In vitro development of bovine secondary follicles in two- and three-dimensional culture systems using vascular endothelial growth factor,insulin-like growth factor-1, and growth hormone

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development and estradiol production of isolated bovine secondary follicles in two-dimensional (2D, experiment 1) and three-dimensional (3D using alginate, experiment 2) long-term culture systems in the absence (control group; only α-MEM⁺) or presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1, or GH alone, or a combination of all. A total of 363 isolated secondary follicles were cultured individually for 32 days at 38.5 °C in 5% CO₂ in a humidified incubator with addition of medium (5 μL) every other day. In 2D culture system, follicular growth and antrum formation rates were higher (P < 0.05) in VEGF treatment compared with the other treatments. In 3D culture system, only estradiol concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in the GH than in the control group, whereas the other end points were similar (P > 0.05). In summary, this study demonstrated that the benefits of using a certain type of medium supplement depended on the culture system (2D vs. 3D). Vascular endothelial growth factor was an effective supplement for the in vitro culture of bovine secondary follicles when the 2D culture system was used, whereas GH only affected estradiol production using the 3D culture system. This study sheds light on advancements in methodology to facilitate subsequent studies on bovine preantral follicle development.     

Presence of growth hormone receptor (GH-R) mRNA and protein in goat ovarian follicles and improvement of in vitro preantral follicle survival and development with GH

This study aimed to demonstrate the expression of growth hormone receptor (GH-R) mRNA and protein in goat ovarian follicles in order to investigate the effects of GH on the survival and development of preantral follicles. The ovaries were processed for the isolation of follicles to study GH-R mRNA expression or to localization of GH-R by immunohistochemical analysis. Pieces of ovarian cortex were cultured for 7 days in minimum essential medium⁺ (MEM⁺) in the presence or absence of GH at different concentrations (1, 10, 50, 100, and 200 ng/mL). High expression levels of GH-R mRNA were observed in granulosa/theca cells from large antral follicles. However, preantral follicles do not express mRNA for GH-R. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the GH-R protein was expressed in the oocytes/granulosa cells of antral follicles, but any protein expression was observed in preantral follicles. The highest (P < 0.05) rate of normal follicles and intermediate follicles was observed after 7 days in MEM⁺ plus 10 ng/mL GH (70%). In conclusion, GH-R mRNA and protein are expressed in caprine antral follicles, but not in preantral follicles. Moreover, GH maintains the survival of goat preantral follicles and promotes the development of primordial follicles.     

Influence of vitrification techniques and solutions on the morphology and survival of preantral follicles after in vitro culture of caprine ovarian tissue

The objective was to compare the efficiency of various vitrification techniques and solutions for preserving morphology and viability of preantral caprine follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue. Fragments of ovarian cortex were cryopreserved by conventional vitrification (CV) in French straws, vitrification in macrotubes (MTV), or solid-surface vitrification (SSV). Six solutions containing 6 M ethylene glycol, with or without sucrose (SUC; 0.25 or 0.50 M) and/or 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) were tested (Experiment I). After 1 wk, samples were warmed and preantral follicles were examined histologically. To evaluate follicular viability (Experiment II), ovarian fragments were vitrified with the three techniques listed above, in a solution containing 0.25 M SUC and 10% FCS. After warming, follicles were assessed by the trypan blue dye exclusion test. In Experiment III, preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue were vitrified using the protocol which yielded the highest percentage of viable preantral follicles (SSV with 0.25 M SUC and 10% SFB). After warming, the preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue were cultured in vitro and then, were analyzed by histology and fluorescence microscopy (calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer-1). Every vitrification protocol significantly reduced the percentages of morphologically normal follicles relative to the control (88.0%); however, the addition of 0.25 M SUC and 10% FCS to the vitrification solution improved preservation of follicular morphology (67.4, 67.4, and 72.0% for CV, MTV, and SSV, respectively). Although follicular viability after SSV (80.7%) did not differ from that in fresh (non-vitrified) ovarian tissues (88.0%), after in vitro culture, percentages of viable follicles were significantly reduced (70.0%). Percentages of morphologically normal follicles after in vitro culture of vitrified ovarian tissue were similar (76.0%) to those in ovarian cortex fragments cultured without previous vitrification (83.2%). In conclusion, SSV using a solution containing 0.25 M SUC and 10% FCS, was the most efficient method for vitrifying caprine ovarian tissue.     

Effect of hormones and growth factors on in vitro development of sheep preantral follicles

The present investigation attempts to improve the frequency of in vitro maturation of oocytes by culturing small (150–250 μm) and large (>250–400 μm) preantral follicles (PFs) of sheep for 6 days in various combinations/sequences of thyroxin (T₄), FSH, LH, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and heat-treated foetal calf serum (FCS). Bicarbonate-buffered tissue culture medium 199, supplemented with 50 μg ml⁻¹ gentamicin sulphate, served as the control medium. In vitro development was initially assessed by the proportion of PFs exhibiting an increase in size, mean increase in diameter and antrum formation. Nuclear maturation to the metaphase II stage of the oocytes isolated from cultured PFs, after an additional 24-h in vitro maturation, indicated success. A total of 15% of oocytes from small PFs and 55% from large PFs, cultured in T₄ + FSH, matured to metaphase II. Culture of PFs in other combinations/sequences of hormones and growth factors, including the control medium, supported a significantly lower proportion of oocytes maturing to metaphase II stage. It is concluded that 6-day in vitro culture of sheep PFs in thyroxin and FSH greatly improves the frequency of oocyte maturation to metaphase II stage.     

Rosiglitazone stimulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression and directly affects in vitro steroidogenesis in porcine ovarian follicles

Rosiglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) synthetic activator from the group of thiazolidinediones often used in the treatment of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and other forms of insulin resistance. The present in vitro study assessed the direct effects of rosiglitazone at 25 and 50 μM doses on PPARγ gene expression, steroid secretion (progesterone [P4], androstenedione [A4], testosterone [T], and estradiol), and protein expression of PPARγ, 3βHSD, CYP17, 17βHSD, CYP19 by porcine ovarian follicles from prepubertal and cycling animals. We analyzed also steroid enzymatic activity by conversion of pregnen-3β-ol-20-one to P4, P4 to A4, and A4 to T. Our results indicated that rosiglitazone increased significantly PPARγ expression, P4 secretion, 3βHSD activity, and protein expression. Rosiglitazone decreased A4 and T secretion by reducing the expression and activity of CYP17 and 17βHSD and did not change estradiol secretion and CYP19. Similarly results was observed both in prepubertal and cycling pigs. Our results indicate that these direct effects of rosiglitazone on ovarian steroidogenesis provide a framework for testing several potential new mechanisms of PPAR-γ actions on porcine ovarian function.     

Steady-state level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor mRNA and the effect of IGF-I on the in vitro culture of caprine preantral follicles

The objectives were to quantify insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGFR-1) mRNA in preantral follicles on Days 0 and 18 of in vitro culture in the presence or absence of FSH, and to evaluate the effects of IGF-I on the rate of normal follicles, antral cavity formation, and in vitro growth and maturation of caprine oocytes on Days 0, 6, 12, and 18 of culture. The expression of IGFR-1 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR before and after follicle culture. Preantral follicles were isolated from the cortex of caprine ovaries and individually cultured for 18 d in the presence or absence of bovine IGF-I (50 or 100 ng/mL). At the end of the culture period, the oocytes were submitted to IVM. The expression of IGFR-1 mRNA in preantral follicles cultured in vitro only approached being significantly higher in follicles supplemented with FSH when compared to follicles immediately after recovery (P < 0.06) and cultured without FSH (P < 0.1). There was a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of normal follicles on Days 6, 12, and 18 of culture in IGF-I 50 (97, 92, 67%, respectively) and IGF-I 100 (100, 90, 80%) groups versus the control (90, 64, 36%). In addition, the rate of antrum formation at 6 and 12 d of culture was higher (P < 0.05) in IGF-I groups (IGF-I 50: 72 and 90% and IGF-I 100: 69 and 85%) than the control group (41 and 59%). After 18 d of culture, the percentages of grown oocytes acceptable for IVM were higher (P < 0.05) in follicles cultured in the presence of IGF-I (82 vs 49%). Furthermore, follicles cultured in the presence of IGF-I 50 and IGF-I 100 had higher (P < 0.05) meiotic resumption rates (63 and 66%, respectively) than the control group (11%). In conclusion, treatment with FSH tended to increase IGFR-1 mRNA expression during the in vitro culture of preantral follicles and the addition of IGF-I to the culture medium clearly improved the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles.     

Effect of ovarian tissue vitrification method on mice preantral follicular development and gene expression

Vitrification is considered a viable method for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and selection of methods that minimize follicular damage is important. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two vitrification methods on ovarian tissue morphology, preantral follicles survival rate during in vitro culture, and relative expression of genes associated with oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion. Ovaries from 12-day-old mice were vitrified in media containing ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulphoxide, and sucrose. Before plunging in liquid nitrogen, ovaries were first loaded into an acupuncture needle (needle immersion vitrification [NIV]) or placed on a cold steel surface for 10 to 20 seconds (solid surface vitrification [SSV]). The integrity of the ovarian tissue was well-preserved after vitrification and was similar controls. Follicle viability in the SSV group was lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group after 6 days of culture and the NIV group after 10 day of culture. Follicle viability after 12 day of culture was 92.8%, 82.1%, and 58.4% in control, NIV, and SSV groups, respectively. Bmp15, Gdf9, BmprII, Alk6, Alk5, Has2, and Ptgs2 gene expression patterns were similar among groups. However, the level of gene expression in the vitrification groups during Days 6 to 10 were higher compared with the control group. In conclusion, ovarian tissue morphologic integrity was well-preserved, regardless of the vitrification method. Vitrification using the needle immersion method resulted in greater follicular survival after 12 day of culture than the SSV method. Gene expression patterns during culture did not seem to explain the reduced survival rate observed in the solid surface group.     

Effects of in vitro growth culture duration and prematuration culture on maturational and developmental competences of bovine oocytes derived from early antral follicles

Bovine ovaries offer a large pool of oocytes that could be used for in vitro production of embryos of genetically valuable animals. The effects of in vitro growth (IVG) culture duration (10, 12, and 14 days) on the viability and growth of bovine oocytes derived from early antral follicles (0.5–1 mm diameter) in this study. In addition, the effect of pre-IVM culture with phosphodiesterase inhibitor (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) on nuclear maturation of IVG oocytes was also evaluated. In experiment 1, oocyte viability observed after 10 or 12 days of IVG culture was greater (P < 0.05) than that observed after 14 days of culture. Oocyte diameters and proportions of oocytes at metaphase II stage were greater (P < 0.05) when 12 or 14 days of IVG culture where used when compared with 10 days culture. In addition, the proportion of oocytes at metaphase II stage was greater (P < 0.05) when pre-IVM culture was performed for oocytes derived from 12 and 14 days of IVG culture. When 12 and 14 days of IVG culture followed by pre-IVM culture were compared in experiment 2, cumulus cell membrane integrity was greater (P < 0.05) after 12 days. Blastocyst production rate for oocytes obtained after 12 days of IVG culture (24.5%) was greater (P < 0.05) than for oocytes obtained after 14 days (9.9%). In conclusion, 12 days IVG followed by pre-IVM culture was considered the optimal processing system for bovine oocytes derived from early antral follicles when oocyte viability, diameter, maturation, and development competences were considered.     

Effect of blood plasma collected after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration during the preovulatory period in the sow on oocyte in vitro maturation

Reproduction may be affected by stressful events changing the female endocrine or metabolic profile. An altered environment during oocyte development could influence the delicate process of oocyte maturation. Here, the effect of simulated stress by media supplementation with blood plasma from sows after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration during the preovulatory period was assessed. Oocytes were matured for 46 hours in the presence of plasma from ACTH-treated sows, or plasma from NaCl-treated control sows, or medium without plasma (BSA group). The plasma used had been collected at 36 and 12 hours (±2 hours) before ovulation (for the first 24 hours + last 22 hours of maturation, respectively). Subsequent fertilization and embryo development were evaluated. Actin cytoskeleton and mitochondrial patterns were studied by confocal microscopy both in the oocytes and the resulting blastocysts. Nuclear maturation did not differ between treatments. Subtle differences were observed in the actin microfilaments in oocytes; however, mitochondrial patterns were associated with the treatment (P < 0.001). These differences in mitochondrial patterns were not reflected by in vitro outcomes, which were similar in all groups. In conclusion, an altered hormonal environment provided by a brief exposure to plasma from ACTH-treated sows during in vitro oocyte maturation could induce alterations in actin cytoskeleton and mitochondrial patterns in oocytes. However, these changes might not hamper the subsequent in vitro embryo development.     

Effect of holding medium, temperature and time on structural integrity of equine ovarian follicles during the non-breeding season

The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) during the transport of equine preantral and antral follicles at various temperatures and incubation interval. Equine ovaries (n = 10) from an abattoir were cut into 19 fragments; one was immediately fixed in Bouin's solution (control) and the other fragments were placed in PBS or MEM solution at 4, 20, or 39 °C for 4, 12, or 24 h. After the respective incubation periods, all fragments were fixed in Bouin's solution for 24 h and then submitted to standard histologic analysis. In total, 2567 ovarian follicles were analyzed, including 1752 primordial, 764 primary, 34 secondary and seven antral follicles. Relative to the control group, the transport of equine ovarian fragments in both solutions significantly reduced the percentage of morphologically normal follicles with increasing time and temperature. At 4 °C for 4 h, considering primordial and developing follicles, PBS had a higher (P < 0.05) rate (98.9%) of morphologically normal follicles than MEM, 48.7%. At 39 °C for 12 h, all follicles in both solutions were degenerated. Regarding the stage of follicular development, primordial follicles were less (P < 0.05) affected by preservation than primary and secondary follicles in all media, times and temperatures tested, except at 4 °C for 12 h in PBS, in which the primary and secondary follicles were less (P < 0.05) affected. Overall, 43% of antral follicles were morphologically normal when maintained in MEM at 4 °C for 4 h. In conclusion, equine follicles were successfully preserved in ovarian fragments at 4 °C in phosphate-buffered saline for up to 4 h.     

Expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in goat ovarian follicles and the impact of sequential culture medium on in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles

This study evaluated the expression of FSH receptors (FSHR) in the different stages of goat follicle development and investigated whether the addition of increasing concentrations of FSH throughout the culture period influences the survival, growth and antral formation of in vitro-cultured caprine preantral follicles. The expression of FSHR was analysed before and after culturing follicles using real-time RT-PCR. For the culture, preantral follicles (≥150 μm) were isolated from ovarian fragments and cultured for 18 days in α-MEM+ alone or associated with recombinant FSH (rFSH: 100 or 1000 ng/ml), or in α-MEM+ supplemented with increasing concentrations of FSH throughout culture periods as follows: (a) sequential medium 1: FSH 100 ng/ml (from day 0 to 6), FSH 500 ng/ml (from day 6 to 12) and FSH 1000 ng/ml (from day 12 to 18); and (b) sequential medium 2: FSH 500 ng/ml (from day 0 to 9) and 1000 ng/ml (from day 9 to 18). Follicle development was evaluated on the basis of antral cavity formation, follicular and oocyte growth, and cumulus-oocyte complex health. The expression of FSHR in isolated caprine follicles increased from the preantral to antral phase. Regarding the culture, after 18 days, sequential medium 1 promoted follicular survival, antrum formation and a reduction in oocyte extrusion. Both sequential media promoted a higher rate of meiotic resumption compared with the other treatments. In conclusion, the addition of increased concentrations of FSH (sequential medium) has a significant impact on the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles.     

CUDC-101, a histone deacetylase inhibitor,improves the in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of CUDC-101, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the in vitro development and expression of the epigenetic marker histone H3 at lysine 9 (AcH3K9) in pig SCNT embryos. We found that treatment with 1 μmol/L CUDC-101 for 24 hours significantly improved the development of pig SCNT embryos. Compared with the control group, the blastocyst rate was higher (18.5% vs. 10.3%; P < 0.05). To assess in vivo developmental potency, CUDC-101–treated SCNT embryos were transferred into two surrogate mothers, resulting in one pregnancy with six fetuses. We then investigated the acetylation level of histone H3K9 in SCNT embryos treated with CUDC-101 and compared them only against untreated embryos. The acetylation level of control SCNT embryos was lower than that of CUDC-101–treated embryos at pseudo-pronuclear stages, and immunofluorescent signal for H3K9ac in CUDC-101–treated embryos in a pattern similar to that of control group. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CUDC-101 can significantly improve in vitro and in vivo developmental competence and enhance the nuclear reprogramming of pig SCNT embryos.     

Probing antioxidant activity of 2′-hydroxychalcones: Crystal and molecular structures, in vitro antiproliferative studies and in vivo effects on glucose regulation

In order to better understand the antioxidant behavior of a series of polyphenolic 2′-hydroxychalcones, we describe the results of several chemical and biological studies, in vitro and in vivo. Single crystal X-ray methods elucidated their molecular structures and important intermolecular interactions such as H-bonding and molecular stacking in the crystal structures that contribute to our knowledge in explaining antioxidant activity. The results of experiments using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) UV–vis spectroscopic method indicate that a hydroxyl group in position 5′ induces the highest antioxidant activity. Consequently, 2,2′,5′-trihydroxychalcone was selected for further study in vitro towards ROS scavenging in L-6 myoblasts and THP-1 human monocytes, where it shows an excellent antioxidant activity in a concentration range lower than that reported by most studies of related molecules. In addition, this chalcone shows a very selective activity: it inhibits the proliferation of leukemic cells, but it does not affect the normal L-6 myoblasts and human fibroblasts. In studying 2,2′,5′-trihydroxychalcone's effect on weight gain and serum glucose and insulin levels in Zucker fatty (fa⁻/fa⁻) rats we found that supplementing the diet with a 10 mg/kg dose of this chalcone (3 times weekly) blunted the increase in glucose that co-occurs with weight gain over the 6-week treatment period. It is concluded that 2,2′,5′-trihydroxychalcone has the potential to serve as a protective agent for some debilitating diseases.     

The new system of shorter porcine oocyte in vitro maturation (18 hours) using ≥8 mm follicles derived from cumulus-oocyte complexes

Despite recent efforts to improve in vitro maturation (IVM) systems for porcine oocytes, developmental competence of in vitro-matured oocytes is still suboptimal compared with those matured in vivo. In this study, we compared oocytes obtained from large (≥8 mm; LF) and medium (3–7 mm; MF) sized follicles in terms of nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione and reactive oxygen species levels, gene expression, and embryo developmental competence after IVM. In the control group, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from MF and matured for 22 hours with hormones and subsequently matured for 18 to 20 hours without hormones at 39 °C, 5% CO₂in vitro. In the LF group, COCs were obtained from follicles larger than 8 mm and were subjected to IVM for only 18 hours. The ovaries have LF were averagely obtained with 1.7% per day during 2012 and it was significantly higher in the winter season. The results of the nuclear stage assessment of the COCs from the LFs are as follows: before IVM (0 hours); germinal vesicle stage (15.2%), metaphase I (MI) stage (55.4%), anaphase and telophase I stages (15.8%), and metaphase II (MII) stage (13.6%). After 6 hours IVM; germinal vesicle (4.2%), MI (43.6%), anaphase and telophase I (9.4%), and MII (42.8%). After 18-hour IVM; MI (9.7%) and MII (90.3%). Oocytes from LF showed a significant (P < 0.001) increase in intracellular glutathione (1.41 vs. 1.00) and decrease in reactive oxygen species (0.8 vs. 1.0) levels compared with the control. The cumulus cells derived from LFs showed lower (P < 0.1) mRNA expression of COX-2 and TNFAIP6, and higher (P < 0.1) mRNA expression of PCNA and Nrf2 compared with the control group-derived cumulus cells. After parthenogenetic activation, in vitro fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using matured oocytes from LFs, the embryo development was significantly improved (greater blastocyst formation rates and total cell numbers in blastocysts) compared with the control group. In conclusion, oocytes from LFs require only 18 hours to complete oocyte maturation in vitro and their developmental competence is significantly greater than those obtained from MFs. Although their numbers are limited, oocytes from LFs might offer an alternative source for the efficient production of transgenic pigs using SCNT.     

AY9944 A-7 promotes meiotic resumption and preimplantation development of prepubertal sheep oocytes maturing in vitro

Follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS), an intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, has been identified as a compound that induces the resumption of meiosis in mammalian oocyte. FF-MAS is converted to testis meiosis-activating sterol by a sterol Δ14-reductase. An inhibitor of Δ14-reductase and Δ7-reductase, AY9944 A-7, causes accumulation of FF-MAS by inhibiting its metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AY9944 A-7 supplementation to oocyte maturation media on prepubertal sheep oocyte meiotic resumption and subsequent preimplantation development of embryos. Prepubertal sheep oocytes isolated at the germinal vesicle stage from their follicles were cultured with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 μM AY9944 A-7 for 24 hours in media with or without a meiotic inhibitor hypoxanthine (Hx, 4 mM). The resumption of meiosis was assessed by the frequency of germinal vesicle breakdown and the first polar body (PBI) extrusion. After maturation for 24 hours, oocytes with PBI were inseminated in vitro, and the percentages developing to the two-cell stage and blastocyst stage were measured as indicators of early embryonic developmental competence. AY9944 A-7 induced maturation of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes with optimal concentrations of 10 and 20 μM both in Hx-inhibited meiotic maturation and spontaneous maturation, whereas AY9944 A-7 with any concentrations had no significant effect on that of denuded oocytes and split cumulus-oocyte complexes. Furthermore, maturing oocytes treated with either 10 or 20 μM AY9944 A-7 dramatically increased the percentages of ovine embryos developing to the two-cell stage and blastocyst stage. Higher concentrations of AY9944 A-7, 30 and 40 μM, were detrimental to oocytes and led to their degeneration. The present findings indicated for the first time that AY9944 A-7 was not only able to promote meiotic maturation, both Hx-inhibited and spontaneous, but also enhanced preimplantation developmental competence of prepubertal sheep oocytes maturing in vitro.     

Treatment of donor cells with trichostatin A improves in vitro development and reprogramming of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) nucleus transfer embryos

It has been reported that buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos reconstructed by somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT) can develop to the full term of gestation and result in newborn calves. However, the developmental competence of reconstructed embryos is still low. Recently, it has been reported that treating donor cells or embryos with trichostatin A (TSA) can increase the cloning efficiency in some species. Thus, the present study was undertaken to improve the development of buffalo SCNT embryos by treatment of donor cells (buffalo fetal fibroblasts) with TSA and explore the relation between histone acetylation status of donor cells and developmental competence of SCNT embryos. Treatment of donor cells with either 0.15 or 0.3 μM TSA for 48 hours resulted in a significant increase in the cleavage rate and blastocyst yield of SCNT embryos (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of HDAC1 in donor cells was also decreased (0.4–0.6 fold, P < 0.05) by TSA treatment, although the expression level of HAT1 was not affected. Further measurement of the epigenetic maker AcH4K8 in buffalo IVF and SCNT embryos at the eight-cell stage revealed that the spatial distribution of acH4K8 staining in SCNT embryos was different from the IVF embryos. Treatment of donor cells with TSA resulted in an increase in the AcH4K8 level of SCNT embryos and similar to fertilized counterparts. These results suggest that treatment of donor cells with TSA can facilitate their nucleus reprogramming by affecting the acetylated status of H4K8 and improving the in vitro development of buffalo SCNT embryos. The AcH4K8 status at the eight-cell stage can be used as an epigenetic marker for predicting the SCNT efficiency in buffalos.     

Aspects of in vivo oocyte production,blastocyst development,and embryo transfer in the cat

A brief overview of the progress made during the past approximately 40 years on the development of methods for in vitro production of cat embryos and intra- and interspecies embryo transfer is described. The presentation is focused primarily on research done over the past 30 years at the Cincinnati Zoo (1980–1995) and at the Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans (1996–present) beginning with original studies on determining optimal doses of porcine FSH for ovarian stimulation and uterine embryo recovery, cryopreservation, and transfer. A key early finding was the ability of cats to respond to multiple gonadotropin (porcine FSH) treatments by repeated stimulation of follicular development. With a ≥6-month interval between FSH treatments, over the past 15 years (1998–2013), we have done 1603 laparoscopic oocyte retrievals on 337 cats and recovered >38,000 mature oocytes (mean = 24.1 per laparoscopic oocyte retrieval). The limited information available on in vivo blastocyst development in the cat during the latter portion of the preimplantation period (approximately Days 8 to 12 after coitum or approximately Days 7 to 11 after ovulation) was assembled for the purpose of comparing and contrasting it with the growth, expansion, and zona functioning of in vitro-derived blastocysts. Also, results of transferring morulae and/or blastocysts into synchronous recipients are described to emphasize evidence that appears to allude to an essential role for an intact zona pellucida in successful implantation and subsequent development in the cat. Until 2003, our in vitro-derived embryos were transferred into the uterine horns of recipients to determine the feasibility of producing offspring from such primary methods as IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, SCNT, and embryo cryopreservation. With the exception of SCNT embryos, pregnancy rates were satisfactory, but embryo survival rates were not. Subsequently, after finding that SCNT embryo survival rate could be improved using laparoscopic transfer of early cleavage stage embryos into the oviduct, we applied the technique to embryos derived using IVF with sex-sorted sperm, oocyte vitrification, and embryo cryopreservation. Overall, a pregnancy rate of 67% (14/21) has resulted. Most recently, with the oviductal embryo transfer technique, two litters of Black-Footed cat kittens have been born from intra- and interspecies transfer of cryopreserved embryos.