Production and Quality of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos

Many factors influence the efficiency of the in vitro embryo production technology in cattle but the most important are the physiological conditions of the donor and the culture protocols for oocyte maturation and fertilization and for embryo culture from zygote to blastocyst. Therefore, general factors such as age, body conditions and herd management play a pivotal role together with more specific factors such as reproductive soundness and ovarian cyclicity. Given that good quality and competent oocytes are available a complex series of processes, including oocyte maturation, fertilization and culture of the derived zygotes, must be completed to generate viable embryos.     

Oocyte and Embryo Quality: Effect of Origin, Culture Conditions and Gene Expression Patterns

In general, the majority of immature bovine oocytes fail to develop to the blastocyst stage following maturation, fertilization and culture in vitro. The evidence suggests that while culture conditions during in vitro embryo production can impact on the developmental potential of the early embryo, the intrinsic quality of the oocyte is the key factor determining the proportion of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage. In addition, evidence suggests that the period of post‐fertilization embryo culture is the most critical in determining blastocyst quality. This paper reviews the current literature, with emphasis on the bovine model, demonstrating evidence for an effect of oocyte origin and/or in vitro maturation conditions on the developmental capacity and gene expression patterns in the oocyte. Furthermore, the well‐documented effects of post‐fertilization culture environment on embryo gene expression and quality are highlighted.     

影响牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟的因素分析

牦牛是青藏高原地区的重要畜种,为牧民提供生产和生活资料.但是牦牛的繁殖力较低,通常为2年1胎或3年2胎,选育改良进展缓慢.卵母细胞体外成熟培养作为体外受精和胚胎发育必不可少的步骤,已被应用于牦牛科学研究和繁殖生产上.由于牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟能力远远低于体内,因此完善体外培养条件,提高牦牛卵母细胞体外培养的成熟率,对牦牛...     

牛卵母细胞体外成熟和体外受精技术的研究进展

论述牛卵母细胞体外成熟和体外受精的最新研究进展，包括卵丘卵母细胞复合体、卵母细胞的体内、体外成熟，以及体内、体外的异常成熟和卵母细胞的体外成熟方法，无蛋白质、无血清系统的限定性培养液的研究进展，卵母细胞体外成熟状态与标志的某些理论上的突破；体外受精中精子供体的选择、精子活力和正常形态的选择、冷冻解冻精液的体外获能、精子的体外受精力，以及体外的异常受精；还论述了牛卵母细胞体外成熟和体外受精技术在家畜育种和胚胎克隆等方面的应用前景     

牛卵母细胞体外受精和体外成熟技术

文章从卵母细胞的来源、精子体外获能、卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精和体外受精早期胚胎培养五个方面综述了牛卵母细胞体外受精和体外成熟技术的研究进展.同时指出了影响精子体外获能的因素、影响卵母细胞成熟培养的因素、体外受精存在的问题及解决办法等.并且对影响该技术的主要因素进行了系统分析.     

The effects of ceftiofur sodium (Naxcel) on bovine oocyte and preimplantation embryonic development assessed by in vitro embryo production techniques

Ceftiofur sodium is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad spectrum bactericidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including the beta-lactamase producing strains. In this study, we use in vitro techniques to examine the effects of low and high levels of ceftiofur sodium on the development of bovine oocytes/embryos during oocyte maturation, oocyte fertilization and embryo culture. A total of 8590 oocytes was used in six independent experiments, each in a randomized complete block design. Each replication within each experiment consisted of oocytes from the same abattoir collection of ovaries. There was no difference in embryo development when oocytes were exposed to ceftiofur sodium during oocyte maturation or fertilization at low (10 and 50 μg/mL) or high (100 and 200 μg/mL) concentrations. However, when fertilized oocytes were exposed to concentrations 50 μg/mL during culture, ceftiofur sodium significantly retarded embryo development (e.g. the numbers of ova developing to the morula and blastocyst stages were reduced, and a large proportion of embryos were blocked at the 8-cell stage). We conclude that ceftiofur sodium does not appear to have detrimental effects on oocyte maturation and fertilization. However, long term exposure to high dosages of ceftiofur sodium during post-fertilization culture adversely affects embryo development in vitro.     

Influence of co‐culture with denuded oocytes during in vitro maturation on fertilization and developmental competence of cumulus‐enclosed porcine oocytes in a defined system

Co‐culture of cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs) with denuded oocytes (DOs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) was reported to improve the developmental competence of oocytes via oocyte‐secreted factors in cattle. The aim of the present study was to investigate if addition of DOs during IVM can improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC) results for oocytes in a defined in vitro production system in pigs. The maturation medium was porcine oocyte medium supplemented with gonadotropins, dbcAMP and β‐mercaptoethanol. Cumulus‐oocyte complexes were matured without DOs or with DOs in different ratios (9 COC, 9 COC+16 DO and 9 COC+36 DO). Consequently; oocytes were subjected to IVF as intact COCs or after denudation to examine if DO addition during IVM would affect cumulus or oocyte properties. After fertilization, penetration and normal fertilization rates of zygotes were not different between all tested groups irrespective of denudation before IVF. When zygotes were cultured for 6 days, no difference could be observed between all treatment groups in cleavage rate, blastocyst rate and cell number per blastocyst. In conclusion, irrespective of the ratio, co‐culture with DOs during IVM did not improve fertilization parameters and embryo development of cumulus‐enclosed porcine oocytes in a defined system.     

青春期前山羊卵母细胞体外生产胚胎的研究进展

青春期前卵母细胞的来源广泛,作为体外胚胎生产的试验材料,国外这方面的研究报道较多。作者就青春期前山羊卵母细胞体外成熟、成熟后细胞质中细胞器的变化情况、体外受精技术和胚胎体外培养等方面研究情况作一综述,供研究者参考。     

Translocation of active mitochondria during buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes in vitro maturation, fertilization and preimplantation embryo development

Mitochondria are energy-supplying organelles, whose distribution and functional integrity are necessary for cell survival and development. In this study, the mitochondrial distribution pattern and activity during buffalo oocyte in vitro maturation, fertilization and preimplantation embryo development were revealed using a fluorescent dye and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Distribution of active mitochondria changed during buffalo oocyte in vitro maturation. Active mitochondria were transferred from the outer to inner and perinuclear cytoplasm as oocytes matured in vitro and aggregated around the pronuclei in the fertilized eggs. Active mitochondria were also observed in preimplantation embryos. In the two-cell stage, they were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. From four-cell to the spherical embryonic stages, active mitochondria translocated to the perinuclear and the periphery of the cytoplasm. These results confirm that mitochondria play an important role in oocyte and embryo. The distribution of active mitochondria might be a marked feature of buffalo oocyte maturation, fertilization and preimplantation embryo development in vitro.     

Cytoskeletal Changes in Oocytes and Early Embryos During in vitro Fertilization Process in Mice

The cytoskeleton plays crucial roles in the development and fertilization of germ cells and in the early embryo development. The growth, maturation and fertilization of oocytes require an active movement and a correct localization of cellular organelles. This is performed by the re-organization of microtubules and actin filaments. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the changes in cytoskeleton during in vitro fertilization process using appropriate immunofluorescence techniques. While the chromatin content was found to be scattered throughout the nucleus during the oocyte maturation period, it was seen only around nucleolus following the completion of the maturation. Microtubules, during oocyte maturation, were regularly distributed throughout the ooplasm which was then localized in the subcortical region of oocytes. Similarly microfilaments were scattered throughout the ooplasm during the oocyte maturation period whereas they were seen in the subcortical region around the polar body and above the meiotic spindle throughout the late developmental stages. In conclusion, those changes occurred in microtubules and microfilaments might be closely related to the re-organization of the genetic material during the oocyte maturation and early embryo development.     

Development and application of a chemically defined medium for the in vitro production of porcine embryos

Recent advances in systems for in vitro production (IVP) of porcine embryos, including in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo culture, have enabled us to generate viable embryos that can develop to full term after transfer into recipients. This technology is being applied now to developments in gamete/embryo biology and agriculture, as well as in producing cloned and genetically modified pigs. Chemically defined media for IVP of embryos are useful for a precise analysis of the physical action of substances on gametogenesis and early embryogenesis, because they eliminate undefined factors present in biological materials, such as serum or serum albumin. Use of a chemically defined medium also improves the reliability of media formulations, yields a higher reproducibility of results and ensures biosafety of culture media by eliminating protein preparations, which may be contaminated with pathogens. Therefore, it has certain advantages for research and for commercial purposes. We have recently developed a defined IVP system for porcine embryos using a single basic medium based on the composition of porcine oviductal fluid. This paper discusses the developmental ability and normality of porcine IVP embryos, and limitations and advancements in this system.     

Effects of complement component 3 derivatives on pig oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryo development in vitro

Complement component 3 (C3) has well-established roles within immune system, but its roles outside of immune system are less characterized. The extensive presence of C3 throughout the female reproductive tract, and its temporal, and gamete-specific regulation of expression suggest a potential role for C3 in reproduction. In the present investigation, the effects of C3, C3b and iC3b on porcine oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic development were examined. We identified the ability of iC3b to positively influence oocyte maturation. No effects on fertilization efficiency, penetration rates, polyspermy and blastocyst formation were observed. However, C3, C3b and iC3b presence in embryo culture medium resulted in fewer total cells in test blastocysts compared to control blastocysts. The results of this study indicate a potential function for iC3b in oocyte maturation. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the presence of either C3, C3b or iC3b has a negative influence on early embryonic development in the porcine species.     

低氧分压通过低氧诱导因子(HIF)影响卵母细胞的体外成熟和早期胚胎的发育

卵母细胞和早期胚胎的体外培养(IVC)是哺乳动物胚胎工程的一项关键技术,是生殖生物学和转基因与克隆技术等生物技术研究的基础.影响卵母细胞和早期胚胎体外培养的因素包括培养液组成成分、离子浓度和渗透压,培养环境气相组成和温度等.最近研究表明,培养系统中的氧分压可以显著影响胚胎的发育,而这种影响主要由低氧诱导因子(hypoxia-inducible factor,HIF)进行调控.作者综述了氧分压及HIF对卵母细胞和早期胚胎体外发育的影响,并对HIF的结构及调控机制进行讨论,为研究低氧培养技术在卵母细胞和早期胚胎体外培养中的应用提供依据.     

Effects of Low Oxygen Tension for in vitro Oocyte Maturation and Early Embryo Development through Hypoxia-inducible Factor (HIF)

Oocytes and early embryo in vitro culture (IVC) was a key technology of mammalian embryo engineering and was the basis of biotechnology such as genetically modified (GM) and cloning research.The factors,which affect the efficiency of in vitro culture for oocytes and early embryo,include the composition,ion concentration and osmotic pressure of the culture medium,and the gas composition and temperature of the culture environment. Recent studies have shown that the oxygen tension in the culture systems can significantly affect the development of embryos,and this effect is mainly regulated by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). This paper reviewed the effects of the oxygen tension on oocyte maturation and early embryo development,and the structure and regulation mechanism of HIF were discussed,in order to provide a theoretical basis for further explore the application of hypoxia method in the in vitro culture of oocytes and early embryo.     

Effect of the Removal of Cumulus Cells on the Nuclear Maturation, Fertilization and Development of Porcine Oocytes

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of attachment of cumulus cells to porcine oocytes during the process of maturation and fertilization on the nuclear maturation, fertilization and subsequent development after in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the first experiment, the cumulus cells were removed from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 0, 24 and 42 h after the onset of maturation culture and were then cultured until reaching 42 h of cultivation. In the second experiment, COCs were denuded as described in the first experiment, then fertilized and cultured for 7 days. As a control, cumulus cells were allowed to maintain attachment to the oocytes until the end of IVF. The proportion of oocytes reaching metaphase II significantly increased with the delay in the removal treatment of cumulus cells. The proportion of normal fertilization gradually increased with delay in the removal treatment of cumulus cells from COCs until the end of IVF. However, no significant difference in the proportion of normal fertilization was found between the 42-h and control groups. The removal treatment of cumulus cells in the 0- and 24-h group significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the proportion of cleaved embryos when compared with the control, and none of them developed to the blastocyst stage. The proportion of development to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the control group than in the 42-h group (18.1% vs 12.4%; p < 0.05). The present study indicates that the attachment of cumulus cells to the oocyte during maturation and fertilization is important to support oocyte nuclear maturation, fertilization and subsequent embryo development. Particularly, the attachment of cumulus cells to the oocyte during IVF promotes embryonic development.     

Molecular mechanisms underlying pig oocyte maturation and fertilization

Since the pig is not only an important farm animal, but also a model animal for biomedical applications, the development of reproductive technologies in this species has been very important. In vitro oocyte maturation and fertilization (IVM-IVF) are basic techniques for a number of oocyte- or embryo-related technologies. The practical aspects for pig oocyte IVM-IVF have been reviewed, while the molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization have not been well summarized, although accumulating data have been obtained in recent one decade. This review will focus on what is known about the molecular mechanisms of porcine oocyte maturation and fertilization such as first meiosis resumption, meiotic spindle assembly, second meiosis metaphase (MII) arrest during oocyte maturation, sperm-egg recognition and fusion, sperm acrosome reaction, second meiosis resumption, sperm chromatin decondensation, and pronucleus formation during fertilization, as well as the establishment of polyspermy block.     

In vitro Development of Buffalo Oocytes in Media-containing Fluids from Different Size Class Follicles

Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of fluid from different sized class [small (SFF, < 3 mm), medium (MFF, 3-8 mm) and large (LFF, > 8 mm)] of normal and cystic (CFF) ovarian follicles in oocyte culture media on oocyte maturation rate and embryo development in vitro and to test the efficacy of follicular fluid (FF) from different size classes as a whole oocyte maturation medium. Results suggested that FF were capable of developing buffalo oocytes to embryonic stage in vitro although its efficacy was lower than that of serum. Regardless of high maturation rates after in vitro maturation (IVM) in media containing FF or IVM in whole FF, low blastocyst rates were obtained after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and culture of embryos. Follicular fluid from small follicles had significantly (p < 0.05) higher potential of developing buffalo oocytes to embryonic stage in vitro than that from medium and large follicles. Cystic FF was not capable of supporting development of buffalo oocytes in vitro.     

卵丘细胞对卵母细胞IVM及分子机制的研究进展

卵母细胞的成熟是当前胚胎工程及相关动物生物技术的基础及重要环节,对体外受精、转基因、胚胎克隆以及相关生物技术的发展具有重要的意义,本文主要将卵母细胞体外成熟的分子机制、卵丘细胞对卵母细胞成熟影响因素、目前取得成果以及存在的问题等方面进行归纳总结,为进一步的研究提供理论依据。     

哺乳动物卵母细胞老化机制的研究进展

 哺乳动物卵母细胞的老化,导致胚胎非整倍体的比率和流产率增加。研究卵母细胞老化的机制,探讨延缓卵母细胞老化的措施,对提高卵母细胞体外成熟和受精效率等具有重要的理论意义。论文从卵母细胞老化的生物学特性、影响老化的因素以及延缓老化的措施等几个方面进行综述。