Combination of oocyte and zygote selection by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test enhanced prediction of developmental potential to the blastocyst in cattle

The cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained from local abattoir. After aspiration, the COCs were allotted into four treatments to evaluation of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test. Control treatment (C): oocytes were cultured directly (without exposure to BCB) after recovery in in vitro production (IVP) process. Oocyte treatment (OBCB): immediately after aspiration, COCs were incubated in modified Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (mDPBS) supplemented with 26 μM of BCB for 90 min and classified into two classes: oocytes with blue cytoplasm coloration (OBCB+: more competent oocytes) and oocytes without blue cytoplasm coloration (OBCB−: low competent oocytes). Directly after classification, the oocytes were maintained undisrupted in the IVP process. Zygote treatment (ZBCB): After oocyte collection, maturation and fertilization, zygotes were stained with BCB for 10 min and categorized into three ways, according to whether they were highly stained (ZBCB++: low competent zygotes), moderately stained (ZBCB+: moderate competent zygotes) and unstained (ZBCB−: more competent zygotes). Directly after classification, the zygotes were maintained undisrupted in the culture process. Oocyte and zygote treatments (OBCB/ZBCB): COCs were stained with BCB after recovery and classified into two classes (OBCB+ and OBCB−). After fertilization, the zygotes produced from OBCB+ and OBCB− oocytes were further stained with BCB for 10 min and categorized six ways (OBCB+/ZBCB++, OBCB+/ZBCB+, OBCB+/ZBCB−, OBCB−/ZBCB++, OBCB−/ZBCB+ and OBCB−/ZBCB−). Directly after classification, the zygotes were maintained undisrupted in the culture process. The selection rate produced from OBCB treatment (OBCB+; 54.3%) was greater (P < 0.05) than ZBCB treatment (ZBCB−; 44.3%). In addition, the selection rate produced from double application (combination of oocyte and zygote selection) of BCB test (OBCB+/ZBCB−: 28.8%) was less (P < 0.01) than single application of BCB test (ZBCB−: 44.3%or OBCB+: 54.3%). The percentage of blastocyst production from OBCB+ oocytes (35.7%) and ZBCB− zygotes (36.6%) were greater (P < 0.05) than that from C oocytes (25.7%), OBCB− oocytes (16.5%), ZBCB++ (13.5%) and ZBCB+ zygotes (21.3%). However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the percentages of blastocyst production between OBCB+ oocytes (35.7%) and ZBCB− zygotes (36.6%). The proportion of blastocyst production from double application of BCB test (OBCB+/ZBCB−: 48.0%) was greater (P < 0.05) than that from single application of BCB test (OBCB+: 35.7% or ZBCB−: 36.6%). In conclusion, current results confirmed that combination of oocyte and zygote selection by BCB test enhanced the efficiency of selecting for high quality embryos, compared to the single BCB test.