不同品种绵羔羊超数排卵及胚胎体外生产技术研究

探讨品种对羔羊超数排卵效果和卵母细胞发育能力的影响,并将体外受精胚胎进行了移植,为研究利用绵羊羔羊卵母细胞生产后代提供理论和技术方法。对4～8周龄不同品种羔羊用FSH+PSMG处理后获得的平均卵母细胞数量和体外胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率进行了比较,并比较成熟液中有无β-巯基乙醇对胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率的影响。结果:各品种获得的平均卵母细胞数分别为:哈萨克为210.22枚,湖羊为0枚,美利奴为135.80枚,湖羊与哈萨克的杂交后代为37.80枚,湖羊羔羊和湖羊与哈萨克羊的杂交羔羊获得的平均卵母细胞数显著低于哈萨克羔羊(P<0.01,P<0.05)。哈萨克羔羊卵裂率(69.0%)显著高于湖羊与哈萨克羊杂交羔羊(66.4%,P<0.05);哈萨克羔羊囊胚率(17.5%)和美利奴羔羊囊胚率(16.2%)显著高于湖羊×哈萨克羔羊(13.8%)(P<0.01,P<0.05)。β-巯基乙醇对羔羊胚胎卵裂率影响不显著,对囊胚率影响极显著(P<0.01)。哈萨克羔羊卵子体外受精获得的2-8细胞胚胎进行输卵管移植,14只受体羊中7只妊娠,妊娠率为50.0%;共产羔9只,其中8只存活。     

牛体外受精卵的二步法培养体系的研究

以CR1aa为基础培养液,采用二步法对牛体外受精卵进行体外培养,完善牛体外受精卵的培养体系.实验一:对照组连续7 d均为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS培养,处理组前3 d为CR1aa 3 mg/mLBSA培养,后4 d换为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS.处理组的囊胚率显著高于对照组,但卵裂率和囊胚孵化率无显著差异.实验二:对照组连续7 d均为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS培养,处理组前3 d为CR1aa培养,后4 d换为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS.处理组的卵裂率显著高于对照组,但囊胚率和囊胚孵化率差异不显著.实验三:对照组连续7 d均为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS 0.1mmol/L GSH培养,处理组前3 d为CR1aa 0.1 mmol/L GSH培养,后4 d换为CR1aa 50 mL/L FBS 0.1 mmol/L GSH.处理组的卵裂率显著高于对照组,囊胚率极显著高于对照组,但囊胚孵化率差异不显著.结果表明,GSH与二步法培养系统结合相对于传统的一步法培养系统更适于牛体外受精卵的体外培养.     

Consequences for the bovine embryo of being derived from a spermatozoon subjected to post-ejaculatory aging and heat shock: development to the blastocyst stage and sex ratio

The objective was to determine whether aging of sperm caused by incubation at normothermic (38.5 C) or heat shock (40 C) temperatures for 4 h prior to oocyte insemination affects sperm motility, fertilizing ability, competence of the resultant embryo to develop to the blastocyst stage and blastocyst sex ratio. In the first experiment, the percent of sperm that were motile was reduced by aging (P<0.001) and the reduction in motility was greater for sperm at 40 C compared to sperm at 38.5 C (P<0.01). In the second experiment, oocytes were inseminated with aged sperm. A smaller percent of oocytes fertilized with sperm aged at either temperature cleaved by Day 3 after insemination than oocytes fertilized with fresh sperm (P<0.05). There was no effect of sperm aging on the percent of oocytes or cleaved embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage. Aging of sperm before fertilization at 38.5 C reduced the percent of blastocysts that were male (P=0.08). In the third experiment, incubation of sperm at 38.5 C or 40 C for 4 h did not reduce fertilizing ability of sperm as determined by pronuclear formation at 18 h post insemination. In conclusion, aging of sperm reduced cleavage rate and the percent of blastocysts that were males but had no effect on the developmental capacity of the embryo. The effect of aging on cleavage rate may represent reduced motility and errors occurring after fertilization and pronuclear formation. Aging at a temperature characteristic of maternal hyperthermia had little additional effect except that polyspermy was reduced. Results indicate that embryo competence for development to the blastocyst stage is independent of sperm damage as a result of aging for 4 h at normothermic or hyperthermic temperatures.     

胚胎质量和发育阶段对奶牛胚胎移植妊娠率的影响

[目的]为了评估胚胎质量和发育阶段对奶牛胚胎移植妊娠率的影响。[方法]使用63头青年奶牛作为供体进行超数排卵,评估回收胚胎质量和发育阶段。选择334头青年奶牛作为受体鲜胚移植不同质量和发育阶段胚胎。对胚胎质量分布、发育阶段分布、不同质量胚胎和不同发育阶段胚胎移植30 d妊娠率进行统计分析。[结果]可用胚胎中A级胚胎比例(60.78%)显著高于B级和C级胚胎比例(36.70%和2.52%)(P<0.05);致密桑椹胚比例(54.36%)显著高于早期囊胚,囊胚和扩张囊胚比例(18.35%,25.0%和2.29%)(P<0.05)。A级和B级胚胎移植30 d妊娠率(63.55%和64.35%)显著高于C级胚胎移植30 d妊娠率(44.44%)(P<0.05);致密桑椹胚、早期囊胚、囊胚和扩张囊胚移植30 d妊娠率差异不显著(P<0.05),早期囊胚、囊胚移植30 d妊娠率高于致密桑椹胚、扩张囊胚移植30 d妊娠率(P<0.05)。[结论]选择不同发育阶段的A级和B级胚胎能够获得较高胚胎移植妊娠率,增加早期囊胚和囊胚阶段胚胎移植数量能够提高胚胎移植妊娠率。     

影响辽宁绒山羊母羔胚胎体外生产因素的研究

比较了PMSG+FSH、FSH+PMSG超排方法对超排效果与胚胎发育的影响,EGF对卵母细胞成熟及胚胎发育的影响,以及TALP、SOF受精体系对胚胎发育的影响。结果表明:PMSG+FSH法超排后的卵裂率、囊胚率极显著高于FSH+PMSG法(P<0.01),但超排卵母细胞数差异不显著(P>0.05);成熟液添加20 ng/mL EGF组极体率、囊胚率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),卵裂率差异不显著(P>0.05);SOF受精体系卵裂率显著高于TALP(P<0.05),囊胚率极显著高于TALP(P<0.01)。     

不同冷冻方法对牛卵母细胞及孤雌胚发育的影响

研究了麦管和OPS管法冷冻以及OPS法中保护剂种类对牛卵母细胞体外成熟及孤雌胚发育的影响。结果发现,OPS管冷冻牛卵母细胞形态正常率、卵裂率、囊胚率极显著高于麦管法(P<0.05)。在OPS法中,应用两种保护剂冷冻后,卵母细胞形态正常率、卵裂率、囊胚率差异极显著(P<0.01);采取38℃与25℃温度平衡,冷冻后卵母细胞各发育指标差异不显著(P>0.05);采用4℃平衡,冷冻后的卵母细胞激活后没有出现囊胚,各发育指标极显著降低(P<0.01)。结果表明,OPS法可以有效地保护卵母细胞,保证其后孤雌激活;采用低温平衡会对孤雌发育的囊胚阶段有较大影响。     

高浓度葡萄糖对猪卵母细胞体外成熟和早期胚胎发育的影响

试验旨在探究高浓度葡萄糖对猪卵母细胞体外成熟及早期胚胎发育能力的影响。取体外分离处于生发泡期的猪卵丘卵母细胞复合体(COCs),分为3个处理组。分别用含葡萄糖浓度为5.6 mmol/L(C组)、10 mmol/L(G-1组)、15 mmol/L(G-2组)的培养液,进行体外成熟(IVM)处理,42 h后观察,并统计卵丘细胞扩散情况和第一极体排出率;对体外成熟42 h后的卵母细胞孤雌激活,统计2-细胞、4-细胞和第7天囊胚发育。结果发现,G-1组和G-2组卵丘细胞扩散度显著低于C组(P<0.05);G-1组和G-2组的MII期卵母细胞死亡率和存活率与C组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),但G-1组极体率显著降低(P<0.05),G-2组极体率极显著低于C组(P<0.01)。孤雌激活后,与C组相比,G-1组和G-2组的2-细胞分裂率显著降低(P<0.05),4-细胞分裂率以及囊胚发育率均极显著降低(P<0.01),但G-1、G-2组囊胚细胞数量与C组相比无显著性差异(P>0.05)。进一步线粒体染色发现,G-1组和G-2组的线粒体与C组相比分布不均。...     

不同品种牛卵泡液对水牛卵母细胞体外受精效果的影响

试验利用水牛卵泡液(BuFF)和黄牛卵泡液(BoFF)对不同来源水牛卵母细胞体外受精效果的影响进行了探讨,以完善水牛体外受精培养系统,进一步提高水牛胚胎体外生产效率。试验按成熟培养液中添加卵泡液替代胎牛血清量共分4个组。不添加卵泡液(0%+10%胎牛血清)为Ⅰ组(对照组);添加5%卵泡液+5%胎牛血清为Ⅱ组;添加10%卵泡液+0%胎牛血清为Ⅲ组;添加15%卵泡液+0%胎牛血清为Ⅳ组。结果表明,添加BuFF对活体采集卵母细胞和屠宰场收集卵母细胞的体外受精卵分裂率无显著影响(P0.05),但添加5%和10%BuFF对卵母细胞体外受精后的胚胎发育有明显促进作用,囊胚率均极显著高于对照组和15%BuFF组(P0.01),5%和10%BuFF组间无显著差异(P0.05);添加15%BuFF囊胚率有降低的趋势,但与对照组相比差异不显著(P0.05)。而添加10%BoFF组活体采集卵母细胞体外受精的受精卵分裂率和囊胚率均极显著高于对照组和5%BoFF组(P0.01),添加5%BoFF组的受精卵分裂率和囊胚率与对照组无显著差异(P0.05);添加BoFF对屠宰场收集水牛卵母细胞体外受精卵分裂率无显著差异(P0.05),但添加5%和10%BoFF组的囊胚率均显著高于对照组和15%组(P0.05),添加15%BoFF组与对照组相比,囊胚率显著降低(P0.05),5%和10%BoFF组间囊胚率无显著差异(P0.05)。综合以上结果,在水牛卵母细胞成熟培养液中添加5%～10%的BuFF或BoFF代替牛血清,可明显提高水牛体外胚胎生产效率,且以添加同种的BuFF效果略好。     

Effects of polyethylene glycol and a synthetic ice blocker during vitrification of immature porcine oocytes on survival and subsequent embryo development

We evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Supercool X‐1000 (SC) as supplements during the vitrification of immature cumulus‐enclosed porcine oocytes in a solution based on 17.5% ethylene glycol + 17.5% propylene glycol. After warming, the oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. In Experiment 1, equilibration and vitrification solutions were supplemented with or without 2% (w/v) PEG (PEG+ and PEG‐, respectively). The survival rate, cleavage and blastocyst development were similar between PEG+ and PEG‐ groups; however, all values were lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. In Experiment 2, vitrification solution was supplemented with or without 1% (v/v) SC (SC+ and SC‐, respectively). The percentages of survival and blastocyst development were similar between SC+ and SC‐ groups but lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. The percentage of cleavage in the SC‐ group was significantly lower than the control and the SC+ groups, which were in turn similar to one another. In both experiments, the cell numbers in blastocysts were not significantly different among the non‐vitrified and vitrified groups. In conclusion, PEG did not improve oocyte survival and embryo development, whereas SC improved the ability of surviving oocytes to cleave but not to develop into blastocysts.     

Purification of cattle oviduct specific proteins and their effect on in vitro embryo development

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oviduct specific proteins as a media supplement for in vitro embryo development in cattle. The proteins were extracted from oviducts of cows and precipitated by ammonium sulfate (30%, 40%, 50% and 60%) followed by dialysis in 50 mM Tris–HCl (pH 7.0) buffer. The dialyzed proteins were fractionated into acidic, basic and neutral fractions using SP sephadex cation exchange and DEAE sephadex anion exchange column chromatography respectively. Cow oviduct specific proteins (cOSPs) constituting all the extracted proteins were used as media supplement in three different concentrations (10, 50 and 100 μg/ml) for in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture (IVMFC) of cow oocytes. Acidic, basic and neutral (unbound) fractions were also used as media supplement in three different concentrations (10, 30 and 50 μg/ml) for IVMFC. Cumulus oocytes complexes were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries, washed thoroughly and cultured in maturation media for 24 h in 5% CO₂ at 38.5 °C with maximum humidity. In vitro matured oocytes were co-incubated with in vitro capacitated sperm in Fert-BO media at 38.5 °C for 18 h in 5% CO₂. The fertilized oocytes were washed and cultured in embryo development media for cleavage. After 40–42 h cleavage was observed and embryos were put in the replacement media for further development. The cleavage rates (%) for cOSPs were observed as 68.24±2.46, 69.28±2.05, 61.77±0.93 and 42.62±1.31 at concentrations of 0, 10, 50 and 100 μg/ml respectively. Rates of blastocyst stage development were 14.49±3.61, 21.17±2.77, 14.66±1.06 and 11.98±1.84. These results indicate that addition of cOSP at10 μg/ml increased blastocyst formation as compared to other concentrations (0, 50 and 100 μg/ml). Although acidic, basic and neutral fractions seemed to have no major effect on cleavage rate, but both acidic and neutral fraction of oviduct specific proteins improved the cleavage rate at 30 μg/ml concentration and basic fraction improved the blastocyst formation at 10 μg/ml concentration.     

添加不同发情时期山羊血清对牛胚胎体外发育的影响

为了提高牛体外胚胎囊胚发育率,添加不同发情时期山羊血清对牛胚胎进行体外培养。分别采集发情周期D0、D2、D4和D7山羊血清（发情当天为D0）,灭活除菌备用。结果表明不同发情时期羊血清对孤紫激活胚胎孵裂率影响差异不显著,囊胚发育率分别为29.5%、32.4%、33.9%和41.3%,D7血清能显著提高囊胚发育率（P＜0.05）,且扩张和孵化胚出现较早。添加D0血清体外受精胚胎卵裂率较高,但对囊胚发育率影响差异不显著。说明孤紫激活和体外受精胚胎发育有差异,D7血清对胚胎后期发育有利。受精胚无血清培养3d后添加D7血清,囊胚发育率为42.9%,是较为理想的培养方法。     

表皮生长因子对水牛胚胎体外发育及凋亡的影响

为了探讨表皮生长因子(EGF)对水牛早期胚胎体外发育及凋亡的影响,通过收集屠宰场卵巢卵母细胞进行体外成熟和体外受精,将假定的受精卵置于含不同浓度EGF(0,25,50和100 ng/mL)的培养液中培养,检查分裂率和囊胚发育率,用细胞凋亡试剂盒(Annexin-V-FluosStaining kit)试剂染色,统计囊胚细胞凋亡率和坏死率。结果表明:50 ng/mL EGF组的孵化囊胚率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),该组细胞凋亡率和坏死率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。100 ng/mL EGF的卵裂率、囊胚率、D7囊胚率和孵化囊胚率显著低于对照组和其他试验组(P<0.05)。细胞凋亡率和坏死率显著高于其他各组(P<0.05)。提示:一定浓度的EGF可提高囊胚孵化率,并可抑制胚胎细胞的凋亡。     

体外受精不同时间等因素对体外受精效果的影响

本试验对牛体外受精不同时间、不同的培养液成分和培养方法等对奶牛体外受精后的卵裂率、囊胚发育率的影响进行了研究。试验包括:(1)牛体外受精不同时间(8h、20h)对奶牛体外受精后的卵裂率、囊胚发育率的影响;(2)不同的培养液成分对奶牛体外受精早期胚胎发育的影响。研究结果表明:(1)牛体外受精时间20h对奶牛体外受精后的卵裂率(78%)好于体外受精8h组(76%),但囊胚发育率前者不如后者好(20.51%VS23.68%),两者间差异不显著(P0.05)。(2)作为早期胚胎的培养液IVD101、TCM199培养系的卵裂率分别为76%、74%,而囊胚率却分别为22.37%、22.97%,TCM199培养系好于IVD-101,但两者间差异不显著(P0.05)。     

Comparison of Synthetic Oviductal Fluid and G1/G2 Medium under Low‐1 Oxygen Atmosphere on Embryo Production and Pregnancy Rates in Nelore (Bos indicus) Cattle

In this work, we evaluated whether embryo development and pregnancy rates would be affected by culturing bovine Bos indicus embryos in Synthetic Oviductal Fluid with amino acids (SOFaa) or G1/G2 sequential medium under a low‐oxygen atmosphere. Using Ovum Pick Up, we obtained 1,538 oocytes, divided into G1/G2 (n = 783) and SOFaa (n = 755). No difference was observed for blastocyst development among the groups (27.8% ± 14.6 and 34.9% ± 20.0 for G1/G2 and SOFaa respectively, p > 0.05). Transferring the embryos (n = 450) from both groups to recipients resulted in similar pregnancy rates for the G1/G2 (38.4% n = 78/203) compared to the SOFaa (39.7% n = 98/247). Our findings confirm that Bos indicus embryos cultured in SOFaa and G1/G2 under low‐oxygen atmosphere have similar in vitro (blastocyst rate) and in vivo (pregnancy rate) developmental capacity. However, embryos cultured in G1/G2 medium have higher cleavage than those cultured in SOFaa medium.     

水牛分离精子与不同来源卵母细胞体外受精的效果研究

本研究的目的是探讨水牛分离精子与不同来源(活体采卵或屠宰场卵巢采卵)卵母细胞体外受精的效果。活体采卵是选用20头空怀河流型母水牛(其中摩拉母牛12头,尼里-拉菲母水牛8头)每间隔3 d采卵1次,连续采卵5~6周,活体采集卵母细胞;屠宰场卵巢采卵是收集屠宰场水牛卵巢,用10 mL注射器连接18 G针头吸取水牛卵巢上可视的卵泡来收集卵母细胞。将收集的AB级水牛卵母细胞在相同的条件下进行体外成熟、然后用分离或未分离精子进行体外受精以及体外培养至囊胚。结果发现:活体采卵组和屠宰场收集的水牛卵母细胞组用分离精子受精分裂率和囊胚率没有差异(P>0.05);分离精子和未分离精子的体外受精分裂率和囊胚率也没有差异(P>0.05)。由此说明,水牛分离精子可以用于体外生产性控胚胎。     

甲基-β-环化糊精对猪体外受精及早期胚胎发育的影响

为了优化猪体外受精技术体系,本试验探索了甲基-β-环化糊精(methyl-beta-cyclic dextrin,MBCD)对猪体外受精以及早期胚胎发育的影响。在体外受精0和4 h向受精液(modified Tris-buffered medium,mTBM)中添加不同浓度(0,0.5,1,2,5,10,15,20μmol/mL)的MBCD,受精孵育结束后转至PZM-3培养液中进行胚胎培养。对各处理组卵母细胞的受精情况以及胚胎发育能力进行了系统的检测,并用金霉素(chlortetracycline,CTC)染色法评估了MBCD处理后精子获能状态。结果显示:1)体外受精0 h添加5μmol/mL MBCD组的卵裂率、囊胚率、囊胚细胞数显著高于(P<0.05)对照组和除10μmol/mL MBCD组之外的其他试验组。2)体外受精0 h添加5和10μmol/mL MBCD组、单精入卵率显著高于(P<0.05)对照组和其他试验组,而多精入卵率显著低于(P<0.05)对照组和其他试验组。3)添加5μmol/mL MBCD组,0～1 h,F型精子迅速减少(78.56～19.43),B型精子迅速增加(10.79～69.86);1～4 h,F型精子和B型精子基本保持不变(B型:69.86～78.78,F型:19.43～9.11)。上述结果表明在体外受精0 h向mTBM中加入5μmol/mL MBCD可以显著提高获能精子比例,减少多精受精发生,提高早期胚胎发育潜能。     

牛、羊卵母细胞孤雌激活的研究

本试验主要比较了离子霉素、电脉冲两种方法激活牛、羊体外成熟卵母细胞的效率。两种激活方法中。牛胚胎卵裂率无显著差异（90．61％对94．40％，P〉0．05），而离子霉素激活胚胎的囊胚发育率极显著高于电激活方法（12．3％对2．4％，P〈0．01）。两种方法对羊胚胎的研究中，羊胚胎卵裂率无显著差异（72．4％对77．4％，P〉0．05）。但是离子霉素激活胚胎的囊胚发育率显著高于电激活方法（3．67％对10．40％，P〈0．05）。本试验中还比较了用化学激活法（离子霉素）激活牛体外成熟卵母细胞后，用SOFaa体系培养，换液与不换液对孤雌激活胚胎体外发育的影响。结果表明：在第4天不换液的胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率极显著高于换液的胚胎（11．64％对3．49％。P〈0．01）。     

Progestagen supplementation during early pregnancy does not improve embryo survival in pigs

Progesterone supplementation during early pregnancy may increase embryo survival in pigs. The current study evaluated whether oral supplementation with an analogue of progesterone, altrenogest (ALT), affects embryo survival. A first experiment evaluated the effect of a daily 20-mg dosage of ALT during days 1-4 or 2-4 after onset of oestrus on embryo survival at day 42 of pregnancy. A control group (CTR1) was not treated. The time of ovulation was estimated by transrectal ultrasound at 12-h intervals. Altrenogest treatment significantly reduced pregnancy rate when start of treatment was before or at ovulation: 25% (5/20) compared to later start of treatment [85% (28/33)] and non-treated CTR1 [100% (23/23)]. Altrenogest treatment also reduced (p < 0.05) number of foetuses, from 14.6 ± 2.6 in CTR1 to 12.5 ± 2.5 when ALT started 1-1.5 days from ovulation and 10.7 ± 2.9 when ALT started 0-0.5 days from ovulation. In a second experiment, sows with a weaning-to-oestrous interval (WOI) of 6, 7 or 8-14 days were given ALT [either 20 mg (ALT20; n = 49) or 10 mg (ALT10; n = 48)] at day 4 and day 6 after onset of oestrus or were not treated (CTR2; n = 49), and farrowing rate and litter size were evaluated. Weaning-to-oestrous interval did not affect farrowing rate or litter size. ALT did not affect farrowing rate (86% vs 90% in CTR2), but ALT20 tended to have a lower litter size compared with CTR2 (11.7 ± 4.1 vs 13.3 ± 3.1; p = 0.07) and ALT10 was intermediate (12.3 ± 2.9). In conclusion, altrenogest supplementation too soon after ovulation reduces fertilization rate and embryo survival rate and altrenogest supplementation at 4-6 days of pregnancy reduces litter size. As a consequence, altrenogest supplementation during early pregnancy may reduce both farrowing rate and litter size and cannot be applied at this stage in practice as a remedy against low litter size.     

昆明小鼠早期胚胎体外发育阻滞原因分析

为了分析小鼠早期胚胎在体外发育阻滞的原因 ,建立早期胚胎体外培养系统 ,应用几种不同的培养系统对昆明小鼠单细胞胚胎在体外培养了 96～ 12 0 h。结果表明 ,小鼠单细胞胚胎在 M1 6 和 BWW培养液中卵裂均受到阻滞 ,且两者之间差异不显著 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;CZB和 HTF培养液能有效地克服小鼠胚胎的 2 -细胞发育阻滞 ,与 M1 6 和 BWW相比 ,2 -细胞卵裂率和囊胚率均存在显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1) ;在 M1 6 培养液中添加牛磺酸对早期胚胎发育有促进作用 (P<0 .0 1) ;小鼠早期胚胎在 CZB和牛输卵管上皮细胞 (COEC)共培养体系中的卵裂率较对照组明显提高 (P<0 .0 5 )     

Influence of foetal calf serum supplementation during in vitro embryo culture in Iberian red deer

Nowadays, the use of foetal calf serum (FCS) during in vitro embryo culture is very controversial. Whilst some authors have encouraged its use, others reject it because of its harmful effects. Although in vitro embryo production in red deer is a promising assisted reproductive technique, it is still in its infancy and a great effort is needed to update the protocols used. The aim of this study was to assess whether FCS supplementation in red deer embryo culture medium is necessary to produce blastocyst and, if so, when is the best time to add it in terms of blastocyst production and quality. In vitro blastocysts were cultured with FCS added at 24, 48 or 96 hours post‐insemination (hpi). In addition, a treatment without FCS was used as control. Six hundred and ninety‐four cumulus–oocyte complexes were collected for in vitro fertilization. Cleavage rate was examined at 48 hpi, and blastocyst yield was recorded on days 6, 7 and 8. FCS had no influence on cleavage and blastocyst rate for any of the treatments studied. However, the number of cells was higher (p = .025) in those blastocysts cultured with FCS from 48 hpi compared with FCS‐free culture media (93.88 ± 7.76 vs. 54.11 ± 8.36). In conclusion, the addition of FCS to the embryo culture medium at 48 hpi improves the quality of red deer blastocyst, although it does not affect the percentage of embryos obtained.