Effect of MEM vitamins and forskolin on embryo development and vitrification tolerance of in vitro-produced pig embryos

The aims of this study were (1) to determine the effect of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium supplementation with MEM vitamins on in vitro embryo development and sensitivity to vitrification of Day 6 blastocysts and (2) to evaluate whether the addition of forskolin to in vitro culture (IVC) medium enhances blastocyst survival following Super Open Pulled Straw (SOPS) vitrification. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 4000) were matured with 0.0% or 0.05% (v/v) MEM vitamins. After 44 h of IVM, the oocytes were in vitro fertilized, and presumptive zygotes were cultured. At Day 5 of IVC, embryos from both experimental groups were cultured for 24 h with 0 or 10 μM forskolin, achieving a 2 × 2 factorial design. The blastocyst formation rate was assessed on Day 6, and subsets of samples from the four experimental groups were vitrified (n = 469) or kept fresh (n = 546). Fresh and vitrified-warmed blastocysts were cultured for 24 h prior to embryo survival and total blastocyst cell number assessment. The MEM vitamins increased (P < 0.001) the blastocyst formation rate at Day 6, but they did not affect embryo survival after vitrification. In contrast, the addition of forskolin to the culture medium enhanced (P < 0.05) the blastocyst vitrification tolerance. The total blastocyst cell number was similar among the groups. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.05% MEM vitamins improved the blastocyst formation rate, and the addition of 10 μM forskolin to the culture medium increased survival in Day 6 in vitro-produced blastocysts after SOPS vitrification.