Developmental ability of bovine blastocysts derived from in vitro culture of low-quality morulae produced in vivo

Authors

  • Melissa Meneghel Clinica Veterinária Garça SC, Garça, SP
  • Alfredo S. Castro Netto Clinica Veterinária Garça SC, Garça, SP
  • Rafael Herrera Alvarez Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento do Estado de São Paulo, Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Instituto de Zootecnia, Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Genética e Reprodução Animal, Nova Odessa, SP

Keywords:

embryo quality, embryo transfer, in vitro culture, bovine

Abstract

Low quality embryos (Grade 3) represent a considerable proportion of all the embryos produced after collection of superovulated cows. Usually, those embryos are rarely transferred into recipients because the pregnancy rate is low. The aim of this study was to evaluate if blastocysts arising from in vitro culture of Grade 3 bovine morulae produced in vivo can promote acceptable pregnancy rates when transferred into recipients. Embryos (morulae and blastocysts Grades 1, 2 and 3) were recovered from superovulated B. taurus and B. indicus donors and transferred immediately into recipient heifers. Grade 3 morulae were cultured in either phosphate buffered saline (PBS added of 10% bovine fetal serum) or in Holding PlusTM media for 24 hours at 38 oC. The resulting blastocysts were morphologically classified (Grades 1, 2 and 3) and transferred into recipients. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 60 days after transfer and data were analyzed by logistic regression. Quality of the embryo was the only variable showing significant effect on the pregnancy rate. Blastocysts-derived from Grade 3 morulae showed a pregnancy rate (45.7%) higher (P<0.05) than Grade 3 morulae (17.7%) transferred after collection. Pregnancy rate of Grade 1 and Grade 2 cultured blastocist was 75.0% and 57.9% respectively, while those classified as Grade 3 was 21.0% (P<0.05). It was concluded that low quality morulae can evolve to blastocysts after short-term in vitro culture and the transfer of such embryos into recipients can result in acceptable pregnancy rates.

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Published

2007-02-22

Issue

Section

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION

How to Cite

Developmental ability of bovine blastocysts derived from in vitro culture of low-quality morulae produced in vivo. (2007). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 64(2), 143-147. http://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/1244

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