牛卵泡卵母细胞的体外成熟和冷冻保存

在简化牛卵母细胞体外成熟的基础上,观察了保护剂、平衡温度、预平衡方法、解冻方法以及冷冻方法对牛卵泡卵母细胞冷冻的影响。结果表明:在体外成熟培养液中添加26.2 mmol/L的NaHCO3和对屠宰场卵巢进行选择更能促进牛卵母细胞的体外成熟;无论是程序冷冻还是玻璃化冷冻,乙二醇(EG)与甘油(GLY)相比更能促进牛卵泡卵母细胞的冷冻效果;在程序冷冻中,冷冻液中添加0.1 mol/L蔗糖比添加0.3mol/L的蔗糖更能促进牛卵泡卵母细胞的冷冻;在玻璃化冷冻中,37℃和25℃的平衡温度比4℃更适合牛卵泡卵母细胞的冷冻;在10%、5%、1%的预平衡浓度之间,5%的预平衡浓度即可达到预平衡的效果;在解冻时,多步脱除保护剂更能保护冷冻的卵母细胞;比较了几种最小样本量(minimum size sample,MSS)玻璃化冷冻方法,解冻成熟培养后的成熟率,拉细毛细玻璃管冷冻法为(41.67±3.19)%,极显著高于未拉细毛细玻璃管冷冻法(glassmicropipette,GMP)的(30.19±1.93)%和固体表面冷冻法(solid surface vitrification,SSV)的(28.33±2.89)%(P<0.01)。     

Pregnancies from bovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro

Production of transgenic animals and embryo cloning are only a few examples of new biotechnological methods applied to animal embryos. All these techniques require large amounts of oocytes and early embryos. In many laboratory animals, embryos matured and fertilized in vivo are easily obtained, but with larger domestic species it requires laborious surgical procedures and the number of embryos obtained remains relatively small (Bracken et al. 1982). The in vitro maturation of follicular oocytes derived from slaughterhouse ovaries and their in vitro fertilization provides large numbers of oocytes and embryos with considerably less effort. The final proof of the success in the in vitro maturation and fertilization procedure is the birth of healthy progeny. Also the normal preimplantation development of the embryos gives useful information about the efficiency of the method employed.     

Meiosis in bovine oocytes matured in vitro and in vivo

Meiosis in bovine oocytes has; been studied after maturation in vitro or in vivo. Oocytes for in vitro maturation were collected from the ovaries of slaughtered cattle without regard to the phase of the estrous cycle while in vivo maturation was studied in oocytes from gonadotrophin-stimulated heifers at times varying between 6 and 36 h after the beginning of behavioural estrus. Oocytes from slaughtered cattle were classified according to their cumulus complex and ooplasm and were cultured for 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 or 48 h in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer before fixation) for cytogenetic analysis. Oocytes from stimulated heifers were aspirated from follicles or flushed from the oviducts, classified according to cumulus and ooplasm, and fixed within 6 h of collection. Nuclear maturation was more rapid in vitro than in vivo. The largest proportion of oocytes reached maturity (Mil) after 12 to 18 h in culture or 30 to 36 h after the onset of behavioural estrus. Oocytes devoid of cumulus cells or showing signs of vacuolation or degeneration had virtually no capacity for nuclear maturation.     

Follicle culture enhances fertilizability and cleavage of bovine oocytes matured in vitro

The fertilization and cleavage of bovine oocytes matured by intra- or extra-follicular methods were investigated. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro or in the rabbit oviduct and cleavage was assessed after in vitro culture of in vitro fertilized oocytes and after in vivo culture (rabbit oviducts) of xenogenously fertilized oocytes. The effect of fertilization with fresh-diluted or frozen-thawed semen were also examined. The intra-follicular method did not increase the nuclear maturation rate as compared with the extra-follicular method (57.9 and 52.7%, respectively). However, the proportions of in vitro fertilized eggs (54.8%) and of cleaved eggs (two to eight cells; 34.6%) in the rabbit oviduct for 48 h after xenogenous fertilization were higher (P less than .025) in the intra-follicular oocytes than those of the extra-follicular oocytes (37.1 and 21.3%, respectively). It was also found that the use of fresh-diluted semen resulted in more cleaved eggs from the rabbit oviduct than the use of frozen-thawed semen (43.4 and 23.3% in the intra-follicular oocytes, P less than .025; 31.0 and 7.8% in the extra-follicular oocytes, P less than .05), while the appearance of cleaved eggs following in vitro fertilization was extremely low (0 to 6.6%). The present results demonstrated that the intra-follicular culture method of bovine oocytes provided a physiological environment for cytoplasmic maturation leading to higher fertilizability and development than the conventional in vitro culture of extra-follicular oocytes.     

High survival rate of bovine oocytes matured in vitro following vitrification

Improving pregnancy rates associated with the use of cryopreserved human oocytes would be an important advance in human assisted reproductive technology (ART). Vitrification allows glasslike solidification of a solution without ice crystal formation in the living cells. We have attempted to improve the survival rates of oocytes by a vitrification technique using bovine models. In vitro matured oocytes with or without cumulus cells were vitrified with either 15.0% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) + 15% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) + 0.5 M sucrose or 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) 1,2-propanediol (PROH) + 0.5 M sucrose, using 'Cryotop' or 'thin plastic sticker', respectively. The oocyte survival rates after vitrifying-warming, and the capacity for fertilization and embryonic development were examined in vitro. The rate of embryonic development to blastocyst was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the oocytes vitrified with 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) PROH + 0.5 M sucrose than in the oocytes vitrified with 15% (v/v) EG + 15% (v/v) DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose (7.4% +/- 4.1 vs. 1.7% +/- 3.0, respectively). Oocytes vitrified without cumulus cells had a higher survival rate after thawing and a superior embryonic developmental capacity compared with oocytes vitrified with cumulus cells. Prolonged pre-incubation time after thawing adversely affected the rates of embryonic cleavage and development. These results indicate that in vitro matured bovine oocytes can be vitrified successfully with the mixture of the cryoprotectants, EG + PROH, the absence of cumulus cells for vitrification does not affect oocyte survival rate after warming, and vitrified and warmed oocytes do not require pre-incubation before in vitro fertilization.     

Seasonal variations in the developmental competence of bovine oocytes matured in vitro

Ovaries were collected over a period of two years from heifers slaughtered at under 30 months of age and used to harvest 1757 oocytes. After in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture, the proportions of oocytes and cleaved embryos that developed to blastocysts were significantly higher (P<0.01) in the autumn, from September to November, than in the spring, from March to May. In contrast, embryo development, as assessed by oocytes that developed to eight or more cells and blastocysts, was lowest (P<0.01) in the spring. These results were consistent during the two-year study, indicating a seasonal fluctuation in oocyte competence.     

牛卵母细胞的体外成熟

在卵母细胞体外成熟液（含FSH）中分别添加10、30、50μg/L表皮生长因子（EGF）,24 h检查成熟率。结果表明,添加10、30μg/L EGF组牛卵母细胞成熟率为79.8%、71.5%与对照组（未添加EGF）成熟率（70.4%）无明显差异（P〉0.05）,但EGF添加至50μg/L时牛卵母细胞第一极体（PB1）排出率显著提高,达85.4%（P〈0.01）;在此基础上,比较了成熟液中添加尿促性素（HMG）对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响,结果发现在含FSH和EGF的成熟液中添加HMG未能显著提高牛卵母细胞体外成熟效果（P〉0.05）;最后,比较了HMG对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的效果,结果发现单独添加HMG成熟效果显著高于FSH（P〈0.05）,表明成熟液中如不含其他生长因子,则单独添加HMG较FSH对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的效果好。     

受精液和受精时间对牦牛卵泡卵母细胞体外受精的影响

利用屠宰牦牛卵巢，抽取其表面2～5mm的卵泡内卵母细胞，经体外成熟后分别用BO液和改良Tyrode’S液进行体外受精研究。结果表明，BO液受精6h和改良Tyrode’s液分别受精6h和18h，牦牛体外受精卵的卵裂率差异不显著（分别为52．48％、47．67％和50．00%,P〉0．05）。它们的4细胞发育率分别为75．47％、78．05％和64．10％，8细胞发育率分别为56．60％、56．10％和48．72％，使用改良Tyrode’s液受精18h的发育率最低，与其他2组相比，差异极显著（P〈0．01）；而受精时间同为6h时，2种受精液之间发育率的差异不显著（P〉0．05）。     

Heterogenous and xenogenous fertilization of in vivo matured equine oocytes

Forty-five in vivo matured equine oocytes were recovered from 63 follicular aspiration attempts (71.4%). HCG did not improve recovery rate (65% — 24/37 for treated vs 81% — 21/26 for nontreated mares). Fifteen oocytes were transferred into the oviduct of inseminated recipient mares (heterogenous fertilization) and 15 oocytes plus equine spermatozoa were transferred into rabbit oviducts (xenogenous fertilization). Ten oocytes (3 fertilized) were recovered from recipient mare oviducts following removal and flushing two days after transfer. Eight oocytes (nonfertilized) were recovered from rabbit oviducts. Oviductal transfer into separate recipient mares of three embryos produced from heterogenous fertilization resulted in two pregnancies. One mare produced a normal live foal and the other mare aborted at 20 days of gestation. Results from these studies suggest that: 1) a reliable method for collection of in vivo matured oocytes has been established, and 2) heterogenous fertilization is a technique that with refinement should be immediately applicable to obtain foals from valuable infertile mares that fail to get pregnant or produce embryos by standard methods.     

Effects of sera and steroid hormones on development of bovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro and co-cultured with bovine oviduct epithelial cells

The present experiment was designed to identify possible effects of sera and steroid hormones added to a co-culture with bovine oviduct epithelial cells on embryonic development in vitro. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24 h and then fertilized in vitro using swim-up and heparin-treated, frozen-thawed spermatozoa. At 18 and 20 h after insemination, oocytes were cultured for 3 or 7 d in a co-culture system with bovine oviduct epithelial cells containing either fetal calf serum (FCS) or estrous cow serum (ECS) and one of six hormonal additions (none, 1 or 10 micrograms/ml estradiol [E]; 1 microgram/ml progesterone [P]; 1 microgram/ml E + P; and 10 micrograms/ml E + P). A total of 2,666 oocytes were cultured for 3 d and examined for cleavage. Of those, 2,280 oocytes were cultured up to 7 d for development to the late morula or blastocyst stage. Greatest cleavage rates for 2- to 8-cell and 8-cell stages were observed in FCS (71 and 24%) and ECS (66 and 23%) without steroid addition. For development into blastocysts, no serum effect was observed. Greatest rates for development into blastocysts were observed in FCS (14%) and ECS (16%) without steroid addition. These results indicate that addition of E and P at the doses and combinations tested did not enhance developmental capacity of in vitro fertilized bovine oocytes. Compared with FCS, ECS tended to increase cleavage rates and development into blastocysts.     

牛卵泡液对牛卵母细胞体外成熟及受精胚发育力的影响

研究了牛卵母细胞体外成熟液和胚胎培养液中添加不同浓度的牛卵泡液对其体外成熟率和受精胚发育力的影响。结果表明:添加10%牛卵泡液的实验组,卵母细胞的成熟率与血清对照组没有显著差异(P>0.05);添加10%卵泡液的实验组与血清对照组相比,卵裂率和囊胚率没有显著差异,却显著高于添加5%和20%牛卵泡液的实验组(P<0.01),且各实验组囊胚内细胞数差异不大(P>0.05)。因此,用10%的牛卵泡液可以取代成熟液和胚胎培养液中的血清,并可降低实验成本。     

Effect of vitrification procedures on the subsequent development of in vitro matured swamp buffalo oocytes following in vitro fertilization

Nowadays, the efficiency of buffalo oocytes cryopreservation is still low. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of two combinations of cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) and two vitrification devices for vitrification of swamp buffalo oocytes on their survival after vitrification warming, and subsequent developmental ability after in vitro fertilization. In vitro matured (IVM) oocytes were vitrified by either Cryotop (CT) or solid surface vitrification (SSV) interacting with vitrification solution A (VA) or B (VB). In the VA or VB solution exposed test, the oocytes showed similar survival rates, but decreased blastocyst rates after in vitro fertilization compared with that of untreated oocytes. After vitrification, the CT method combined with VA solution yielded a higher survival rate (91.3 ± 5.84%) of vitrified oocytes than that combined with VB solution (69.8 ± 4.19%–75.8 ± 4.55%); however, all the vitrification treatments showed lower blastocyst rates (1.1 ± 0.07%–5.2 ± 0.24%) compared with that of untreated oocytes (18.0 ± 1.09%). Our results indicated that combined vitrification treatments in this study did not improve the decreased ability of vitrified oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage.     

Effect of medium change on the development of in vitro matured and fertilized bovine oocytes cultured in medium containing amino acids

Bovine in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes were cultured for 153 hr in groups of 3 or 30 in 30 microl of modified synthetic oviduct fluid medium supplemented with amino acids. The concentration of ammonium in culture medium at 153 hr of culture was significantly decreased by medium change at 72 hr of culture. However, regardless of embryo density, medium change had no beneficial or detrimental effect on the development of bovine embryos. Increase in the development to blastocysts and production of ammonium were observed when embryos were cultured in groups of 30. These results indicated that the ammonium concentration detected in this culture system has a negligible effect on the development of bovine embryos to blastocysts.     

In vitro fertilization and cortical granule distribution of bovine oocytes having heterogeneous ooplasm with dark clusters.

In vitro maturation, fertilization and subsequent development of oocytes with homogeneous (category 1), or heterogeneous ooplasm (category 2) were investigated. No significant differences were observed in the nuclear maturation and total fertilization rates between the two categories. However, category 2 oocytes showed a higher normal fertilization rate due to their lower incidence of polyspermy as compared to category 1 oocytes. Electron microscopic study revealed that all category 2 oocytes had cortical granules lined up next to the plasma membrane, and that some category 1 oocytes still had small clusters of cortical granules after maturation. Although the proportion of cleaved zygotes was higher in category 2, the percentages of cleaved zygotes that developed to the blastocyst stage did not differ between the two categories. These results demonstrate that oocytes with heterogeneous ooplasm have a higher capacity for normal fertilization due to the reduction in polyspermy. This can be attributed to the normal distribution of cortical granules in category 2 oocytes after maturation.     

水牛卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻保存

以水牛MII期的卵母细胞为材料,利用玻璃化冷冻液EDS33(16.5%EG+16.5%DMSO+sucrose)对水牛MII期的卵母细胞进行两步法(玻璃毛细管(GMP)和拉细的开口塑料细管(OPS))玻璃化冷冻保存,即卵母细胞首先放入预平衡液(7.5%EG+7.5%DMSO+sucrose)中平衡3 min,再移入玻璃化冷冻液中30 s后装管直接投入液氮.解冻是在蔗糖浓度逐渐降低的解冻液中进行的.解冻后存活的卵母细胞孤雌激活,通过囊胚发育率作为评定卵母细胞冷冻效果的指标.结果发现,GMP和OPS法冷冻保存的水牛卵母细胞解冻后的存活率(分别为96.80%和97.41%)与对照组卵母细胞的存活率(100%)3者之间差异均不显著(P>0.05).GMP法和OPS法冷冻的水牛卵母细胞激活后的胚胎分裂率和囊胚发育率2者均明显低于对照组(分别为30.58%和28.32% vs50.94%,10.81%和9.38% vs 29.63%,P<0.05),而这2种方法冷冻的水牛卵母细胞激活后的分裂率和囊胚发育率差异均不显著(P>0.05).这表明GMP和OPS玻璃化冷冻方法可以用于水牛卵母细胞的冷冻,并且玻璃化冷冻的卵母细胞能继续分裂并发育到囊胚.