Fetal calf serum enhances in vitro production of Bos taurus indicus embryos

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 429 - 433
• Main Authors: Leivas, F.G, Brum, D.S, Fialho, S.S, Saliba, W.P, Alvim, M.T.T, Bernardi, M.L, Rubin, M.I.B, Silva, C.A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States [Oxford]: Butterworth-Heinemann; [New York]: Elsevier Science 01-02-2011
• Subjects: Animals; Blastocyst - physiology; Cattle - embryology; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media; Cumulus Cells; Embryo Culture Techniques - veterinary; Embryo Transfer - veterinary; Embryonic Development; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - veterinary; Fetal Blood - physiology; Male; Oocytes; Pregnancy; Serum Albumin, Bovine - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.08.017

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fetal calf serum (FCS) on the quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs, n = 2 449) recovered by ovum pick-up from Bos taurus indicus donors were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Sperm selected by Percoll gradient was used for in vitro fertilization (insemination = Day 0). In Experiment 1 (n = 1 745 COCs), zygotes were cultured in vitro in Synthetic Oviduct Fluid + 4 mg/mL of bovine serum albumin (BSA), or BSA + 2% FCS (BSA+FCS). In Experiment 2 (n = 704 COCs), the COCs were cultured in SOF + BSA, BSA + 2% FCS, or BSA + 2% FCS on D4 (BSA + FCSD4). In Experiment 1, blastocyst yield (51%) and Quality I blastocysts (41%) at Day 7 were higher (P < 0.05) in the BSA + FCS treatment than in BSA (42 and 30%, respectively). In Experiment 2, blastocyst yield was higher (P < 0.05) in the BSA+FCS (47%) treatment. Quality I blastocyst yield was higher (P < 0.05) for BSA + FCS (34%) and BSA+FCSD4 (32%) compared to the BSA treatment (20%). A total of 820 embryos were transferred, with no significant differences among groups in pregnancy rates. In conclusion, in vitro culture in SOFaaci + BSA + FCS enhanced blastocyst yield and Quality I blastocysts; adding FCS to the culture medium increased the efficiency of IVP of bovine embryos.