葡萄糖对小鼠胚胎体外发育的影响

通过在CZB培养液中添加不同浓度葡萄糖及在胚胎发育的不同阶段加入葡萄糖,对小鼠胚胎进行体外培养,以探讨葡萄糖在小鼠早期胚胎体外发育中的作用。其结果表明,小鼠胚胎在含糖CZB与在无糖CZB中培养比较,4-细胞发育率无差异;各浓度葡萄糖组囊胚率显著高于无糖组,其中3.0mmol/L浓度组囊胚细胞数显著高于其余组;实验二：2-细胞至4-细胞、4-细胞至桑椹胚前添加葡萄糖囊胚率显著提高。上述结果证明,在小鼠胚胎体外培养中加入葡萄糖不会导致2-细胞阻滞;葡萄糖浓度增加至10mmol/L对小鼠胚胎无毒性作用,其最适浓度为3.0mmol/L;2-细胞至4-细胞、4-细胞至桑椹胚前添加葡萄糖是必要的。关键词 葡萄糖;小鼠;2-细胞阻滞;胚胎;体外发育     

葡萄糖对ICR小鼠胚胎体外发育的影响

研究葡萄糖在小鼠早期胚胎体外发育中的作用。实验1将6—8周龄的ICR雌鼠超数排卵后与公鼠交配,收集1-细胞放入含0(对照组)、0.5、1、3、5、10mmol/L葡萄糖的CZB中培养;实验2将从超排的ICR雌鼠输卵管内收集的1-细胞放入无糖CZB中培养,分别于1细胞、2细胞、4细胞、桑椹胚阶段移入含3.0mmol/L葡萄糖(最适浓度)的CZB中,培养24h后又移回到无糖CZB中(桑椹胚阶段除外)继续培养以及整个胚胎培养过程均在含糖CZB中,对照组胚胎培养全程均在无糖CZB中。每组胚胎于37℃、5%CO2培养箱中培养120h,每24h在倒置显微镜下观察胚胎发育情况,分别计算2-细胞率、4-细胞率、桑椹胚率、囊胚率和孵化率,并进行囊胚细胞计数。结果显示,小鼠胚胎在含糖CZB中与在无糖CZB中4-细胞发育率无差异;含糖CZB中囊胚率显著高于对照组;3.0mmol/L浓度组囊胚细胞数显著高于其余组;2-细胞至4-细胞、4-细胞至桑椹胚前添加葡萄糖囊胚率显著高于对照组,1-细胞至2-细胞、桑椹胚及其以后阶段添加葡萄糖囊胚率与对照组无差异。实验证实,在ICR小鼠胚胎体外培养中加入葡萄糖不会导致2-细胞阻滞;葡萄糖浓度增至10mmol/L对ICR小鼠胚胎无毒性作用;ICR小鼠胚胎体外培养的最适葡萄糖浓度为3.0mmol/L;2-细胞至4-细胞、4-细胞至桑椹胚前添加葡萄糖是必要的。     

高浓度葡萄糖对昆明小鼠早期胚胎发育的影响

建立昆明小鼠受孕模型,分离并体外培养胚胎细胞.检测了各培养浓度下的细胞增殖、分化与凋亡.胚胎细胞在0.2mmol/L和5.56mmol/L葡萄糖浓度的KSOM培养基中能正常发育和孵化;而在浓度为15.56mmol/L和25.56mmol/L葡萄糖培养基中胚胎发育和孵化均受到损害(P<0.005),且总细胞数和内细胞团细胞数也明显减少(P<0.01),但其细胞凋亡率与0.2mmol/L和5.56mmol/L葡萄糖浓度下胚胎细胞凋亡率无显著性差异(P>0.05).随着葡萄糖浓度的增高,胚泡总的表面积无明显变化,但胚胎细胞密度呈增加趋势.高血糖对早期胚胎的发育具有毒性作用,提示高糖可能导致妊娠合并糖尿病患者的流产和胎儿畸形率升高.     

共培养体系在牛核移植胚体外发育培养中的应用

采用电融合法构建牛体细胞核移植重构胚,分析共培养细胞类型、传代次数、细胞冻-融以及蛋白质添加物(BFF和FBS)对牛体细胞核移植胚体外发育的影响,探讨胚胎体外共培养的条件,以建立优化的共培养体系。结果表明与非共培养组相比,共培养组重构胚的囊胚发育率以及胚胎细胞数显著增加(P<0.05),而输卵管上皮细胞共培养组同颗粒细胞共培养组相比胚胎细胞数显著增加(P<0.05),更适合做共培养细胞;随着共培养细胞传代次数的增加重构胚囊胚发育率及胚胎细胞数显著下降(P<0.05),共培养细胞在冷冻处理后重构胚的囊胚率和胚胎细胞数都显著下降(P<0.05);BFF较FBS更能促进牛核移植胚的囊胚发育率(P<0.05)。表明应用新鲜原代输卵管上皮细胞进行牛核移植胚胎的共培养,并在SOFaa添加10?F能够有效促进核移植胚胎的体外发育。     

猪手工克隆重构胚胎发育效果影响的最佳VPA浓度初探

为了探讨丙戊酸(VPA)对手工克隆(HMC)重构胚胎发育效果影响的最佳浓度,本研究比较了mmol/L级别和nmol/L级别两种浓度的VPA持续地处理猪HMC重构胚24 h的发育效果。试验结果表明:两种级别的VPA对猪HMC重构胚胎发育的卵裂率的影响差异不显著(p0.05),就囊胚率和囊胚细胞数而言,mmol/L级别的VPA浓度抑制其发育,且随着浓度的升高,抑制作用表现明显。nmol/L级别的VPA浓度能促进其发育,且50 nmol/L的VPA为最佳浓度,囊胚率为44.28%,细胞数为72.33个,显著高于其他浓度处理组(p0.05)。因此,应用50 nmol/L的VPA处理可提高猪HMC重构胚胎的囊胚率及增加囊胚细胞数,提高了猪HMC胚胎的体外发育潜能。     

不同供体细胞及其处理对猪核移植重构胚体外发育的影响

系统探讨了体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响。体外成熟培养40~44 h的猪卵母细胞去核后, 将经血清饥饿(0.5%FBS)培养2~9天、0.1 mg/L Aphidicolin(APD)培养+0.5% FBS培养2~9天或一般培养法(10% FBS)培养的卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞, 直接注射到去核的卵母细胞质中, 或注射到卵周隙中, 再经电融合(100 V/mm, 30 [mu]s, 电脉冲1次)构建重构胚。重构胚以钙离子载体A23817 或电脉冲结合6-DMAP 激活处理, 体外培养6天。耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经0.1 mg/L APD + 0.5% FBS培养处理后的重组胚卵裂率, 均高于血清饥饿和一般培养处理的同种供体细胞(P<0.01)。卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞经0.1 mg/L APD + 0.5% FBS处理后进行核移植的分裂率和发育率均高于输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞(P<0.05)。以猪颗粒细胞为核供体时, 电融合法的重构胚分裂率显著高于胞质内注入法(P<0.05), 但囊胚发育率无显著差异(P>0.05)。培养3代和6代的猪颗粒细胞以及培养6代和10代的耳皮成纤维细胞, 其具有正常二倍染色体的细胞比例均无显著差异(P>0.05); 以这2种细胞不同培养代数做供体进行核移植时, 各代之间核移胚的体外分裂率、囊胚发育率无显著差异(P>0.05)。这些结果表明: (1) 猪耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经培养传代所建立起来的细胞系相对比较稳定; (2) 0.1 mg/L APD预培养处理供体细胞能提高猪体细胞核移植的效果, 血清饥饿培养则无明显效果; (3) 猪颗粒细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞等均可做供核细胞, 核移植后都能得到体细胞克隆的囊胚, 但前者的效果略优于后者, 且其核移植效果不受供核细胞培养代数的影响; (4) 电融合核移植胚胎的发育率高于胞质内直接注入法, 但两者的总体效率相近。     

H3K27乙酰化模式在孤雌胚与正常胚中的差异及其对胚胎发育的影响

目的考察小鼠孤雌胚胎H3K27乙酰化模式与体内胚胎的差异,探究表观遗传模式对孤雌胚发育的影响。方法利用SrCl2激活卵母细胞,获得植入前各时期孤雌胚胎,并统计胚胎发育率;小鼠注射孕马血清激素(Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin,PMSG)和人绒毛膜促性腺激素(Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,hCG)超排后合笼,在不同发育时间采用体内冲胚的方法获得体内各时期胚胎;将获得的各期各类胚胎用H3K27乙酰化抗体与特异性位点结合,与连接有FITC荧光基团的二抗共同孵育,利用激光共聚焦显微镜检测荧光强度,获得小鼠植入前各时期孤雌胚和体内胚组蛋白H3K27乙酰化模式。结果用SrCl2激活成熟卵母细胞得到的孤雌胚的激活率和囊胚率分别为96.39%和69.54%,处于正常发育水平;孤雌胚H3K27乙酰化荧光强度从原核期相对较高的水平逐渐降低,2-细胞、4-细胞和8-细胞时期荧光强度都处于较低水平,到桑葚胚时期又突然升高,总体变化趋势和体内组先降低后升高的整体趋势一样,且原核期至8-细胞时期的荧光值孤雌胚高于体内胚,桑囊胚时期则相反;两组的H3K27乙酰化荧光强度值在原核期和桑葚胚时期差异不显著(P>0.05),在2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞和囊胚期差异显著(P<0.01)。结论本研究表明小鼠孤雌胚H3K27乙酰化模式与体内胚的模式存在差异,可能是影响孤雌胚发育能力的重要原因之一。进一步的深入研究将对纠正小鼠孤雌胚乙酰化模式和提高孤雌胚发育能力具有重要意义。     

绒山羊表达红色荧光及转胰岛素样生长因子Ⅰ基因体细胞核移植胚胎的制备

利用含有红色荧光和Neor基因双选择标记的IGF1毛囊特异表达载体pCDsR-KI转染绒山羊胎儿成纤维细胞,经G418筛选获得具有红色荧光的IGF1转基因细胞.核移植操作前,通过比较卵母细胞体外成熟培养不同时间的成熟率以及核与极体的距离,确定20h为绒山羊卵母细胞的最佳成熟时间.比较了不同激活方法和培养体系对孤雌胚激活效率和孤雌胚早期发育的影响,结果表明：IA23187＋6-DMAP组的激活效率和囊胚率（88.7%＆21.6%）均稍高于乙醇＋6-DMAP组（86.4%＆20.4%）,但二组相应数据之间差异均不显著（P〉0.05）,选择前者作为转基因核移植胚的激活方案;SOFaa和CR1aa两种体外培养体系中,孤雌胚卵裂率（86.8%vs83.9%）和囊胚率（23.1%vs17.2%）均差异不显著（P〉0.05）,选择结果较好的SOFaa组.比较了不同电融合参数的融合效果,结果表明：190V/mm处理组结果（62.4%）显著高于130V/mm（32.8%）和200V/mm（42.9%）组（P〈0.05）.通过T-SCNT获得转基因重构胚胎203枚,48h卵裂率为79.3%（161/203）,第7~9天囊胚发育率为15.3%（31/203）.所得到的31枚囊胚中,较强表达红色荧光蛋白的囊胚数为17枚（阳性率为54.8%）.随机挑选两枚红色荧光囊胚以PCR法进行鉴定,结果全部为转基因阳性.以上结果显示：（i）表达载体的红色荧光蛋白和Neor基因可以正常表达可获取转基因细胞和阳性转基因胚胎;（ii）所制备转基因囊胚仍有部分不表达红色荧光蛋白,说明即使选择转基因阳性细胞进行核移植所得囊胚也并非全部为转基因阳性,在囊胚期进一步筛选是必要的;（iii）通过TSCNT操作及优化,成功获得了表达红色荧光并同时转有IGF1基因的绒山羊胚胎,为绒山羊的转基因研究提供基础数据.     

体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响

本研究系统探讨了体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响。体外成熟培养40-44h的猪卵母细胞去核后,将经血清饥饿(0．5?s)培养2-9d、0．1mg/L Aphidicolin (APD)培养 0．5?S培养2-9d或一般培养法(10?S)培养的卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞,直接注射到去核的卵母细胞质中,或注射到卵周隙中。再经电融合(100V/mm,30μs,电脉冲1次)构建重构胚。重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6- DMAP激活处理,体外培养6天。耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经0．1mg/L APD 0．5?S培养处理后的重组胚卵裂率,均高于血清饥饿和一般培养处理的同种供体细胞(P＜0．01)。卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞经0．1mg/L APD 0．5?S处理后进行核移植的分裂率和发育率均高于输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞(P＜0．05)。以猪颗粒细胞为核供体时,电融合法的重构胚分裂率显著高于胞质内注入法(P＜0．05),但囊胚发育率无显著差异(P＞0．05)。培养3代和6代的猪颗粒细胞以及培养6代和10代的耳皮成纤维细胞,其具有正常二倍染色体的细胞比例均无显著差异(P＞0．05);以这2种细胞不同培养代数做供体进行核移植时,各代之间核移胚的体外分裂率、囊胚发育率无显著差异(P＞0．05)。这些结果表明：(1)猪耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经培养传代所建立起来的细胞系相对比较稳定;(2)0．1mg/L APD预培养处理供体细胞能提高猪体细胞核移植的效果,血清饥饿培养则无明显效果;(3)猪颗粒细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞等均可做供核细胞．核移植后都能得到体细胞克隆的囊胚,但前者的效果略优于后者,且其核移植效果不受供核细胞培养代数的影响;(4)电融合核移植胚胎的发育率高于胞质内直接注入法,但两者的总体效率相近。     

化学联合激活可明显提高小鼠孤雌胚胎发育率

为探讨一种高效的小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的方案,进一步提高孤雌囊胚发育率。用不同浓度的氯化锶及不同作用时间的乙醇,并分别联合6-DMAP对不同卵龄小鼠卵母细胞进行活化,统计小鼠卵母细胞卵裂率和体外发育状况。结果显示,15～16h、18～19h和20～21h卵龄组卵母细胞经6mmol/LSrCl2联合6-DMAP处理后,三组的激活率随卵龄增长而升高,其中20～21h卵龄组显著高于15～16h、18～19h组(P<0.05),激活胚胎的发育率以18～19h时最高;6mmol/L和10mmol/L的SrCl2联合6-DMAP均能有效地激活小鼠卵母细胞,激活率分别为76.4%和83.6%,桑葚胚率分别为50.0%和56.3%;70ml/L乙醇联合6-DMAP以处理7min组获得了较好的激活率和囊胚发育率,分别为77.1%和42.4%,囊胚率均显著高于4min和10min处理组(P<0.05)。6-DMAP与SrCl2或乙醇联合应用可以有效抑制第二极体的排出,提高激活胚的二倍体比率;孤雌囊胚的平均细胞数显著低于正常受精囊胚(P<0.05)。不同激活方案对孤雌活化胚的核型和发育能力的作用差异较大,小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活率与卵龄...     

Improved in vitro development of porcine embryos with different energy substrates and serum

The effect of replacing 5.5 mM glucose in North Carolina State University (NCSU)-23 medium with 0.5 mM pyruvate/5.0 mM lactate on porcine IVF embryo development was investigated in Experiment 1. Culturing embryos with pyruvate/lactate for 7 days or with pyruvate/lactate from Days 0 to 2, and then glucose from Days 2 to 7 improved cleavage rates. In Experiment 2, embryos were cultured for 7 days in pyruvate/lactate containing NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 0.05% PVA, 0.4% BSA or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The BSA supplement increased the rates of cleavage, blastocyst formation, and the number of total cells in blastocysts. In Experiment 3, embryos were cultured in pyruvate/lactate containing NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 0.4% BSA for 7 days (BSA-PL), 0.4% BSA from Days 0 to 4 and then 10% FBS from Days 4 to 7 (BSA-PL-->F ) or 0.4% BSA from Days 0 to 7 with addition of 10% FBS (BSA-PL + F ) at Day 4. More blastocysts in BSA-PL--> F and hatching or hatched blastocysts in BSA-PL-->F and BSA-PL+F were obtained. Total cell number in blastocysts derived from BSA-PL-->F and BSA-PL+F were increased. Our results demonstrated that supplementing pyruvate/lactate containing NCSU-23 medium with 0.4% BSA for 4 days and replacing it with 10% FBS for another 3 days improved porcine IVF embryo development.     

Effect of exogenous carbohydrates in a serum-free culture medium on the development of in vitro matured and fertilized porcine embryos

This study was conducted to examine the effect of energy substrates in a serum-free culture medium on in vitro development of porcine embryos. Presumptive zygotes derived from in vitro fertilization were cultured in glucose-free North Carolina State University (NCSU)-23 medium with glucose, pyruvate, fructose and lactate added to the culture medium singly or in various combinations. In experiment 1, a higher percentage of embryos cleaved (53-63% vs 10-13%) and developed to the blastocyst stage (18-27% vs 0) after the single addition of glucose (5.6 mM), pyruvate (0.5 mM) or lactate (10 mM) than with no energy substrate addition or the addition only of fructose (5.6 mM). In experiment 2, the addition of pyruvate and lactate resulted in higher blastocyst formation (25%) than other combinations (6-22%), while the addition of glucose and pyruvate significantly inhibited blastocyst formation. Increasing lactate concentration, as a single energy supplement, from 5 to 20 mM significantly improved blastocyst formation (7% vs 14-18%), while no benefit was achieved from increasing pyruvate concentration up to 2 mM (experiment 3). Glucose-free NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 0.5 mM pyruvate and 5 mM lactate significantly improved blastocyst formation (28% vs 17%) compared with NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 5.6 mM glucose (experiment 4). In conclusion, pyruvate and lactate are preferable energy substrates to support in vitro development of porcine embryos cultured in a serum-free NCSU-23 medium.     

The effect of energy substrate concentration and amino acids on the in vitro development of preimplantation porcine embryos

As the pig becomes increasingly used for biomedical research, an effective and efficient in vitro culture system is essential. This study aimed to improve the commonly used porcine embryo culture medium, NCSU23, by altering the energy substrates and adding amino acids, using electrically activated diploid parthenotes from oocytes obtained from the ovaries of prepubertal and adult animals. Morphological development to day 6 and blastocyst cell number were examined. Glucose (5.56 mM) was replaced by pyruvate and lactate (0.2 mM and 5.7 mM, respectively) for either the entire culture period or for the first 48 h only. Blastocyst rates were not different between any of the treatments, and were similar for prepubertal and adult oocytes. When the embryos were cultured with pyruvate and lactate for the first 48 h and then glucose, there was a significant increase in blastocyst cell number compared to glucose only. Blastocysts produced using pyruvate and lactate for the entire time tended to have more cells than those exposed to glucose only and less than those who were cultured in pyruvate and lactate for the first 48 h and then glucose. Nonessential amino acids added for the first 48 h and nonessential and essential amino acids added for the remaining time significantly increased blastocyst cell number only when the embryos were grown in pyruvate and lactate followed by glucose. Blastocyst rates were not different between any of the treatments, and this result was the same when using sow or gilt oocytes. The modified medium was then tested using in vitro matured and fertilized embryos from sow oocytes. Blastocyst rates and cell number were significantly increased in the modified medium compared to those grown in unmodified NCSU23. This shows that altering energy substrates and adding amino acids can increase the quantity and cell number of IVP blastocysts compared with NCSU23.     

Development and viability of in vitro derived porcine blastocysts cultured in NCSU23 and G1.2/G2.2 sequential medium

Porcine embryo development in vitro is relatively inefficient compared to other domestic species. Currently, a single culture medium (NCSU23) is the standard for porcine in vitro systems. However, the G1.2/G2.2 sequential culture system has been beneficial for embryo development in other species. The objective of this study was to compare porcine preimplantation embryo development in vitro and subsequent blastocyst viability and metabolic activity using NCSU23 and G1.2/G2.2 culture media. Oocytes were matured in defined TCM199 base medium for 45 to 47 h and fertilized in mTBM for 4 h. Embryos were cultured in either NCSU23 for 146 h or G1.2 medium for 72 h followed by culture in G2.2 medium for an additional 74 h. Blastocyst substrate use was measured using a modification of the hanging drop technique. Culture in NCSU23 resulted in a higher percentage (P < 0.05) of embryo cleavage (74.0%) and blastocyst development (14.6%) than culture in G1.2/G2.2 (67.8% and 7.8%, respectively). Both NCSU23 and G1.2/G2.2 produced blastocysts with similar mean cell numbers (51.5 +/- 4.3 and 47.1 +/- 4.3, respectively), similar glucose use (10.81 +/- 1.39 and 10.12 +/- 1.72 pmol/embryo/3 h, respectively) and pyruvate use (1.08 +/- 0.056 and 0.88 +/- 0.048 pmol/embryo/3 h, respectively). These data indicate that a sequential culture system can support porcine embryo development in vitro without compromising embryo viability. However, the G1.2/G2.2 system was not as effective as NCSU23 in supporting blastocyst development. Sequential media should be formulated specifically for porcine embryos to improve embryonic cleavage and blastocyst development.     

Development and quality of porcine embryos in different culture system and embryo-producing methods

In this study, the developmental ability and cellular composition of porcine IVF, parthenote and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos were evaluated following different in vitro culture systems. Group 1, embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 with 5.55 mM D-glucose (NCSU+) until day 6 on 20% O(2) or 5% O(2) (Group 2). Group 3, embryos were cultured in D-glucose-free NCSU-23 (NCSU-) with 0.17 mM Na pyruvate/2.73 mM Na lactate for 58 h and subsequently cultured in NCSU+ until day 6 (NCSU -/+) on 20% O2 or 5% O(2) (Group 4). IVF blastocysts did not differ significantly with O(2) concentrations, but differed significantly with major energy source (glucose and pyruvate/lactate). In Group 3 and 4 IVF blastocysts, the total cell number and apoptosis rates were not significantly different with different O(2) concentrations. Blastocyst rate, total cell number and apoptosis rate in Groups 3 and 4 parthenote embryos also were not significantly different. Parthenote and SCNT, under the same culture treatment, exhibited significant differences in blastocyst and apoptosis rates (47.5 +/- 16.1 vs. 24.0 +/- 4.0 and 4.9 +/- 9.0 vs. 22.8 +/- 23.3). Apoptosis-generating rate increased in the order parthenote, IVF and then SCNT. In conclusion, in vitro development of porcine embryos was not affected by O(2) concentrations but was affected by major energy source. Even so, the concentration of each major energy source and the timing of its inclusion in culture could accomplish relatively high embryonic development, the apoptosis rate stressed that more work still needs to be done in developing a better defined culture system that could support SCNT embryos equivalent to in vivo preimplantation porcine embryos.     

Substrate utilization in porcine embryos cultured in NCSU23 and G1.2/G2.2 sequential culture media

Embryo metabolism is an indicator of viability and, therefore, efficiency of the culture medium. Currently, little is known regarding porcine embryo metabolism. The objective of our study was to evaluate glucose and pyruvate uptake and lactate production in porcine embryos cultured in two different media systems. Oocytes were matured and fertilized according to standard protocols. Embryos were allocated randomly into two culture treatments, NCSU23 medium or G1.2/G2.2 sequential culture media 6-8 h post-insemination (hpi). Embryo substrate utilization was measured at the two-cell (24-30 hpi), 8-cell (80 hpi), morula (120 hpi), and blastocyst (144 hpi) stages using ultramicrofluorimetry. Glucose uptake was higher (P < 0.05) in two-cell embryos cultured in G1.2 than in NCSU23 medium (4.54 +/- 0.71, 2.16 +/- 0.87 pmol/embryo/h, respectively). Embryos cultured in G1.2/G2.2 produced significantly more lactate than those in NCSU23 at the eight-cell stage (9.41 +/- 0.71, 4.42 +/- 0.95 pmol/embryo/hr, respectively) as well as the morula stage (11.03 +/- 2.31, 6.29 +/- 0.77 pmol/embryo/hr, respectively). Pyruvate uptake was higher (P < 0.05) in morula cultured in G1.2/G2.2 versus NCSU23 (22.59 +/- 3.92, 11.29 +/- 1.57 pmol/embryo/h, respectively). Lactate production was greater (P < 0.05) in blastocysts cultured in G1.2/G2.2 (38.13 +/- 15.94 pmol/embryo/h) than blastocysts cultured in NCSU23 (8.46 +/- 2.38 pmol/embryo/h). Pyruvate uptake was also greater in blastocysts cultured in G1.2/G2.2 (24.3 +/- 11.04) than those in NCSU23 (11.30 +/- 2.70). When cultured in NCSU23 medium, two- and eight-cell embryos utilized less glucose than morulae and blastocysts, and two-cell embryos produced less lactate than blastocysts (P < 0.05). In G1.2/G2.2 media, two-cells took up less pyruvate than morulae or blastocysts, while blastocysts produced more lactate and utilized more glucose than two-cell, eight-cell and morula stage embryos (P < 0.05). As in other species, glycolysis appears to be the primary metabolic pathway in post-compaction stage porcine embryos. Culture medium composition affects not only substrate uptake, but also metabolic pathways by which these substrates are utilized in porcine embryos at several developmental stages.     

Improved developmental competence of cloned porcine embryos with different energy supplements and chemical activation

The present study investigated the effect of lactate/pyruvate supplement in culture medium and of chemical activation after electric stimulus on in vitro development of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. In vitro matured gilt oocytes were enucleated, reconstructed with fetal fibroblasts, and simultaneously fused/activated using a single pulse of 2.0 kV/cm for 30 microsec. In Experiment 1, reconstructed embryos were cultured in North Carolina State University (NCSU)-23 medium supplemented with either 5.5 mM glucose (Group A) or lactate (5.0 mM)/pyruvate (0.5 mM) (Group B). Compared to Group A, cleavage rate (64% vs. 47%) was higher and more blastocysts developed in Group B (17% vs. 6% at Day 6, 21% vs.11% at Day 7). Experiment 2, embryos reconstructed by electric stimulus (2.0 kV/cm for 30 microsec) were subjected to three activation protocols: (1) no chemical activation (Group C), (2) 7.5 microg/ml cytochalasin B treatment at 2 hr after electric stimulus (Group D), and (3) 5 microg/ml 6-dimethylaminopurine (Group E) treatment at 2 hr after electric stimulus. The reconstructed embryos were cultured for 7 days in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with lactate (5.0 mM)/pyruvate (0.5 mM). The rates of blastocyst formation on Day 6 and Day 7 in Group C (17 and 20%, respectively) or Group D (15, 20%, respectively) were higher than in Group E (9 and 12%, respectively). The percentage of two pseudo-pronucleus (PPN) formations in Group D (88%) was significantly higher than in Group C (71%) and Group E (72%). Mean cell numbers of blastocysts in Group D (63.4 +/- 15.8) were higher than in Group C (43.9 +/- 16.5) and Group E (32.9 +/- 17.9), due to increased trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers. Our results indicate that supplementing NCSU-23 medium with lactate/pyruvate and exposure of cytochalasin B after electrical stimulus can improve in vitro developmental competence of porcine SCNT embryos.     

Effects of hexoses on in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo development in pigs

The objective was to determine the effects of supplementing hexoses in oocyte maturation and embryo culture medium on in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes and in vitro development of in vitro produced (IVP) porcine embryos. In the first experiment, oocytes were matured in vitro in modified North Carolina State University (NCSU)-37 medium, supplemented with hexoses (glucose, fructose or galactose) at various concentrations: 0 (control), 2.5, 5.5 and 10 mM. Supplementing the maturation medium with either glucose or fructose (5.5 mM) increased the percentages of oocytes that matured to metaphase II (79.4 and 70.2%, respectively), as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). However, supplementing galactose had no effects on meiotic maturation and fertilization. In the second experiment, cleaved embryos were collected 3 days after IVF of oocytes matured in the maturation medium supplemented with 5.5 mM of glucose; they were cultured for an additional 4 days in modified NCSU-37 medium, supplemented with 5.5mM of glucose, fructose or galactose. The incidence of blastocyst formation was higher (P < 0.05) in the glucose and fructose groups (18.6 and 18.2%, respectively) than in the galactose group and non-supplemented control group (12.9 and 9.2%). Moreover, fructose supplementation increased the total cell number/blastocyst (48.0 versus 37.6) and reduced the index of DNA-fragmented nucleus in the blastocysts (7.6% versus 11.8%), as compared with glucose supplementation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, fructose was a practical alternative to glucose for supporting IVM of porcine oocytes and fructose was superior to glucose for producing high-quality porcine embryos in vitro.