The present study aimed at comparing the relative efficacy of different capacitating agents used for sperm pretreatment during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and subsequent embryo development of caprine oocytes. In experiment 1, the effect of different concentrations of heparin (0, 20, and 50 µg/mL) on sperm pretreatment for different periods of time (30 and 60 min) was studied. In experiment 2, the dose-dependent effect of calcium ionophore (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 µM) on sperm pretreatment was assessed. Experiment 3 validated and compared the effects of both capacitating agents on sperm pretreatment for capacitation based on the results of the first two experiments. The treated sperms from each group were used for in vitro fertilization and subsequent embryo development. The results indicated that in experiment 1, capacitation with heparin at 20 µg/mL for 60 min had significantly higher (P < 0.05) cleavage and blastocyst production. In experiment 2, capacitation with calcium ionophore at 0.1 µM had significantly more morulae (P < 0.05) and numerically more blastocyst production. In experiment 3, capacitation with heparin at 20 µg/mL had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) blastocyst production rate as compared to calcium ionophore treatment. Based on this study, heparin can be used to enhance capacitation of freshly collected sperms during in vitro fertilization and subsequent embryo development.
The aim of this study is to generate parthenogenetic embryos from chemically activated in vitro matured caprine oocytes and to study the in vivo developmental potency of such embryos. The parthenogenetic embryos (2-8 and 16 cells to morula stage) were surgically transferred in 26 recipients. Pregnancy in recipients following embryo transfer was monitored by ultrasonography. The recipient aborted a foetus on day 34 post transfer. Sexing of parthenogenetic foetus showed a single band of amelogenin gene indicating female cell DNA. Microsatellite analysis revealed that the recipient has not contributed genetically to the parthenogenetic foetus confirming the identity of aborted foetus of parthenogenetic origin. The authors believe that this is the first authentic report on in vivo development of parthenogenetic foetus in Capra hircus.
The present study was carried out to investigate the putative beneficial effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and cysteamine supplementation alone or their combination on in vitro embryo development competence of fertilized goat oocytes. Presumptive zygotes (18 h post insemination) were randomly assigned for in vitro embryo development in embryo development medium (EDM) supplemented with IGF-I (Gr. 1), Cysteamine (Gr. 2), IGF- I + Cysteamine (Gr. 3) and Control containing only EDM (Gr. 4). Statistically non-significant difference was observed in cleavage rate among all the treated groups. Morula formation rate was significantly higher in IGF-I supplemented group compared to IGF-I + cysteamine supplemented and non-supplemented (control) groups. Furthermore, supplementation of IGF-I, cysteamine and IGF-I + cysteamine in embryo culture medium significantly improved blastocyst formation rate compared to control. However, a nonsignificant difference in blastocyst formation was observed among the supplemented groups. These findings lead to the conclusion that under in vitro conditions, supplementation of IGF-I and cysteamine alone or combination in IVC media were equally effective in embryo development and blastocyst production, however, this effect was significantly higher as compared to non- supplemented group (control).
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