower using OVA for IVM+IVC (23.02%) and for IVF (28.93%) compared with FCS and BSA under the same conditions (40.78 and 34.82%, respectively) and BSA for IVF (36.82%). Supplementation with OVA for IVM+IVC and IVF resulted in reduced inner cell mass, trophectoderm cells and total blastocyst cell numbers (17.29, 37.88, and 55.17, respectively). In conclusion, OVA is a protein source for bovine in vitro embryo production, although the quantity and quality of bovine blastocysts using only ovalbumin in the entire in vitro production process are lower than those obtained in the presence of FCS and BSA, when used as supplements in any step of bovine in vitro embryo production.

In vitro embryo production involves a combination of the techniques of in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC) of oocytes. The in vitro matured oocytes are incubated with suitably processed spermatozoa for an appropriate period of time for carrying out IVF. The presumptive zygotes are then cultured in vitro up to the blastocyst stage at which these could either be transferred to synchronized recipients for producing live offspring or cryopreserved for future use. The IVM, IVF and IVC are also integral parts of a number of other reproductive technologies like embryo or somatic cell cloning, production of transgenic animals or production of embryonic stem cells etc., which are expected to bring about a quantum jump in the population of superior genetic merit buffaloes or be useful to mankind in other ways.

Successful use of oviduct epithelial cell coculture for in vitro production of viable red deer ( Cervus elaphus) embryos

Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development.

Development of a simple, portable carbon dioxide incubator for in vitro production of bovine embryos.

We report the successful piglet production from cryopreserved oocytes for the first time by using a simple, high capacity vitrification protocol for preservation and a defined system for in vitro embryo production. Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from prepubertal gilts were vitrified in microdrops and stored in liquid nitrogen. After warming, COCs were subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF), and subsequent culture (IVC). Adjusting warmplate temperature to 42°C during warming prevented temperature drops in a medium below 34.0°C and significantly increased the percentage of oocyte survival and thus blastocyst yields obtained from total vitrified oocytes compared with that of warming at 38°C (87.1% vs 66.9% and 4.4% vs 2.7%, respectively). Nuclear maturation and fertilization of oocytes were not affected by vitrification and warming temperature. Blastocyst development on day 7 (day 0 = IVF) of the surviving oocytes after warming at 38°C and 42°C was not different but lower (P<0.05) than those of non-vitrified control oocytes (4.6%, 5.2% and 17.9%, respectively). However, blastocyst cell numbers in the control and vitrified groups were similar irrespective of warming temperature. Omitting porcine follicular fluid (pFF) from IVM medium (POM) did not affect maturation, fertilization and embryo development of vitrified-warmed oocytes. Transfer of blastocysts obtained on day 5 from vitrified oocytes matured either with or without pFF into 4 recipients (2 for each group) resulted in 4 pregnancies and the delivery of a total of 18 piglets. In conclusion, optimization of warming temperature was a key factor for achieving high survival rates, and surviving oocytes could be utilized in vitro using defined media. Using these modifications, live piglets could be obtained from cryopreserved oocytes for the first time.

Effect of co-culture canine cumulus and oviduct cells with porcine oocytes during maturation and subsequent embryo development of parthenotes in vitro

Production of chimeric calves by aggregation of in vitro-fertilized bovine embryos without zonae pellucidae