绵羊体外受精卵的体外发育及冷冻保存研究

将体外成熟、体外受精的绵羊卵子,在体外培养至桑椹胚—襄胚期并进行冷冻保存,观察了培养卵的体外发育和冷冻保存效果。从采自屠宰场的绵羊卵巢中抽取卵母细胞,用含有10％FCS(或NSS)、HCG、E_2和Hepes的M199培养24—26小时,再以经Ionophore A23187诱导获能的新鲜精子进行授精。授精后6—8小时移入发育用培养基内进行培养,发育用培养基为含有10％FCS(或NSS)、丙酮酸钠、Hepes的M 199。授精72小时后,FCS组和NSS组的卵裂率分别为36.9％和45.2％,后者显著高于前者。继续培养7—10天后,桑椹胚～囊胚的发育率分别为11.6％和23.4％,两者间差异极显著。将桑椹胚和囊胚冷冻保存于PBS+20％FCS+10％乙二醇冷冻液内,解冻后的胚胎形态正常率分别为82.0％和71.9％。     

利用静电场提高IVF小鼠胚胎发育率的研究

本研究首先用静电场处理小鼠2细胞期胚胎,通过观察其发育率筛选了最佳处理剂量(场强和时间),在此基础上探讨了不同细胞期的静电刺激对小鼠胚胎发育的影响。结果表明:用静电场处理小鼠2细胞期胚胎,能显著提高胚胎的发育能力,最佳处理剂量的囊胚率从42.4％提高到64.5％,囊胚孵化率从20.0％提高到44.8％,与对照组存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。不同细胞期胚胎对静电刺激的敏感性不同,其中1细胞(授精后6h)和2细胞期(授精后24h)胚胎对电场刺激较为敏感。     

碳水化合物对牛体外受精胚胎体外发育的影响

目的　在SOF +PVA(合成输卵管液 +聚乙烯醇 )这一化学成分明确培养系统条件下 ,观察了葡萄糖、丙酮酸和乳酸三种碳水化合物对牛体外受精胚胎体外发育的影响 ,以便为今后进一步探讨影响牛早期胚胎体外发育的因素提供实验依据。方法　牛卵母细胞体外成熟和体外受精后 ,在化学成分明确培养系统内进行体外发育培养。结果　实验 1将牛体外受精卵培养于不含有葡萄糖的SOF +PVA培养系统中 ,培养 12 0h后分别移入含有 0、1 5 0、3 30、5 0 0mmol L的SOF +PVA培养系统中 ,对照组胚胎一直在含有 1 5 0mmol L葡萄糖的SOF +PVA中培养 ,结果囊胚的发育率分别为 9 2 % a、12 1%、19 2 % b、18 9%和 11 7% (a 相似文献   

培养条件对牛体外受精胚胎核仁及线粒体发育的影响

牛体外受精胚胎分别在SOF FCS、SOF BSA和SOF PVA三种培养系统内进行培养,然后分别取三个系统中发育到原核期、2细胞、4细胞、8细胞、桑椹胚和囊胚阶段的胚胎进行透射电镜的观察,了解培养系统中血清和BSA的添加与否对胚胎发育过程中核仁和线粒体发育的影响。观察结果表明：与已报道的体内受精胚胎研究结果相比,体外受精胚胎核仁的发育比较迟缓,培养系统中血清及BSA的添加与否不会显著影响核仁的发育过程。在SOF FCS和SOF BSA培养系统中线粒体的发育明显滞后,表明培养系统中血清和BSA的添加可能是造成这种现象的重要原因。     

小鼠分离胚的培养和移植

将小鼠2—4细胞胚分离成为1/2半胚或2/4半胚后,在体外条件下进行培养,选择发育为桑椹胚、囊胚期的胚胎移植给假孕雌鼠。结果是,分离胚的囊胚发育率在Whitten和BMOC-Ⅲ中分别为88.1％和81.6％,1/2半胚和2/4半胚的发育率分别为89.0％和94.6％(p<0.05),F_1代和ICR1/2半胚的发育率分别为91.7％和49.2％(p<0.01)。在移植1/2半胚和2/4半胚的雌鼠中分别有3只和1只妊娠并产仔鼠2只和1只;在以1/2半胚,去透明带的整胚和保留透明带的整胚为对照移植的三个处理组中其雌鼠的妊娠率和产仔率分别为8.3％和2.8％,30.0％和10.8％,60.0％和36.7％,各处理组间均有显著差异(p<0.01)。     

小鼠胚胎徒手分割技术的研究

目的　研究不同分割液和分割前胚胎去致密化与否对昆明白系小鼠的桑椹胚和囊胚的徒手分割以及分割后胚胎移植的影响。方法　在mPBS、1 2 5 %蔗糖液和进口分割液三种不同分割液中对桑椹胚和囊胚进行徒手分割。结果和结论　在蔗糖液与进口分割液中分割桑椹胚 ,成功率显著高于mPBS处理组 (6 9 5 3%、77 4 0 %vs5 6 82 % ) (P <0 0 5 ) ,而半胚的囊胚发育率及囊胚细胞数三组差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;在蔗糖液与进口分割液中分割囊胚 ,分割后半胚培养的囊胚发育率显著高于mPBS处理组 (72 38%、74 2 9%vs 5 6 2 0 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ,而分割成功率及囊胚细胞数三组差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;各处理组半胚的囊胚发育率及囊胚细胞数都显著低于对照组体外培养桑椹胚的囊胚发育率 (98 70 % )和囊胚细胞数 (6 3 6 7± 5 78) (P <0 0 1 ) ;桑椹胚经去致密化处理后分割 ,其分割成功率显著高于未处理组 (82 90 %vs 5 6 6 0 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ,处理组半胚培养的囊胚发育率也显著高于未处理组 (73 80 %vs 4 6 80 % ) (P <0 0 1 ) ;共移植 1 4 2枚 2分胚形成的囊胚移植于 1 1只受体 ,其中 3只妊娠 ,分别产仔 2只、3只和 4只     

处理方式不同的颗粒细胞和卵泡液对牛卵母细胞体外受精后卵裂率和囊胚率的影响

将牛的卵母细胞置于添加有不同预处理颗粒细胞及含有卵泡液的培养液或不舍有卵泡液的培养液中进行体外成熟、受精及胚胎发育培养，研究了颗粒细胞、卵泡液及颗粒细胞与卵泡液交互作用对牛卵母细胞成熟、受精后卵裂率、囊胚率的影响。2178枚卵母细胞体外成熟受精后胚胎发育的对比观察结果表明：颗粒细胞、卵泡液及颗粒细胞与卵泡液交互作用对卵母细胞成熟受精后胚胎的卵裂具有显著影响（P〈0．05）；颗粒细胞对囊胚的发育有显著影响（P〈0．05）；卵泡液及颗粒细胞与卵泡液交互作用对囊胚的发育无显著影响（P〉0．05）。不同因素对卵裂率、囊胚率的影响表现为：颗粒细胞因素〉培养液因素〉培养液&#215;颗粒细胞交互作用。结论：TCM199培养液中添加卵泡液和单层颗粒细胞组成的培养系统用于牛卵母细胞体外成熟及胚胎发育的效果较好。共培养体系中的单层颗粒细胞用经酶消化分散处理后在培养箱中孵育10min的颗粒细胞替代时，胚胎的发育效果并不受影响。     

体细胞核移植克隆民猪: 培养液对卵母细胞成熟及胚胎发育的影响

体外培养成熟的卵母细胞是进行克隆猪研究所需受体卵母细胞的主要来源, 卵母细胞成熟质量与体细胞核移植胚胎发育能力关系密切. 为提高卵母细胞体外成熟率和成熟质量, 进而提高体细胞核移植猪的成功率, 本实验以改进的TCM199培养液为基础液(T), 分别添加10%的猪卵泡液(T+pFF)和 10%的胎牛血清(T+FBS)后进行卵母细胞成熟培养, 以成熟率和体细胞核移植胚胎发育率等重要指标为标准, 研究了pFF和FBS对卵母细胞成熟及核移植胚胎发育能力的影响. T, T+pFF和T+FBS组在成熟培养后42 h卵母细胞成熟率分别为(53.2±3.8)%, (69.7±3.8)%和(70.2±3.7)%, 添加10%的pFF和FBS显著(P<0.05)提高了卵母细胞成熟率; 3组不同成熟培养液获得的成熟卵母细胞在体细胞核移植后囊胚发育率差异不显著, 但T+pFF组的囊胚细胞数(34.5±2.24)显著(P<0.05)高于T组的囊胚细胞数(26.6±1.25). 来自T+pFF组的体细胞核移植胚胎经手术法移植入发情周期为第0天或第1天的18头受体母猪输卵管, 其中有3头受体母猪妊娠发育到期, 获得克隆民猪14头, 其中有6头健康成活至今. 实验结果表明, 培养液中添加10%pFF可以有效提高卵母细胞成熟比例和成熟质量, 在含有10% pFF培养液中获得的成熟卵母细胞具有支持核移植胚胎全程发育的能力.     

体细胞核移植克隆民猪: 培养液对卵母细胞成熟及胚胎发育的影响

体外培养成熟的卵母细胞是进行克隆猪研究所需受体卵母细胞的主要来源, 卵母细胞成熟质量与体细胞核移植胚胎发育能力关系密切. 为提高卵母细胞体外成熟率和成熟质量, 进而提高体细胞核移植猪的成功率, 本实验以改进的TCM199培养液为基础液(T), 分别添加10%的猪卵泡液(T+pFF)和 10%的胎牛血清(T+FBS)后进行卵母细胞成熟培养, 以成熟率和体细胞核移植胚胎发育率等重要指标为标准, 研究了pFF和FBS对卵母细胞成熟及核移植胚胎发育能力的影响. T, T+pFF和T+FBS组在成熟培养后42 h卵母细胞成熟率分别为(53.2±3.8)%, (69.7±3.8)%和(70.2±3.7)%, 添加10%的pFF和FBS显著(P<0.05)提高了卵母细胞成熟率; 3组不同成熟培养液获得的成熟卵母细胞在体细胞核移植后囊胚发育率差异不显著, 但T+pFF组的囊胚细胞数(34.5±2.24)显著(P<0.05)高于T组的囊胚细胞数(26.6±1.25). 来自T+pFF组的体细胞核移植胚胎经手术法移植入发情周期为第0天或第1天的18头受体母猪输卵管, 其中有3头受体母猪妊娠发育到期, 获得克隆民猪14头, 其中有6头健康成活至今. 实验结果表明, 培养液中添加10%pFF可以有效提高卵母细胞成熟比例和成熟质量, 在含有10% pFF培养液中获得的成熟卵母细胞具有支持核移植胚胎全程发育的能力.     

应用氯化锶对小鼠卵母细胞孤雌活化的研究

目的　探讨小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的最佳作用条件。方法　将MⅡ期小鼠卵母细胞随机分为 2组 ,第一组 ,将小鼠卵母细胞分别放入 2、4、6、8、10mmol ml不同浓度的氯化锶激活液中 ,作用 6h ,观察激活率及囊胚发育率。第二组 ,将小鼠卵母细胞放入 10mmol ml氯化锶激活液中 ,分别作用 3、6、9h ,观察激活率及囊胚发育率。结果　第一组 ,激活率分别为 86 49%、82 6 1%、88 0 0 %、86 6 7%、81 18%。各组间差异无显著性。体内培养 72h回收囊胚 ,囊胚发育率分别为 0、31 42 %、43 33%、6 2 5 0 %、5 0 0 0 %。 6～ 10mmol mlSrCl2 激活液激活后囊胚发育率高于 0～ 4mmol ml(P <0 0 5 )。第二组 ,激活率分别为 82 86 %、89 6 1%、91.40 %。 72h囊胚发育率分别为 2 6 5 3 %、5 0 0 0 %、5 3 2 2 %。激活 6、9h的囊胚发育率高于激活 3h的囊胚发育率 (P <0 0 1)。结论　结果表明 ,6～ 10mmol ml的SrCl2 为卵母细胞孤雌活化的最佳作用浓度 ,6～ 9h的激活时间为最佳作用时间 ;表明SrCl2 的浓度和作用时间对小鼠卵母细胞的活化有显著的影响。     

Effects of different cryopreservation methods on post-thaw culture conditions of in vitro produced bovine embryos

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of cryopreservation protocols on subsequent development of in vitro produced bovine embryos under different culture conditions. Expanded in vitro produced blastocysts (n = 600) harvested on days 7-9 were submitted to controlled freezing [slow freezing group: 10% ethylene glycol (EG) for 10 min and 1.2°C/min cryopreservation]; quick-freezing [rapid freezing group: 10% EG for 10 min, 20% EG + 20% glycerol (Gly) for 30 s]; or vitrification [vitrification group: 10% EG for 10 min, 25% EG + 25% Gly for 30 s] protocols. Control group embryos were not exposed to cryoprotectant or cryopreservation protocols and the hatching rate was evaluated on day 12 post-insemination. In order to evaluate development, frozen-thawed embryos were subjected to granulosa cell co-culture in TCM199 or SOFaa for 4 days. Data were analyzed by PROC MIXED model using SAS Systems for Windows?. Values were significant at p < 0.05. The hatching rate of the control group was 46.09%. In embryos cultured in TCM199, slow freezing and vitrification group hatching rates were 44.65 ± 5.94% and 9.43 ± 6.77%, respectively. In embryos cultured in SOFaa, slow freezing and vitrification groups showed hatching rates of 11.65 ± 3.37 and 8.67 ± 4.47%, respectively. In contrast, the rapid freezing group embryos did not hatch, regardless of culture medium. The slow freezing group showed higher hatching rates than other cryopreservation groups. Under such conditions, controlled freezing (1.2°C/min) can be an alternative to cryopreservation of in vitro produced bovine embryos.     

Development and quality of sheep embryos cultured in commercial G1.3/G2.3 sequential media

Present study assesses the developmental ability and quality of ovine IVP embryos derived from culture in sequential media G1.3/G2.3. A total of 1474 cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in M199 supplemented with EGF and FCS for 24h in 5% CO2 in humidified air at 39 degrees C. Oocytes were co-incubated in SOF medium with 1 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml at the same temperature and gas conditions (Day 0 p.i.). Presumptive zygotes at 20 h p.i. were denuded, washed and placed in culture in SOF (control; n=742) or G1.3 media supplemented with 3mg/ml of BSA (n=732) under mineral oil in a humidified and controlled atmosphere at 39 degrees C. Embryos in the treated group were changed to G2.3 medium on Day 3 of culture. A group of blastocysts in each group were frozen by conventional method (SOF, n=55; G1.3/G2.3, n=48). In vivo embryos (n=72) were recovered at Day 7 from the uterus of progestagen+eCG treated females and they were cultured in defined medium (n=38) or frozen (n=34) directly after recovery. Cleavage rate of IVP embryos recorded at 48 h p.i. was similar for control and treated embryos (49.8 versus 47.5%). There were no significant differences in blastocyst development from the two groups on Day 6 (26.0 versus 25.6%), 7 (42.1 versus 38.6%) or 8 (50.8 versus 43.2%). Blastocyst development rates from total oocytes cultured were comparable (24.1 versus 21.5%). However, the proportion of hatched blastocysts was significantly higher for control embryos (86.6 versus 44.3%, P<0.0001). In addition, embryos cultured in SOF had higher re-expansion rates post-thawing at 24h (38.2 versus 6.2%), 48 h (36.4 versus 4.1%) and 72 h (34.5 versus 4.1%) and hatching rate (32.8 versus 2.0%) than embryos cultured in sequential media (P<0.0001). In vivo embryos showed higher hatching rate (61.7%) than IVP groups (SOF, P<0.01; G1.3/G2.3, P<0.0001) but lower than their fresh cultured counterparts (86.8%; P=0.01). In conclusion, G1.3/G2.3 media supported high developmental rates of embryos in vitro but the quality of the embryos was impaired.     

Higher survival rate of vitrified and thawed in vitro produced bovine blastocysts following culture in defined medium supplemented with beta-mercaptoethanol

The present study was conducted to compare bovine embryo developmental quality, after culture in different defined culture media, up to blastocyst stage, and subsequently cultured in media supplemented with beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME) following blastocyst vitrification and thawing. In part one of this study, presumptive zygotes were randomly allocated into the following media: (1) CR1, (2) KSOM, (3) SOF, and (4) sequential KSOM-SOF. In the second part of the study, blastocysts derived from four different culture media were subjected to a solid surface vitrification (35% (v/v) ethylene glycol+0.5M Sucrose+5% (w/v) Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and tested for the effect of beta-ME on their post-vitrification survival. Following thawing, blastocysts were cultured with or without beta-ME. Culture medium had no effect on cleavage rates; however, a significantly greater number of zygotes cultured in KSOM, KSOM-SOF, or SOF developed to the 8-cell stage, compared with those cultured in CR1. A greater proportion of the zygotes cultured in SOF or KSOM-SOF reached blastocysts, than did those cultured in CR1 or KSOM. The use of sequential KSOM-SOF significantly increased total cell numbers of Day 7 expanded-blastocysts when compared to those cultured in CR1, KSOM, or SOF. Addition of beta-ME into culture media after vitrification and thawing improved blastocyst survival, hatching rates, and total cell numbers of blastocysts. In conclusion, supplementation of beta-ME into culture medium after vitrification and thawing significantly increased blastocyst survival, hatching rates, and their total cell numbers. These results suggest that vitrified IVF embryos should be thawed and briefly cultured in beta-ME medium prior to embryo transfer.     

Comparison on in vitro fertilized bovine embryos cultured in KSOM or SOF and cryopreserved by slow freezing or vitrification

The objectives of this study were to identify an improved in vitro cell-free embryo culture system and to compare post-warming development of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos following vitrification versus slow freezing. In Experiment 1, non-selected presumptive zygotes were randomly allocated to four medium treatments without co-culture: (1) SOF + 5% FCS for 9 days; (2) KSOM + 0.1% BSA for 4 days and then KSOM + 1% BSA to Day 9; (3) SOF + 5% FCS for 4 days and then KSOM + 1% BSA to Day 9; and (4) KSOM + 0.1% BSA for 4 days and then SOF + 5% FCS to Day 9. Treatment 4 (sequential KSOM-SOF culture system) improved (P > 0.05) morulae (47%), early blastocysts (26%), Day-7 blastocysts (36%), cell numbers, as well as total hatching rate (79%) compared to KSOM alone (Treatment 2). Embryos cultured in KSOM + BSA alone developed slowly and most of them hatched late on Day 9, compared to other treatments. In Experiment 2, the sequential KSOM-SOF culture system was used and Day-7 blastocysts were subjected to following cryopreservation comparison: (1) vitrification (VS3a, 6.5 M glycerol); or (2) slow freezing (1.36 M glycerol). Warmed embryos were cultured in SOF with 7.5% FCS. Higher embryo development and hatching rates (P < 0.05) were obtained by vitrification at 6h (71%), 24h (64%), and 48h (60%) post-warming compared to slow freezing (48, 40, and 31%, respectively). Following transfer of vitrified embryos to synchronized recipients, a 30% pregnancy rate was obtained. In conclusion, replacing KSOM with SOF after 4 days of culture produced better quality blastocysts. Vitrification using VS3a may be used more effectively to cryopreserve in vitro produced embryos than the conventional slow freezing method.     

High bovine blastocyst development in a static in vitro production system using SOFaa medium supplemented with sodium citrate and myo-inositol with or without serum-proteins

We describe a bovine embryo culture system that supports repeatable high development in the presence of serum or BSA as well as under defined conditions in the absence of those components. In the first experiment, embryo development in SOF with amino acids (SOFaa), sodium citrate (SOFaac) and myo-inositol (SOFaaci) and with BSA or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was compared with that in a M199 granulosa cell co-culture (M199 co-culture). Subsequently, development and cell numbers of blastocysts cultured under defined conditions in SOFaaci with PVA (SOFaaci-PVA), or under undefined conditions in SOFaaci with 5% cow serum (SOFaaci-CS) or M199 co-culture were compared. The repeatability of culture results in SOFaaci-CS was checked by weekly replicates (n = 30) spread over 11 months. The viability of embryos developed in SOFaaci-PVA was estimated by transfer of morphologically good blastocysts (n = 10) to synchronized recipients. In the second experiment, the effect of omitting CS or BSA from IVM and IVM-IVF on subsequent embryo development in SOFaaci-PVA or in SOFaaci-CS was investigated. Blastocyst development in SOFaa-PVA, SOFaac-PVA, SOFaa-BSA and M199 was 16 +/- 3b, 23 +/- 2ab, 30 +/- 8a and 36 +/- 7a%, respectively (Pab < 0.05). Additional inclusion of myoinositol resulted in 42 +/- 1a% blastocysts in SOFaaci-PVA vs 19 +/- 3b% in SOFaac-PVA, 47 +/- 7a% in SOFaac-BSA, and 36 +/- 7a% in M199 co-culture, respectively (Pab < 0.01). In 30 replicates, the average cleavage and blastocyst rates of oocytes in SOFaaci-CS were 87 +/- 4 and 49 +/- 5%, respectively. Five normal calves were produced after transfer of 10 blastocysts developed in defined culture medium (i.e., SOFaaci-PVA). Defined IVM or IVM-IVF (i.e., in absence of CS and BSA) reduced cleavage rates (83 +/- 3 and 55 +/- 3% vs 90 +/- 1% in presence of CS; P < 0.01). Subsequent embryo development in SOFaaci-CS was not affected in either of these defined conditions. However, cleavage and blastocyst rates under completely defined IVP conditions were 54 +/- 7 and 19 +/- 4%, respectively. It was concluded that under defined culture conditions, addition of citrate and myo-inositol improved blastocyst development to rates comparable to those obtained with serum, BSA or co-culture and that the quality of blastocysts was not affected by the absence of serum or BSA. However, serum was essential during IVM/IVF for normal fertilization and subsequent high blastocyst development.     

Serum free embryo culture medium improves in vitro survival of bovine blastocysts to vitrification

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of co-culture with Vero cells during the in vitro maturation (IVM) and three culture media, B2+5% fetal calf serum (FCS) on Vero cells, synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF)+5% FCS, and SOF+20 gL(-1) bovine serum albumin (BSA), on the developmental competence of the embryos and their ability to survive vitrification/warming. We also tested the effect of morphological quality and the age of the embryo on its sensitivity to vitrification. The IVM system neither affects the embryo development up to Day 7 nor survival rates after vitrification. The culture of embryos in SOF+FCS and in Vero cells+B2 allowed obtaining more Day 6 and Day 7 blastocysts, and a higher % of Day 7 blastocysts vitrified than culture in SOF+BSA. Contrarily, on Day 8, more blastocysts were vitrified in SOF+BSA than in SOF+FCS. Blastocysts quality affected development after vitrification/warming, and Day 7 embryos showed higher survival rates than their Day 8 counterparts. Day 7 blastocysts produced in Vero cells or in SOF+BSA survived at higher rates than those produced in SOF+FCS at 24 and 48 h after warming. Embryo culture with BSA allows obtaining hatching rates after vitrification/warming higher than those obtained after co-culture with Vero cells in B2 and FCS. Moreover, this system provides hatching rates from Day 8 blastocysts comparable to those obtained on Day 7 in Vero cells. Further studies, including embryo transfer to recipients, are needed to clarify factors affecting the freezability of in vitro produced bovine embryos.     

Effect of estrous cow serum during bovine embryo culture on blastocyst development and cryotolerance after slow freezing or vitrification

The present study investigated the effect of estrous cow serum (ECS) during culture of bovine embryos on blastocyst development and survival after cryopreservation by slow freezing or vitrification. Embryos were derived from in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of abbatoir-derived oocytes. At Day 3, embryos were cultured in three different media: Charles Ronsenkrans medium + amino acids (CR1aa; without bovine serum albumin (BSA)) + 5% estrous cow serum (CR1-ECS), CR1aa + 3 mg/mL BSA (CR1-BSA) or CR1aa + 5% ECS + 3 mg/mL BSA (CR1-ECS-BSA). At 7.5 d post-insemination (PI), blastocyst yield and quality were evaluated; blastocysts and expanded blastocysts from each media were cryopreserved by Open Pulled Straw (OPS) vitrification method or slow freezing (1.5 M ethylene glycol, EM). Total blastocyst yield did not differ among CR1-ECS, CR1-BSA and CR1-ECS-BSA (30.9, 33.1 and 32.9%, respectively, P < 0.05). Embryo survival (hatching rate) was higher in vitrified versus slow-frozen embryos (43% versus 12%, respectively, P < 0.01), and in embryos cultured in CR1-BSA (40.3%) compared with those cultured in serum-containing media (CR1-ECS, 21.5% and CR1-ECS-BSA, 19.8%; P < 0.01). In conclusion: (a) it was possible to produce in vitro bovine embryos in serum-free culture medium without affecting blastocyst yield and quality; (b) serum-free medium produced the best quality embryos (in terms of post-cryopreservation survival); and (c) vitrification yielded the highest post-cryopreservation survival rates, regardless of the presence of serum in the culture medium.     

Effect of human leukemia inhibitory factor on in vitro development of IVF-derived bovine morulae and blastocysts

This study was conducted to investigate whether human leukemia inhibitory factor (hLIF) improves the subsequent development of IVF-derived bovine morulae and blastocysts. To obtain IVF-derived bovine morulae, ova were matured and fertilized in vitro and cultured in 0.5 ml of synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium supplemented with 10% human serum (HS) for 5 d at 39 degrees C under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2). Morulae and early blastocysts at Day 5 of culture were cultured in 0.5 ml of SOF medium with or without 5000 U/ml recombinant hLIF for 2 or 3 d (2 groups). To investigate the effect of addition of hLIF on the subsequent development of morulae, SOF medium was supplemented with 8 mg/ml BSA instead of HS. To test whether hLIF affects the subsequent development of IVF-derived bovine blastocysts, only good blastocysts that developed from SOF medium with or without hLIF at Days 7 and 8 of culture were frozen by a conventinal slow freezing method and again cultured in SOF medium with or without the addition of hLIF for 3 d after thawing (4 groups). Survival of frozen-thawed bovine embryos was evaluated for re-expansion and hatching of blastocysts during 3 d of culture. There was no significant difference in the developmental rate of Day 5 embryos to blastocysts between those cultured with (47.8%) and without (47.6%) addition of hLIF. However, the addition of hLIF before freezing significantly increased the hatching rate of IVF-derived bovine morulae (P < 0.05), whereas addition of hLIF after thawing did not increase the subsequent development of blastocysts. These results suggest that hLIF added at the Day 5 morula stage may contribute to bovine embryonic development through the hatching process.     

牛体内,外受精胚胎玻璃化冷冻保存技术的研究初报

利用３种培养液即输卵管合成液（ＳＯＦ）、ＴＣＭ１９９和ＣＲｌａａ对牛体外受精后的卵母细胞进行培养,结果卵裂率分别达８５％、６７％和７２％,囊胚发育率分别为３７％、２１％和３０％。对所获得的囊胚利用ＥＦＳ玻璃化溶液进行冷冻保存。在１０％ＥＧ中预处理５ｍｉｎ后再移入ＥＦＳ４０平衡３０ｓ二步法冷冻保存的胚胎,其１解冻后继续发育率高达８６％,与对照组９１％相比无显性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。而ＥＦＳ３０二步