IVF-20培养液用于大鼠体外受精的实验研究

目的探讨人用体外受精液用于实验大鼠体外受精的可行性,为实验大鼠的胚胎保种提供参考。方法选用人体外受精IVF-20培养液作为大鼠精子获能和受精培养液,对SD、Wistar、GK、F344等四种不同品系的实验大鼠进行体外受精;用mR1ECM培养液对体外受精所得胚胎进行体外培养实验。同时,将所得2-细胞胚胎移植给经假孕处理的受体鼠。结果四个品系大鼠体外受精后的卵裂率分别可达83.2%、72.6%、87.8%和71.6%。体外受精卵裂胚能够在体外进一步发育,SD大鼠囊胚发育率为16.7%,与体内受精胚胎在体外培养的囊胚发育率(24.5%)差异不显著。80枚2-细胞胚胎移植给2只受体鼠后均妊娠成功,产下正常仔鼠10只,产仔率12.5%。结论用于人体外受精的IVF-20培养液同样适合于实验大鼠精子的体外获能和受精,可以在多种品系获得较高的卵裂率,所得卵裂胚能够在体外发育到囊胚,并且所得卵裂胚在移植给受体鼠后能够产下正常仔鼠。     

小鼠体外受精、胚胎培养及胚胎快速冷冻的研究

目的　为扩大胚胎来源并获取特定胚龄胚胎 ,建立小鼠冷冻胚胎库。方法　运用超数排卵、体外受精与胚胎培养及胚胎冷冻技术系统研究了小鼠受精卵的体内发育与运行规律。卵母细胞的体外成熟与受精、单细胞胚胎培养及胚胎快速冷冻。结果　 (1)注射hCG后 12～ 2 0h受精卵发育至原核期 ,4 2～ 4 8h为 2 细胞期 ,4 8～ 6 0h为 4 细胞期 ,6 0～ 6 8h为 8 细胞期 ,以上各期受精卵均处于输卵管中 ;75～ 78h为桑椹胚 ,78～ 80h为致密桑椹胚 ,90～ 92h为早期囊胚 ,92～ 96h为囊胚 ,以上各期均处于子宫角中。 (2 )培养液中添加促性腺激素 (FSH与hCG) ,能显著提高卵母细胞的体外受精率 ,添加FCS和激素组的体外受精率又显著高于单独添加激素组 ,FCS还能显著提高胚胎发育。 (3)在培养液中添加EDTA ,能有效克服小鼠胚胎的 2 细胞阻断 ,其 2 细胞胚的发育率达 10 0 % ,8 细胞胚发育率达 5 5 %以上 ;牛、羊上皮细胞培养液上清也能有效克服 2 细胞阻断。添加乳酸钠和丙酮酸钠可使 2细胞与 8细胞期胚的发育率显著提高。 (4)以D PBS +甘油 +蔗糖为冷冻液 ,以D PBS +蔗糖为稀释液 ,对小鼠胚胎进行快速冷冻 ,桑椹胚的存活率为 6 9 3% ,早期囊胚的存活率为 6 0 4 %。结论　研究为将生物技术应用于小鼠 ,扩大卵子和胚胎来源     

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.     

关于小鼠裸卵体外成熟培养系统的研究

获取高质量的体外成熟卵母细胞是成功进行人类体外受精、动物胚胎生产和克隆的关键。尽管大多数哺乳动物卵母细胞能够在体外自发完成细胞核成熟,但卵母细胞成熟质量远不如体内成熟卵母细胞,其受精后胚胎发育能力较差。目前认为,这可能是由于体外成熟的卵母细胞的胞质成熟不充分造成的。研究表明,卵母细胞体外成熟培养系统与受精率和囊胚发育率有强相关性。     

Gas6在猪卵母细胞及早期胚胎中表达模式与功能的初步研究

该研究通过免疫组化和QRT-PCR等方法系统分析了Gas6（growth arrest-special gene 6）基因在猪卵泡发生及早期胚胎发育过程中的表达规律,并提出了一种改良猪卵母细胞体外成熟系统的方法。研究结果显示,Gas6基因表达于猪卵巢中的卵母细胞细胞核及其周围的卵丘细胞,在卵母细胞体外成熟及早期胚胎发育过程中始终有表达,且在囊胚中表达最高。Gas6 mRNA在卵母细胞成熟过程中始终存在,但在孤雌激活后迅速消失,直到发育到囊胚时再次出现。在猪卵母细胞体外培养系统中添加不同浓度的Gas6重组蛋白培养卵母细胞,发现添加Gas6重组蛋白对卵母细胞的极体率无显著影响;但是当添加浓度为100 ng/mL时,培养的卵母细胞孤雌激活后分裂率、囊胚率及囊胚细胞数都显著增高。Gas6可能是通过改善卵母细胞细胞质的成熟质量提高卵母细胞的发育潜能,从而获得了更多、更好的胚胎。     

Oct4基因在猪孤雌激活和体外受精早期胚胎中的表达特征

目的研究植入前胚胎发育重要基因Oct4在猪孤雌和体外受精胚胎中的表达特征。方法收集成熟卵母细胞、孤雌和体外受精2细胞、4细胞、8细胞胚胎和囊胚,做荧光即时定量PCR检测,以体外成熟的猪卵母细胞做对照分析相对表达量。结果孤雌组和体外受精组胚胎在8细胞期Oct4表达量均最高(P<0.05),在孤雌和体外受精组囊胚相对于其他时期Oct4表达量最低(P<0.05)。在同一时期孤雌和体外受精胚胎上Oct4表达并没有差异。结论多能性基因Oct4在卵裂发育时期表达量动态变化,孤雌胚胎在一定程度上可作为体外胚胎基因表达的模型,且不同的胚胎培养条件可能导致基因表达的差异。     

不同培养条件对猪卵母细胞IVM、IVF的影响

通过优化猪卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精和胚胎体外发育体系,以进一步提高体外胚胎的生产效率和质量.研究了激素存在时间、不同激素和不同血清对猪卵母细胞体外成熟的影响;共培养体系、精卵作用时间、去除卵丘细胞的方法对猪体外受精及早期胚胎发育的影响.猪卵母细胞IVM培养48h,前24h内加入PMSG、hCG,后24h将其去除,卵母细胞总成熟率为79.54%;培养液添加15?S或15%NCS,卵母细胞成熟率分别为79.48%和74.81%;PMSG、HCG和E2配合使用后卵母细胞成熟率为81.42%.在IVF前用吹打法获得的卵裂率、桑椹胚率分别为37.89%和8.54%,精卵共孵育6h或8h的卵裂率(40.52%,37.24%)、桑椹胚率(8.42%,7.85%),以及用输卵管上皮细胞共培养所获得的卵裂率(40.84%)、桑椹胚率(9.53%)均显著高于其它各组.     

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。     

昆明小鼠原核胚在不同培养液中的体外发育

目的优化昆明小鼠原核胚胎体外培养系统,提高胚胎发育率.方法小鼠经超排获得原核期胚胎,制备小鼠输卵管上皮共培养系统,使用M16、CZB和KSOM培养液进行体外培养,并对体内和体外发育的囊胚细胞计数.结果在KSOM和CZB中添加胎牛血清能显著提高胚胎囊胚发育率(14.71%对85.71%;6.45%对10.81%);输卵管上皮共培养可以提高胚胎的卵裂率和囊胚发育率,同时提高胚胎质量和同步发育,小鼠胚胎在KSOMFBS中囊胚发育率达85.19%,显著高于CZB和M16.结论在小鼠输卵管上皮共培养条件下,KSOMFBS能够很好支持昆明小鼠原核期胚胎体外发育.     

Optimal conditions for successful in vitro fertilization and subsequent embryonic development in Sprague-Dawley rats

The present study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The IVF of oocytes from SD and Wistar rats was compared in different fertilization media (mR1ECM, IVF-20, and modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution [mKRB]), and IVF conditions were then optimized for oocytes of the SD strain. Results showed that in mR1ECM medium, fertilization rates were markedly lower in SD rats (15%) than in the Wistar strain (73%), although this response was significantly improved by increasing the NaCl concentration. In addition, fertilization rates in SD rats were higher in modified IVF-20 (73%) than in IVF-20 (18%) and mKRB (53%). In contrast, fertilization rates in Wistar rats were higher in IVF-20 and modified IVF-20 than in mKRB (78%, 74%, and 36%, respectively). Further investigation concerning the effects of the NaCl supplementation (10- 40 mM) in IVF-20 on the fertilization of oocytes in the SD strain indicated that significantly higher percentages of oocytes were fertilized in IVF-20 supplemented with 30 mM NaCl (66%) and developed to the blastocyst stage (47%) in vitro. After transfer, embryos derived from this IVF system developed to term at a percentage comparable to that of in vivo-fertilized controls. In conclusion, differences exist in optimal IVF conditions between rat strains, and a modified culture medium has been successfully developed for assessment of the developmental competence of oocytes in SD rats.     

Consequences of bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization or early embryo development in vitro versus in vivo: implications for blastocyst yield and blastocyst quality.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization or culture in vivo or in vitro on the proportion of oocytes reaching the blastocyst stage, and on blastocyst quality as measured by survival following vitrification. In Experiment 1, 4 groups of oocytes were used: (1) immature oocytes from 2-6 mm follicles; (2) immature oocytes from > 6 mm follicles; (3) immature oocytes recovered in vivo just before the LH surge; and (4) in vivo matured oocytes. Significantly more blastocysts developed from oocytes matured in vivo than those recovered just before the LH surge or than oocytes from 2-6 mm follicles. Results from > 6 mm follicles were intermediate. All blastocysts had low survival following vitrification. In Experiment 2, in vivo matured oocytes were either (1) fertilized in vitro or (2) fertilized in vivo by artificial insemination and the resulting presumptive zygotes recovered on day 1. Both groups were then cultured in vitro. In vivo fertilized oocytes had a significantly higher blastocyst yield than those fertilized in vitro. Blastocyst quality was similar between the groups. Both groups had low survival following vitrification. In Experiment 3a, presumptive zygotes produced by in vitro maturation (IVM)/fertilization (IVF) were cultured either in vitro in synthetic oviduct fluid, or in vivo in the ewe oviduct. In Experiment 3b, in vivo matured/in vivo fertilized zygotes were either surgically recovered on day 1 and cultured in vitro in synthetic oviduct fluid, or were nonsurgically recovered on day 7. There was no difference in blastocyst yields between groups of zygotes originating from the same source (in vivo or in vitro fertilization) irrespective of whether culture took place in vivo or in vitro. However, there was a dramatic effect on blastocyst quality with those blastocysts produced following in vivo culture surviving vitrification at significantly higher rates than their in vitro cultured counterparts. Collectively, these results indicate that the intrinsic quality of the oocyte is the main factor affecting blastocyst yields, while the conditions of embryo culture have a crucial role in determining blastocyst quality.     

Maturation and fertilization of porcine oocytes in vitro

Four experiments were conducted to study 1) factors affecting porcine oocyte maturation in culture medium and 2) a new method for oocyte maturation outside the porcine body. In Experiment 1, five groups of oocytes were cultured in m-TCM199 or m-KRB medium for 24 to 28, 32 to 36 or 40 to 42 hours and then were fertilized in vitro. The cleavage rate (two to four-cell stage) of oocytes cultured for 32 to 36 hours was significantly higher than those of the other oocytes. The results indicate that a suitable culture period for the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes is 32 to 36 hours. In Experiment 2, four groups of oocytes were cultured in m-KRB or m-KRB supplemented with PFF, PMSG or FSH for in vitro maturation, and the cleavage rates of oocytes were 7.94, 22.56, 30.23 and 23.26%, respectively, after in vitro fertilization. The results show that porcine follicular fluid (PFF) and gonadotrophins added to the culture medium promote porcine oocyte maturation in vitro. In Experiment 3, oocytes were cultured in m-KRB or m-TCM199, supplemented with both gonadotrophin and pocine folliclar fluid for maturation in vitro. After fertilization in vitro, the cleavage rates of oocytes were 26.32 and 27.93% for the two media. The results indicate that the difference between m-KRB and m-TCM199 was insignificant when the media were used to culture porcine oocytes. But there was a significant difference when PFF and gonadotrophins were added to the basic media. In Experiment 4, porcine oocytes were transferred into the reproductive tracts of other animals for maturation. After 34 to 36 hours, the oocytes were collected and fertilized in vitro. The cleavage rates of oocytes were 10.42, 28.45, 3.33 and 36.36%, respectively, for the oocytes matured in mouse uterine horns, rat uterine horns, rat oviducts or rabbit oviducts. The results show that porcine oocytes can be matured in the reproductive tracts of other animals.     

Factors affecting recovery and quality of oocytes for bovine embryo production in vitro using ovum pick-up technology

In Experiment 1, different vacuum pressures (30, 50, 70 and 90 mm Hg) were used to aspirate 4156 bovine follicles in vitro, to assess their effect on flow rate and the recovery, morphology and blastocyst formation of the recovered oocytes. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were classified according to the morphology of the cumulus cells. Data were analyzed using Chi Square analysis. Overall recovery rate declined as the aspiration pressure increased above 50 mm Hg (P<0.05). The recovery rate of Grade 1 oocytes decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the vacuum pressure increased with a corresponding increase in the number of denuded oocytes recovered (P<0.05). The blastocyst yield, expressed as a percentage of recovered COCs decreased significantly as the aspiration pressure increased beyond 50 mm Hg (P<0.05). In Experiment 2, the holding media (hepes- or bicarbonate-buffered TCM 199) and holding time (1 h or 5 h) did not affect the blastocyst formation of the oocytes (P>0.05). In Experiment 3, it was found that individual culture of the oocyte during fertilization or culture had a detrimental effect on the oocytes blastocyst formation (8.8% to 16% blastocyst yield on Day 8) when compared to control (31.3%). In Experiment 4, groups of 5, 10 and 25 oocytes were compared with singly cultured oocytes. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) in the blastocyst formation rate among groups of 5, 10, or 25 oocytes, but there was a significant difference between oocytes processed in groups and those processed individually. In Experiment 5, when groups of 10 oocytes were cultured in different drop sizes, there was no significant difference in cleavage rates between oocytes cultured in 100 microL (85.0%, n = 280) and in 10 microL (86.8%, n = 280) of media, but culture in 50 microL (79.3%, n = 280) resulted in cleavage rates significantly lower (P<0.05) than culture in 10 microL drops. There was no significant difference in the blastocyst formation. However there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in cell numbers of Day 8 blastocvsts, with oocytes cultured in 100 microL drops having significantly lower cell counts than oocytes cultured in 50 or 10 microL drops.     

Effect of trichostatin A on fertilization and embryo development during extended culture of mouse oocyte

We performed this study to investigate the effect of histone deacetylase inhibition during extended culture of in vitro matured mouse oocytes. In vitro matured mouse (BDF1) oocytes were cultured in vitro for 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively, and then inseminated. During in vitro culture for 6 and 12 h, two doses of trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, were added (100 nM and 500 nM) to the culture medium and the oocytes were then inseminated. During the 24-h in vitro culture, two doses of TSA were added (100 nM and 500 nM) to the medium and the oocytes were activated with 10 mM SrCl2. After the 6-h culture, the fertilization rate was similar to that of the control group, but the blastocyst formation rate was significantly decreased. After the 12-h culture, both the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates were significantly decreased. After the 24-h culture, total fertilization failure occurred. In the oocytes cultured for 6 and 12 h, the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates did not differ between the TSA-supplemented and control groups. Although extended culture of the mouse oocytes significantly affected their fertilization and embryo development, TSA supplementation did not overcome their decreased developmental potential.     

Effects of sodium pyruvate in nonserum maturation medium on maturation, fertilization, and subsequent development of bovine oocytes with or without cumulus cells

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of cumulus cells and sodium pyruvate during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes on maturation, fertilization, and subsequent development. Cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs) and cumulus-denuded oocytes (CDOs) were cultured for 24 h in polyvinylpyrrolidone-Hepes-tissue culture medium 199 with or without sodium pyruvate. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro and then cultured in CR1aa for 10 days. Before in vitro fertilization, the glutathione (GSH) content of some oocytes was measured. Maturation and normal fertilization rates of CDOs cultured with sodium pyruvate and CEOs were higher than that of CDOs cultured without sodium pyruvate. The CEOs showed significantly higher rates of development to the blastocyst stage than CDOs. The GSH contents of oocytes significantly decreased in CDOs after maturation culture, but the GSH contents of oocytes in CEOs remained at the same level as oocytes before culture. These results indicate that sodium pyruvate promotes nuclear maturation of bovine CDOs and that a continuing presence of cumulus cells during maturation is important for subsequent development of zygotes to the blastocyst stage. However, blastocysts produced from CDOs in the presence of sodium pyruvate showed a developmental competence to be normal calves, but it is not known if CDOs cultured without sodium pyruvate also were capable of developing into calves.     

A combined treatment with ethanol and 6-dimethylaminopurine is effective for the activation and further embryonic development of oocytes from Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats

In nuclear-transferred or round spermatid-injected oocytes, artificial activation is required for further development in mammals. Although strontium chloride is widely used as the reagent for inducing oocyte activation in mice, the optimal method for oocyte activation remains controversial in rats because ovulated rat oocytes are spontaneously activated in vitro before artificial activation is applied. In our previous study, we found that cytostatic factor activity, which is indispensable for arrest at the MII stage, is potentially low in rats and that this activity differs greatly between two outbred rats (Slc: Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Crj: Wistar). Therefore, it is necessary to establish an optimal protocol for oocyte activation independent of strains. Given that comparative studies of the in vitro development of oocytes activated by different activation protocols are very limited, we compared four different protocols for oocyte activation (ethanol, ionomycin, strontium and electrical pulses) in two different SD and Wistar rats. Our results show that oocytes derived from SD rats have significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst formation than those from Wistar rats independent of activation regimes. In both types of rat, ethanol treatment provided significantly higher developmental ability at cleavage and blastocyst formation compared to the other activation protocols. However, the initial culture in a fertilization medium (high osmolarity mR1ECM) for 24 h showed a detrimental effect on the further in vitro development of parthenogenetic rat oocytes. Taken together, our results show that ethanol treatment is the optimal protocol for the activation of rat oocytes in SD and Wistar outbred rats. Our data also suggest that high-osmolarity media are inadequate for the in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated oocytes compared with fertilized oocytes.     

不同取卵时间对兔ICSI胚胎体外发育的影响

目的探讨不同取卵时间对兔ICSI胚胎体外发育的影响。方法采用Piezo操作系统对实验兔进行辅助体外受精。结果hCG注射后14、16、18h取卵,ICSI后的受精率分别为82.2％、75.9％和0.0％,对受精卵进行体外发育培养,桑椹胚的发育率分别为72.9％、70.0％、0.0％,囊胚的发育率分别为62.2％、53.3％、0.0％。14h和16h之间受精率、桑椹胚率、囊胚率差异不显著（P〉0.05）,但是14h采卵比16h要好;18h和14h、16h之间差异显著（P〈0.05）。结论不同取卵时间影响实验兔的ICSI体外受精率及胚胎的体外发育率,hCG注射后14h取卵最有利于兔ICSI胚胎的发育。     

The effects of follicular fluid on in vitro maturation, oocyte fertilization and the development of bovine embryos

We determined the effects of follicular fluid in the maturation medium on bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development, as well as on the number of cells in blastocysts following culture. Fluid and oocytes from bovine follicles less than 5 mm in diameter were collected from the ovaries of slaughtered cows. For the maturation medium, follicular fluid at concentrations of 10, 30 or 60% (v/v) was added to Medium 199 with Earle's salts supplemented with 0.1 microg/ml estradiol-17 beta (E(2), Experiment 1) or 0.1 microg/ml E2 and 100 IU/ml hCG (Experiment 2). The control medium contained polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; 3 mg/ml) instead of follicular fluid. After maturation for 24 h, oocytes were fertilized in vitro with bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa and cultured on a monolayer of granulosa cells for 9 d. There were no differences in maturation or fertilization rates of oocytes. In Experiment 1, maturation medium containing 10% follicular fluid did not affect the developmental rate of the oocytes to > 2-cell, 8 to 16-cell, blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stage embryos, respectively; whereas 60% decreased embryonic development (P < 0.05) compared with the control. Blastocysts and hatched blastocysts developed from fertilized oocytes which had been matured in medium containing 10 and 30% follicular fluid/E(2) had more cells than the controls (P < 0.01). In Experiment 2, maturation medium containing 10 or 30% follicular fluid did not affect the development fertilized oocytes to the blastocyst stage compared with the control, but decreased at 60% (P < 0.01). There were no differences in the number of cells from Day 9 blastocysts and hatched blastocysts from fertilized oocytes matured in maturation medium containing follicular fluid and E(2) + hCG. The results of these experiments suggest that the addition of bovine follicular fluid to the maturation medium enhances the cell numbers in blastocysts from bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro.     

Effect of meiotic stages and maturation protocols on bovine oocyte's resistance to cryopreservation

We investigated the effect of meiotic stages and two maturation protocols on bovine oocyte's resistance to cryopreservation. Oocytes at germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and metaphase II (MII) stage as well as oocytes matured for 22 h in media supplemented with FSH or LH were vitrified by the open pulled straw method. After warming, oocytes underwent additional 16 h (GVBD group) or 2 h (MII group) maturation. Then they were subjected to in vitro fertilization and culture. Some oocytes that matured in the medium supplemented with LH were subjected to parthenogenetic activation after vitrification to determine their developmental potential in absence of fertilization. Survival of oocytes after vitrifying/warming was determined after 22 h in fertilization medium. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were used to assess their developmental competence. In both experiments, a portion of unvitrified MII oocytes were subjected to in vitro fertilization and culture as control groups. In Experiment 1, similar cleavage rates were obtained for both GVBD and MII oocytes (53.56 versus 58.01%, P > 0.05). However, significantly higher proportion of cleaved embryos from vitrified MII oocytes developed into blastocysts than those from vitrified GVBD oocytes (1.06 versus 8.37%, respectively, P < 0.01). In Experiment 2, vitrified MII oocytes matured in medium supplemented with LH were superior to vitrified MII oocytes matured in FSH supplementation not only in cleavage rates (61.13 versus 50.33%), but in blastocyst formation rates (11.79 versus 5.19%, P < 0.01) as well. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of parthenogenetically activated oocytes were similar to those that were fertilized. Nevertheless, the vitrifying/ warming process significantly compromised the oocytes' developmental capacity since the vitrified oocytes showed significant reduction in both cleavage and blastocyst rates compared to those of not vitrified controls in both experiments (P < 0.01). We showed that oocytes at different maturation stages respond to cryopreservation differently and MII stage oocytes have better resistance to cryopreservation than GVBD stage oocytes. The maturation protocols also influence oocyte's ability to survive cryopreservation. Poor developmental potential after vitrification seem to have resulted from the cryodamage to the oocyte itself. These results suggested the importance of maturation on the developmental competence of cryopreserved oocytes.