Transfer of Bovine Blastocysts Derived from Short-term In Vitro Culture of Low Quality Morulae Produced In Vivo

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 of different stages and qualities were recovered from superovulated Bos taurus and B. indicus donors. Grade 3 morulae were cultured in either Holding Plus® or TCM‐199 (supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum) media for 24 h at 38.5°C. After this culture period, the resulting blastocysts were morphologically classified (Grades 1, 2 and 3) and transferred into recipients previously synchronized with the donors. Non‐cultured Grades 1 and 3 morulae were used as control. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 60 days after embryo transfer and the data were analysed by logistic regression, considering variables, such as embryo quality (Grade), donor breed, culture medium, donor‐recipient synchrony and seasonality. Embryo quality was the only variable, showing significant effect on the pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rates for non‐cultured Grade 1 and 3 morulae, and blastocysts arising from cultured Grade 3 morulae were 58.1% (n = 31), 17.1% (n = 35) and 51.1% (n = 47), respectively (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences between non‐cultured Grade 1 morulae and cultured blastocysts. Pregnancy rates for Grades 1 (65.0%) and 2 (60.0%) were higher than Grade 3 (29.4%) cultured blastocysts (p < 0.05). It was concluded that short‐term in vitro culture is a very convenient method of identifying morphologically low quality morulae with higher chances of continuing development after the transfer into recipients.     

新鲜、玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化模式初探

旨在初步分析新鲜及玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化模式。本研究采用单细胞全基因组甲基化测序技术(scWGMS)检测新鲜、玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚全基因组甲基化水平和差异甲基化区域(DMR),探讨两者之间DNA甲基化水平上的差异。结果表明,新鲜卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的整体甲基化水平显著高于玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的整体甲基化水平(P<0.05)。采用基因本体分析(GO)和相关信号通路(KEGG)对143个DMRs分析,发现生物学过程主要显著富集在新陈代谢、生长发育、细胞定位、细胞刺激反应等,通路主要富集在生长发育、核酸结合及组蛋白乙酰化上,并筛选出几个与之相关的候选基因(FARP2、PI4KA、FAM3D、NCOR2、ZNF827等)。本研究初步发现,玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞体外受精囊胚的全基因组甲基化水平显著降低,且DMR区域主要集中在ATP结合、生长发育及组蛋白乙酰化,为提高玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞体外受精囊胚质量提供信息参考。     

采用dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A技术调控玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞IVF囊胚中IGF2R基因甲基化水平

旨在探究dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统对玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞IVF囊胚中IGF2R基因甲基化水平及胚胎发育能力的影响,为冷冻卵母细胞/胚胎特定位点DNA甲基化的精确调控奠定基础。本研究将经过体外成熟的牛卵母细胞进行玻璃化冷冻,随后进行体外受精,将受精所得到的原核胚进行dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统的注射,统计并计算卵母细胞的发育情况;通过亚硫酸盐测序的方式检测IGF2R基因启动子的甲基化水平,并利用荧光定量PCR检测IGF2R及相关基因的表达水平。与冷冻组相比,注射不同浓度的dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A编辑系统后,只有40 ng·μL^-1组显著地提高了玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞IVF后的发育能力(P＜0.05),20和60 ng·μL^-1组间差异不显著(P＞0.05),但40 ng·μL^-1组发育效果仍然显著低于新鲜对照组(P＜0.05);对检测冷冻组、新鲜组、40 ng·μL^-1组IGF2R基因启动子甲基化水平分析发现,40 ng·μL^-1组水平与新鲜组相似,显著高于冷冻组(P＜0.05);荧光定量试验结果显示,40 ng·μL^-1组IGF2R基因mRNA表达水平相较于冷冻组显著降低(P＜0.05),与新鲜组相似。注射40 ng·μL^-1的dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A甲基化编辑系统能够通过有效升高IGF2R基因启动子甲基化水平(P＜0.05)及显著降低其mRNA表达水平(P＜0.05),来正向调节玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞IVF胚胎的发育情况,提高胚胎发育能力,使得其卵裂率和囊胚率都得到显著提高(P＜0.05),同时促进胚胎发育相关基因的表达。     

绵羊玻璃化冷冻胚胎直接移植试验研究

应用EFS40玻璃化液对6.5～7日龄的绵羊胚胎进行玻璃化冷冻及解冻后直接移植试验.结果:桑椹胚、囊胚冷冻解冻后移植的妊娠率分别为37.50%(3/8)和54.55%(6/11),胚胎存活率分别为33.33%(3/9)和50.00%(6/12),差异均不显著(P＞0.05);胚胎解冻后用0.5 mol/L蔗糖脱防冻剂与直接用胚胎存放液脱除防冻剂的妊娠率分别为44.44%(4/9)和50.00%(5/10),胚胎存活率分别为40.00%(4/10)、45.45%(5/11)差异不显著(P＞0.05);10枚解冻后的胚胎细管内脱防冻剂后,直接装管移植给8只受体,妊娠率为50.00%(4/8),胚胎成活率为40.00%(4/10),与同期常规冷冻解冻组相比无显著差异(P＞0.05).     

Comparative IFN-τ Secretion after Hatching by Bovine Blastocysts Derived Ex Vivo and Completely Produced In Vitro

The interferon-tau (IFN-tau) secretion levels after hatching by bovine blastocysts derived from in vitro maturated oocytes (Group A) and from in vivo (Group B) were investigated considering embryo quality. Only very homogeneous blastocysts of excellent or good quality were considered from day 7 of culture (Group A) and day 7 after artificial insemination with frozen-thawed from the same bull used for in vitro fertilization (Group B). All embryos were individually cultured into a 50 microl droplet of synthetic oviduct fluid medium with 10% fetal calf serum. After 24-h culture both Group A (n=44) and B (n=40) secreted <54 pm IFN-tau. After 48-, 72-, 96- and 120-h culture, Group A daily secreted 143 +/- 24 pm IFN-tau (n=19) vs 85 +/- 12 pm IFN-tau (n=21) for Group B (p < 0.01), 491 +/- 128 pm IFN-tau (n=29) vs 216 +/- 37 pm IFN-tau (n=23) (NS), 499 +/- 135 pm IFN-tau (n=26) vs 353 +/- 93 pm IFN-tau (n=21) (NS), 559 +/- 136 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 333 +/- 75 pm IFN-tau (n=20) (NS), respectively. Taken all together during 5 days, Group A produced per embryo 1690 +/- 290 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 982 +/- 182 pm IFN-tau (n=20) for Group B (p < 0.05). For all culture time there were sizable percentages of embryos that did not produce concentrations of IFN-tau above a certain cut-off level, and as such were not used to compute the means. In respect of the embryo quality whatever the groups after days 7-12 of culture, IFN-tau secretions were 1815 +/- 453 pm (n=10) for the embryos of excellent quality vs 1356 +/- 200 pm (n=28) for those of good quality (NS) and 360 +/- 188 pm (n=4) (p < 0.05) for embryos of fair quality. A positive relationship between IFN-tau production and in vitro development of quality I embryos was observed, whatever the embryos origins and, the embryos completely produced in vitro secreted more IFN-tau than the embryos produced in vivo.     

海藻糖对牛未成熟卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻的影响

【目的】研究胞外冷冻保护剂海藻糖对玻璃化冷冻-解冻后牛未成熟卵母细胞形态、活性线粒体分布和核成熟的影响。【方法】将未成熟卵母细胞随机分为新鲜组、不同浓度海藻糖(0.25、0.5和1 mol/L)组和0.5 mol/L蔗糖组共5组。新鲜组作为玻璃化冷冻的对照组,海藻糖和蔗糖组均采用两步法进行玻璃化冷冻和解冻处理。在冷冻的第1步不添加海藻糖和蔗糖,在冷冻的第2步和解冻的第1步分别添加对应浓度的海藻糖和蔗糖,在解冻的第2步海藻糖和蔗糖浓度均减半。解冻后,统计卵母细胞形态正常率;用JC-1染色检测卵母细胞的活性线粒体分布区域和荧光强度;体外成熟培养24 h后,统计卵母细胞的核成熟率。【结果】玻璃化冷冻组卵母细胞的形态正常率和核成熟率均显著低于新鲜组卵母细胞(P<0.05),0.5 mol/L海藻糖组卵母细胞形态正常率和核成熟率均显著高于0.5 mol/L蔗糖组及0.25和1 mol/L海藻糖组(P<0.05);0.5 mol/L海藻糖组卵母细胞的活性线粒体均匀分布在细胞膜内侧区域,在绿光和蓝光下分别呈现强的红色荧光和黄绿色荧光,且荧光强度高于其他玻璃化冷冻组卵母细胞,但仍低于新鲜组...     

牛体外受精胚的玻璃化保存及细胞遗传学研究

用25％的乙二醇和0.2mol/L蔗糖与25％忆二醇混合的玻璃化溶液对牛体外受精的早期囊胚用1步法冷漠保存，融解后，在D－PBS液（含有0.5mol蔗糖）中15min除去冷冻保护剂，培养48和96h。结果表明：用含有0.2mol的蔗糖和25％的乙二混合的玻璃化溶液保存的早期囊胚的生态力明显高于不含蔗糖的玻璃化溶液（P＜0.001）。染色体分析结果表明：含有蔗糖的玻璃化溶液保存的囊胚的卵裂细胞数明显高于单独使用25％乙醇保存的囊胚（P＜0.05）。染色体异常发生率无明显变化。     

Interaction of a Green Recombinant Bovine Herpesvirus 4 with In Vitro-produced Bovine Embryos

The objective of the present study was to assess whether bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) is able to infect in vitro-produced bovine embryos. A green recombinant BHV-4 (BHV-4EGFPTK), obtained by insertion of an EGFP gene into the TK locus of BHV-4, was used. The presence of this marker protein made it possible easily to detect infected cells under physiological conditions, without harmful manipulation of the cells or the addition of exogenous substrates, so that the spread of the virus could be followed in real time. Zona pellucida intact (ZP-I) and zona pellucida open (ZP-O) blastocytes were exposed to 10⁶ TCID₅₀ viral particles and infection was monitored by fluorescent microscopy for 48 h. Expression of EGFP and degeneration of embryonic cells was observed in three of the 18 ZP-O embryos, but in none of the ZP-I embryos. It was concluded from this preliminary study that BHV-4 has only a low ability to infect in vitro-produced bovine embryos, depending on the absence of ZP, the amount of virus present and the stage of embryonic development. However, embryonic stem cells could be transduced by BHV-4EGFPTK just after differentiation, as shown by expression of EGFP.     

2-氨基乙基联苯基硼酸酯对玻璃化冷冻牛成熟卵母细胞发育能力的影响

【目的】研究内质网IP3受体(IP3R)抑制剂2-氨基乙基联苯基硼酸酯(2-APB)对玻璃化冷冻-解冻牛MⅡ期卵母细胞发育能力的影响。【方法】将体外成熟24 h的卵丘-卵母细胞复合体(COCs)用0.1%透明质酸酶消化去除卵丘颗粒细胞,获得的卵母细胞分为对照组和2-APB组,采用OPS法进行玻璃化冷冻,对照组直接进行玻璃化冷冻,2-APB组在玻璃化冷冻前先用10μmol/L 2-APB预处理10 min。2 d后解冻卵母细胞,统计解冻后(0 h)及恢复培养2 h时卵母细胞的存活率,用FITC-PNA荧光探针检测恢复培养2 h时卵母细胞皮质颗粒(CG)的分布,用2′,7′-DCHFDA和Cell Tracker Blue CMF2HC分别检测胞内活性氧(ROS)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量。将成熟培养24 h未冷冻卵母细胞(Fresh组),与解冻后恢复2 h的对照组和2-APB组卵母细胞同时进行孤雌激活,于培养的第2、7天分别统计孤雌胚胎的卵裂率和囊胚率。【结果】与对照组相比,2-APB组冷冻-解冻卵母细胞0和2 h的存活率均显著增加(P<0.05);2-APB组皮质颗粒皮质区分布比例...     

钌红对玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞线粒体Ca2+的调控研究

玻璃化冷冻会严重损伤哺乳动物卵母细胞的线粒体功能,进而极大地限制了其解冻后的发育能力。为此,本试验设置3个钌红（RR）处理组,即牛卵母细胞用含0.5、1、2 μmol／L RR的玻璃化冷冻液进行冷冻,解冻后放入含0.5、1、2 μmol／L RR的体外成熟液中继续培养0.5 h,同时,新鲜卵母细胞一部分不进行冷冻,一部分用不含RR的冷冻液进行玻璃化冷冻,分别作为新鲜对照组和玻璃化冷冻对照组,然后共检测5组牛卵母细胞线粒体Ca²⁺水平、ATP含量及孤雌激活后胚胎的发育能力,进而研究RR对玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞线粒体Ca²⁺水平的调控作用。结果显示：①玻璃化冷冻显著提高了牛卵母细胞中线粒体Ca²⁺水平（P＜0.05）,而2 μmol／L RR处理组线粒体Ca²⁺水平显著低于冷冻对照组（P＜0.05）,但与新鲜组相比无显著差异（P＞0.05）;②玻璃化冷冻显著降低了牛卵母细胞中ATP含量（P＜0.05）,2 μmol／L RR处理组卵母细胞中ATP含量显著高于冷冻对照组及0.5、1 μmol/L RR处理组（P＜0.05）;③玻璃化冷冻对照组卵裂率、囊胚率显著低于新鲜对照组（P＜0.05）,1 μmol／L处理组卵裂率、囊胚率与新鲜对照组相比无显著差异（P＞0.05）。综上所述,RR处理能显著抑制解冻后牛卵母细胞线粒体Ca²⁺流入,保护线粒体功能,提高其发育能力。本试验结果为正向调控玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞线粒体Ca²⁺水平,进而提高其发育能力,促进玻璃化冷冻卵母细胞的广泛应用提供了参考依据。     

玻璃化冷冻牛卵母细胞单精子注射后体外发育能力的研究

实验研究了不同成熟培养时间的牛卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻及胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)后的受精效果。结果表明:成熟后的新鲜牛卵母细胞按照ICSI注射方法穿刺而不注射精子组与未经穿刺的对照组相比,孤雌激活后的卵裂率、囊胚发育率及囊胚细胞数无显著差异(P>0.05);成熟培养16h(MⅠ)和23h(MⅡ)卵母细胞冷冻解冻后形态正常率均显著低于新鲜对照组(76.66%、87.33%vs100.0%)(P<0.05),冷冻解冻后二者分别成熟培养至24h,ICSI后胚胎的囊胚发育率(5.29%、14.41%)显著低于新鲜对照组(24.40%)(P<0.05);成熟培养23h与成熟培养16h的卵母细胞冷冻解冻后形态正常率及ICSI后囊胚发育率(14.41%vs5.29%)均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。实验证明,ICSI操作不会影响卵母细胞发育潜力;玻璃化冷冻影响卵母细胞解冻后形态正常率以及ICSI后胚胎的发育能力;成熟培养23h比16h的卵母细胞冷冻保存后经ICSI的胚胎发育潜力高。     

Heterospecific Nuclear-transferred Embryos Derived from Equine Fibroblast Cells and Enucleated Bovine Oocytes

This study was conducted to reconstruct heterogeneous embryos using equine skin fibroblast cells as donor karyoplasts and the bovine oocytes as recipient cytoplast for investigating the reprogramming of equine somatic cell nuclear in bovine oocyte cytoplasm and the developmental potential of the reconstructed embryos. Adult horse skin fibroblast cells serum-starved were used as donor somatic cells. Bovine oocytes matured in vitro were employed as recipient cytoplasts. The fusion of fibroblast cells into recipient cytoplasm was induced by electofusion. The fused eggs were activated by inomycin with 2 mm/ml 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP). The activated reconstructed embryos were co-cultured with bovine cumulus cells in synthetic oviduct fluid supplemented with amino acid (SOFaa) and 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) for 168 h. The results showed that the first completed cleavage of xenonuclear transfer equine embryos occurred between 30 and 48 h following activation. 52% of the injected oocytes were successfully fused, 72% of the fused eggs underwent the first egg cleavage and 17% of the heterospecific nuclear-transferred zygotes developed to 4- or 8-cell embryo stages. This study demonstrated that the reconstructed embryos have undergone the first embryonic division and the reprogramming of equine fibroblast nuclei can be initiated in bovine-enucleated oocytes.     

Vitrification of In Vitro-produced Bovine Embryos by Addition of Ethylene Glycol in One-step

The objective of this study was to simplify two-step addition of cryoprotectant for vitrification of bovine embryos by developing a one-step procedure. Survival was calculated as a percentage of non-vitrified controls developed from the same batch of oocytes. In experiment 1, bovine blastocysts were vitrified following one- or two-step addition of cryoprotectant. Exposure of embryos to cryoprotectant in one-step resulted in survival rates not significantly lower (p > 0.1) than those obtained by two-step addition (85% vs 98%, respectively). Based on these results, experiments 2-4 were designed to test one-step addition of cryoprotectant more rigorously. Experiment 2 exposed day 7 blastocysts to 6, 7 or 8 M ethylene glycol for 2.5 or 3.5 min. At 24 h post-vitrification, survival of embryos was similar, irrespective of ethylene glycol concentration or exposure time (6 M 38%, 7 M 51%, 8 M 59%; 2.5 min 54%, 3.5 min 45%). In experiment 3, blastocysts were exposed to 7 M ethylene glycol for shorter times (30 or 60 s); 30 s exposure resulted in decreased survival (8% vs 31%, p < 0.05). Experiment 4 concerned one-step addition of cryoprotectant to day 6 bovine morulae, exposed to 7 M ethylene glycol for 1 or 1.5 min. There was no difference in survival between exposure times of 1 or 1.5 min (28% vs 45%, respectively; p > 0.1). It is unclear why many embryos survive vitrification with one-step addition of cryoprotectant, but others do not. Although, one-step addition of cryoprotectant simplifies the vitrification procedure, survival rates were inadequate for routine cryopreservation of in vitro-produced bovine embryos.     

Viability of OPS Vitrified Sheep Embryos After Direct Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability in the effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification procedure of sheep embryos after direct transference. Embryos were produced in vivo and cryopreserved in slow freezing or OPS vitrification. The survival rates of cryopreserved embryos were compared to non-frozen standard pattern. In a first set of experiments, embryos at morula and blastocyst stages were dived in ethylene glycol (1.5 M) and frozen in an automatic freezer. After being thawed, they were directly or indirectly transferred to ewes recipient. A second group of embryos were drawn into OPS and plunged into liquid nitrogen after being exposed at room temperature for 1 min and 45 s in 10% EG plus 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), then again for 30 s in 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose. After being warmed, embryos were also directly transferred using a French mini straw as the catheter for the transplantation process or after in vitro dilution of cryoprotectants (two-step-process). No significant difference was observed among fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos on pregnancy rate (50.0%, 38.6% and 55.8%). However, when we evaluated only the direct transference, the pregnancy rate of OPS vitrified embryos was higher than that of frozen embryos (57.1% vs 34.8%) (p = 0.07). In addition, vitrified morulae had a higher pregnancy rate than the one with frozen embryos (64.0% vs 38.9%) (p = 0.07). Finally, our results indicate that OPS vitrification technique in association with direct transference improves the viability of sheep embryos with potential applications to field conditions.     

Calves Resulting from in vitro Fertilization of Oocytes

Contents: The present study was undertaken to examine if bovine oocytes matured either in vivo (Experiment I) or in vitro (Experiment II) and fertilized by frozen-thawed spermatozoa in vitro could produce normal calves. In experiment I two one-cell ova were transferred to the oviducts (2 × 2) of a synchronized, final recipient which ultimately became pregnant and delivered a normal bull calf after 275 days of gestation. In experiment II 54 one-cell ova were transferred to the oviduct of an intermediate recipient from which 15 blastocysts were recovered by non-surgical flushing of the uterus 6 days later. Subsequent transfer of 2 blastocysts to the final recipient by a non-surgical technique resulted in pregnancy and birth of a normal heifer calf after 281 days of gestation. The present study confirms that calves can be born from in vitro fertilization of in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes and demonstrates for the first time that calves can be born after non-surgical transfer of bovine oocytes both matured and fertilized in-vitro and incubated in cattle oviducts. Inhalt: Kälbergeburten nach In-vitro-Befruchtung von Oozyten In dieser Untersuchung wurde geprüft, ob Rinderooryten nach Reifung in vivo (Exp. 1) oder in vitro (Exp. 2) und anschlieβender In-vitro-Befruchtung sich zu normalen Käl-bern entwickeln können. Im ersten Experiment wurden zwei befruchtete, aber noch nicht geteilte Eier in den Eileiter eines synchronisierten Empfangertieres transferiert, und nach 2 75 Tagen wurde ein normales Bullenkalb geboren. Im zweiten Experiment wurden 54 in vitro gereifte und befruchtete, noch ungeteilte Eier in die Eileiter eines Zwischenempfängers übertragen und nach 6 Tagen durch unchirurgische Uterusspülung 15 Blastozysten wiedergewonnen. Ein nachfolgender unchirurgischer Transfer von 2 Blastozysten in ein Empfängertier führte zur Trächtigkeit und nach 281 Tagen zur Geburt eines normalen Kuhkalbes. Diese Ergebnisse beweisen, daβ durch In-vitro-Befruchtung von in vivo und auch in vitro gereiften Oozyten Kälbergeburten möglich sind.     

Ultrastructural Morphology and Nuclear Maturation Rates of Immature Equine Oocytes Vitrified with Different Solutions and Exposure Times

Ultrastructural morphological injuries and maturation rates were investigated in equine oocytes exposed to vitrification solutions (VS) containing synthetic ice blockers (SIBs) during different exposure times. In experiment 1, compact cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 30) were randomly allocated to treatments: (1) fresh fixed (control); (2) VS-1 (1.4 M dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO] + 1.8 M ethylene glycol [EG] + 1% SIB) for 3 minutes of equilibrium time and VS-2 (2.8 M DMSO + 3.6 M EG + 0.6 M sucrose + 1% SIB) for 1 minute (Eq-long); and (3) VS-1 for 1.5 minutes and VS-2 for 30 seconds (Eq-short). In experiment 2, compact (n = 248) and expanded (n = 264) COCs were evenly distributed to the following treatments: (1) immediate maturation in vitro (control); (2) vitrification using the Eq-short protocol as in experiment 1; and (3) vitrification using a stock solution containing 2.8 M formamide, 2.8 M DMSO, 2.7 M EG, 7% polyvinylpyrrolidone, and 1% SIB (Eq-short-mod). More (P < .02) oocytes with normal ultrastructural morphology were seen in fresh control and Eq-short groups than in Eq-long group. Metaphase-II (MII) rates were higher (P < .05) for oocytes with expanded cumulus than compact cumulus in the control group, and higher (P < .05) for oocytes with expanded cumulus than compact cumulus in Eq-short and Eq-short-mod groups. No difference in MII rates was detected among groups within each type of COC. In conclusion, reduction of exposure time to VS better preserved oocyte ultrastructural features, and MII rates were higher for vitrified oocytes with expanded cumulus. This study advances our knowledge on potential alternatives for vitrification of immature equine oocytes.     

Ghrelin Accelerates In Vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes

Ghrelin, apart from its metabolic role, is nowadays considered as a basic regulator of reproductive functions of mammals, acting at central and gonadal levels. Here, we investigated for possible direct actions of ghrelin on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and for its effects on blastocyst yield and quality. In experiment 1, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the presence of four different concentrations of ghrelin (0, 200, 800 and 2000 pg/ml). In vitro fertilization and embryo culture were carried out in the absence of ghrelin, and blastocyst formation rates were examined on days 7, 8 and 9. In experiment 2, only the 800 pg/ml dose of ghrelin was used. Four groups of COCs were matured for 18 or 24 h (C18, Ghr18, C24 and Ghr24), and subsequently, they were examined for oocyte nuclear maturation and cumulus layer expansion; blastocysts were produced as in experiment 1. The relative mRNA abundance of various genes related to metabolism, oxidation, developmental competence and apoptosis was examined in snap‐frozen cumulus cells, oocytes and day‐7 blastocysts. In experiment 1, ghrelin significantly suppressed blastocyst formation rates. In experiment 2, more ghrelin‐treated oocytes matured for 18 h reached MII compared with controls, while no difference was observed when maturation lasted for 24 h. At 18 and 24 h, the cumulus layer was more expanded in ghrelin‐treated COCs than in the controls. The blastocyst formation rate was higher in Ghr18 (27.7 ± 2.4%) compared with Ghr24 (17.5 ± 2.4%). Differences were detected in various genes’ expression, indicating that in the presence of ghrelin, incubation of COCs for 24 h caused over‐maturation (induced ageing) of oocytes, but formed blastocysts had a higher hatching rate compared with the controls. We infer that ghrelin exerts a specific and direct role on the oocyte, accelerating its maturational process.