In vitro development of equine oocytes from preserved ovaries after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

In this study, we evaluated the meiotic competence of equine oocytes from ovaries preserved for one day. We also investigated fertilization, cleavage rate, developmental competence and freezability of equine embryos after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After collection from ovaries, the oocytes were classified into two groups comprised of those having compact cumulus layers (Cp) or those having expanded cumulus layers (Ex). Oocytes with a first polar body were subjected to fertilization by ICSI using frozen-thawed stallion spermatozoa and were then cultured in CR1aa medium. The rates of metaphase II-stage oocytes, normal fertilization and cleavage were not significantly different between the two oocyte categories (38.5, 70.0 and 48.7% for CP and 43.5, 60.0 and 58.8% for Ex, respectively). However, the blastocyst development rate of Ex was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of Cp (25.5 vs. 7.7%). Three Cp-derived and 12 Ex-derived early blastocysts were cryopreserved using the slow cooling protocol, and all of them developed to hatching blastocysts after thawing. These results suggest that equine oocytes fertilized by ICSI can develop to the preimplantation stage in culture conditions similar to those used in the bovine. Furthermore, the Ex oocytes had higher developmental competence than the Cp oocytes, and the in vitro-produced blastocysts had high viability after freezing and thawing.     

Electrical activation enhances pre-implantation embryo development following sperm injection into in vitro matured pig oocytes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation (EST) on pronuclear formation, chromosomal constitution, and developmental capability among in vitro matured pig oocytes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After ICSI, the oocytes were randomly distributed and cultured into 3 groups: the EST activated ICSI group, non-activation ICSI group, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) group. The proportion of oocytes in which 2 pronuclei were formed in ICSI groups was significantly higher in the former groups than in the IVF group (96.2 and 93.5 vs. 64.5%, respectively, P<0.05). The cleavage rate was significantly higher in EST activated ICSI group (78.6%) than in the IVF and non-activated ICSI groups (51.8 and 46.0%, respectively, P<0.05), as was the proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage at day 7 (18.9 vs. 11.6 and 9.1%, respectively, P<0.05). Diploid blastocysts were observed in 52.4, 63.0, and 65.2% of oocytes in the IVF, activated, and non-activated ICSI groups, respectively. Eight out of 23 gilts (34.8%) were confirmed to be pregnant in activated ICSI groups, but none of these pregnancies were carried to term. These results show that oocyte activation after ICSI is effective in elevating the cleavage rate and blastocyst development, while ensuring normal chromosome composition. Further research is needed to determine the pregnancy maintenance requirements for ICSI-embryos in pigs.     

不同激活条件及半胱氨酸处理对猪ICSI胚胎发育影响研究

本试验探讨了不同辅助激活方法(Calciumionophore A23187激活、Calciumionophore A23187+6-DMAP联合激活和电激活)、不同精子预处理方法(液氮冻融处理和0.1%Triton X-100处理)和在添加半胱氨酸的胚胎培养液中培养不同时间(0 h、4 h、12 h和168 h)对猪卵母细胞内单精子注射(ICSI)胚胎体外发育的影响。结果显示:与无辅助激活相比,A23187+6-DMAP联合激活和电激活均能显著提高ICSI卵母细胞的激活率、卵裂率和囊胚率(P0.05),A23187+6-DMAP联合激活能显著提高ICSI卵母细胞的受精率(P0.05)。液氮冻融精子组ICSI卵母细胞的雄原核形成率显著高于活精子组(P0.05)。在添加半胱氨酸的胚胎培养液中培养4 h的ICSI卵母细胞受精率、雄原核形成率和囊胚率显著高于0 h组(P0.05)。以上结果表明,猪卵母细胞在ICSI后需要辅助激活来启动胚胎顺利发育,A23187+6-DMAP激活效果较好。液氮冻融精子可以促进ICSI后雄原核的形成。半胱氨酸处理4 h对猪ICSI卵母细胞受精和发育均有促进作用。     

In vitro fertilization and development of in vitro matured bovine follicular oocytes

Bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized in vitro using epididymal spermatozoa from five different bulls and then cultured to the blastocyst stage in vitro. The fertilization rate, based on one pair of pronuclei and presence of one sperm tail, ranged from 55.2 to 64.3%. Embryo development (cleavage to blastocyst stage) ranged from 21.4 to 31.0% of the cultured ova reaching 8 cells at 3 to 4 d after insemination to 1.3 to 3.7% reaching hatched blastocysts at 9 to 10 d. It is concluded that individual variation among bulls is not a significant factor in fertilization and development rates of bovine follicular oocytes when epididymal spermatozoa are used.     

山羊卵泡颗粒细胞和输卵管上皮细胞共培养对山羊体外受精胚胎发育的影响

试验共分 3组 :对照组为单独培养液 ;第 2组为单层颗粒细胞 ;第 3组为输卵管上皮细胞 ,将山羊体外受精胚胎随机放入以上 3组处理中。结果显示山羊体外受精胚胎在卵泡颗粒细胞中发育到囊胚的比率为 4 1.0 % ,在输卵管上皮细胞中发育到囊胚的比率为 5 8.1% ,而在M199培养液中为 5 .6 %。山羊体外受精胚胎分别与山羊卵泡颗粒细胞和输卵管上皮细胞共同培养时 ,均可提高山羊体外受精胚胎的发育进程。且输卵管上皮细胞比颗粒细胞能显著提高山羊体外受精胚胎的发育进程 (P <0 .0 5 )。     

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.     

Development of vitrified matured cattle oocytes after thawing and culture in vitro

Bovine oocytes were partly denuded either at the beginning (t0) or six hours (t6) after the beginning of maturation and vitrified by the open pulled straw method at the end of the maturation process. After warming and fertilisation, their development in vitro and in vivo was assessed. The rates of production of blastocysts achieved in vitro were 3.4 per cent for the t0 group and 0.9 per cent for the t6 group compared with 40.4 per cent for the control oocytes. After transfer at the blastocyst stage pregnancies have been established in the three groups. Some of these pregnancies originated from vitrified oocytes which were further vitrified at the blastocyst stage before being transferred into synchronised recipients.     

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.     

Embryo development of porcine oocytes after injection with miniature pig sperm and their extracts

This study examined embryo development of porcine oocytes after microinjection of sperm extracts (SE) in porcine intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). SE was prepared from miniature pig sperm by a nonionic surfactant, and various concentrations (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 mg/mL) of SE were injected into the matured oocytes with a first polar body. In the pronuclear stage, the rate of oocytes with two pronuclei and a second polar body (21.4%) in the sperm and SE (0.04 mg/mL) injection group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to other groups. The rate of 2–4‐cell stage in sperm and SE (0.04 mg/mL) injection group was 38.1%, and it was significantly higher than that in the sperm injection group (22.9%). The rate of blastocyst stage in sperm and SE (0.04 mg/mL) injection group was 21.4%, the value was significantly higher than those in SE (0.08 mg/mL) injection group (0%), sperm injection group (5.7%), and sperm and SE (0.08 mg/mL) injection group (2.6%). These results suggest that SE induces activation of porcine oocytes and their further embryonic development, and that SE is effective for porcine ICSI.     

Attempt at intracytoplasmic sperm injection of in vitro matured oocytes in common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) captured during the Kushiro Coast Survey

The present study was conducted during the Kushiro Coast Survey in an attempt to produce common minke whale embryos. In Experiment 1, we attempted to determine the appropriate culture duration (30 or 40 h) for in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes using the Well of the Well method. In Experiment 2, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was applied to matured oocytes from prepubertal and adult common minke whales after IVM culture (40 or 48 h), and then their embryonic development was assessed. In Experiment 1, the maturation rate of oocytes cultured for 40 h (30.4%) was significantly higher than that of oocytes cultured for 30 h (6.8%; P<0.01). In Experiment 2, a total of 35 and 46 immature oocytes derived from adult (n=2) and prepubertal (n=6) minke whales, respectively, were cultured for 40 or 48 h. The maturation rate in the oocytes from the adult whales (34.2%) tended to be higher than that of the oocytes from the prepubertal whales (19.6%), but there was no significant difference. Following ICSI, 3 out of the 10 inseminated and cultured oocytes from the adult whales cleaved (2-, 8-, and 16-cell stages); all of these oocytes had been matured for 40 in culture. However, these oocytes did not develop to further stages. Only one of the 6 oocytes derived from the prepubertal whales, IVM cultured for 40 h and inseminated, developed to the 4-cell stage. The present results indicate that a 40 h IVM culture produces significantly higher rates of in vitro maturation than a 30 h IVM culture for common minke whale oocytes. Following ICSI, some oocytes cleaved to the 16-cell stage, but no further development was observed.     

In vitro fertilisation of in vivo matured porcine oocytes obtained from prepuberal gilts at different time intervals after hCG injection

The goal of the present study was to find out the best interval after hCG injection in PMSG primed prepuberal gilts for retrieval of in vivo matured oocytes for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Altogether 66 gilts were superovulated with 1500 IU PMSG and 500 IU hCG 72 h later. Ovum pick up was performed endoscopically 24, 28, 32 or 36 h after hCG and a total of 869 cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were aspirated from 1400 follicles. COCs were tested for quality, and an aliquot was immediately fixed and stained to determine meiotic configuration. The remaining COCs were fertilised in vitro using frozen-thawed epididymal semen. Quality and developmental stage of embryos were tested after IVF, and the number of nuclei was counted. At 24 to 32 h after hCG only few oocytes have entered the second meiotic cycle (18 to 25% vs. 58% at 36 h, p < 0.05). The overall cleavage rate was significantly influenced by insufficient maturation rate at the early collection times (14% at 24 h vs. 49% at 36 h). Additionally, when oocytes were collected 24 to 32 h vs. 36 h the cleavage rate based on mature oocytes was lower (26 vs. 62%, p < 0.05). Once embryonic development has been initiated, the further in vitro development to blastocyst stages did not differ between groups. However, the number of cells was lower at collection times 24 to 32 h as compared to 36 h after hCG (12 to 15 cells vs. 22 cells, p < 0.05). The results indicate that the time of COC collection affects the in vitro developmental competence up to the blastocyst stage and should not be performed earlier than 36 h after hCG treatment.     

冷冻保存能降低绵羊卵母细胞受精能力

本实验研究了体外成熟绵羊卵母细胞在舍抗冻保护荆DMS()和EG的冷冻液中暴露和OPS法玻璃化冷冻保存后对体外受精卵裂率、精子入卵率、皮质颗粒分布、酶溶解透明带时间及雌原核形成的影响.将体外成熟24 h的绵羊卵母细胞分为3组:(1)对照组,卵母细胞不进行处理;(2)毒性组,卵母细胞在冷冻液中进行暴露但不投入液氮中冷冻;(3)冷冻组,卵母细胞利用OPS法进行玻璃化冷冻.处理组卵母细胞在浓度递减的蔗糖溶液中脱除抗冻保护剂.结果,卵母细胞体外受精的卵裂率和单精子入卵率,毒性组(62.3%和29.3%)和冷冻组(67.6%和28.2%)显著低于对照组(78.4%和45.0%)(P＜0.05),毒性组和冷冻组间无显著差异(P＞0.05).为了研究冷冻保存导致卵母细胞受精能力降低的机制,处理组及对照组一部份卵母细胞分别于处理后0 h(IVM24 h)、2 h(IVM26 h)和体外受精后12 h(IVFl2 h)测定皮质颗粒分布和用0.1%链霉蛋白酶溶解透明带时间,另一部份卵母细胞则在不含有精子的受精液中孵育12 h后测定雌原核形成率.结果,在IVM24 h和IVM26 h,皮质颗粒呈完全释放的比例,毒性组(41.2%和40.8%)和冷冻组(41.7%和51.8%)显著性高于对照组(7.1%和18.4%)(P＜0.05);IVM26 h酶溶解透明带时间,毒性组(435.6±16.6)s和冷冻组(422.3±14.6)s显著长于对照组(381.6±15.3) s(P＜0.05);雌原核形成率,毒性组(58.7%)和冷冻组(63.9%)组显著高于对照组(8.2%)(P＜0.05).上述结果表明,舍DMS()和EG的冷冻液对体外成熟绵羊卵母细胞具有孤雌激活作用,引起皮质颗粒的提前释放,导致透明带变硬,降低卵母细胞的受精能力.     

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.     

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.