Development and quality of bovine embryos produced in vitro using growth factor supplemented serum-free system

Arindam Dhali, Vahida M. Anchamparuthy, Steve P. Butler, Isis K. Mullarky, Ronald E. Pearson, Frank C. Gwazdauskas

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DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2011.13013                

Abstract

The influence of a growth factor supplemented serum-free system on the development, gene expression, and cryotolerance of in vitro pro- duced bovine embryos was investigated. To assess the embryo development and gene ex- pression in blastocysts, abattoir-derived oo- cytes (obtained from 3 - 10 or <3 mm follicles) were matured and fertilized in serum-free media and cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid sup- plemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS, 4%), epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10 ng/mL), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, 100 ng/mL), stem cell factor (SCF, 50 ng/mL) or combinations of the growth factors. Expressions of selected gene transcripts were relatively quantified in the d 8 blastocysts. To assess the cryotolerance, d 4 morulae (derived from 3 - 10 mm follicles and cultured with the supplementation of FBS or combinations of the growth factors) were vitri- fied, thawed and cultured (with respective sup- plementations). Total cell number and DNA frag- mentation in blastocysts derived from the vitri- fied morulae were assessed through TUNEL assay. The rate (%) of cleavage, blastocyst and expanded/hatched blastocyst did not differ among the culture medium supplementations within the follicle size of 3 - 10 mm (range 65.1 ± 4.3 - 75.4 ± 3.9; 22.4 ± 3.9 - 36.4 ± 3.6; and 11.2 ± 2.9 - 23.3 ± 3.2, respectively) or <3 mm (range 59.3 ± 4.2 - 74.5 ± 3.7; 15.0 ± 3.5 - 28.7 ± 4.5; and 9.3 ± 2.8 - 17.3 ± 2.7, respectively). Nevertheless, significantly lower (P < 0.05) cleavage and blastocyst rates with FBS and lower blastocyst rate with SCF supplementations were observed for the oocytes derived from <3 compared to 3 - 10 mm follicles. The expression patterns of BCL-2, BAX, HSP1A1, GJA1 and BIRC5 tran- scripts varied significantly (P < 0.05) in all cases, except for BIRC5 in the blastocysts derived from 3 - 10 mm follicles. Following thaw and culture, the development (%) of vitrified morulae into expanded/hatched blastocysts was lower (P < 0.01) with the supplementation of growth fac- tors compared to FBS. In contrast, total number of cells and DNA fragmentation index in blas- tocysts were not different among the treatments. In conclusion, the growth factor supplemented serum-free system was satisfactory for in vitro bovine embryo production. Nevertheless, the system was not efficient when embryos were derived from <3 mm follicles and cultured with SCF. Additionally, gene expression patterns and cryotolerance of the embryos were affected with the treatments of growth factors compared to serum.

Keywords

IVF; Growth Factors; Embryo Development; Gene Expression; Cryotolerance; Bovine

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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