Co-culture of in vitro fertilized bovine embryos with different cell monolayers

Abstract

Conventionally, in vitro-fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos for transfer are morphologically evaluated at day 7-8 of embryo culture. This method is, however, subjective and results in unreliable selection. We previously described a novel selection system for IVF bovine blastocysts for transfer that traces the development of individual embryos with time-lapse monitoring in our specially developed microwell culture dishes (LinKID micro25). The system can noninvasively identify prognostic factors that reflect viability after transfer. By assessing a combination of identified prognostic factors-timing of the first cleavage; number of blastomeres at the end of the first cleavage; and number of blastomeres at the onset of lag-phase, which results in temporary developmental arrest during the fourth or fifth cell cycle-the pregnancy rate was improved over using conventional morphological evaluation. Time-lapse monitoring with LinKID micro25 could facilitate objective and reliable selection of healthy IVF bovine embryos. Here, we review the novel bovine embryo selection system that allows for prediction of viability after transfer.

In vitro development of bovine embryos in conditioned media from bovine granulosa cells and vero cells cultured in exogenous protein- and amino acid-free chemically defined human tubal fluid medium

“…This block to development can be overcome by culturing embryos with various somatic cells such as bovine cumulus/granulosa cells [5][6][7][8][9][10][11], oviduct cells [11][12][13][14][15], trophoblastic vesicles [16], uterine cells [17], amniotic cells [18], buffalo rat liver cells , mouse testicular cells [23], and mouse embryonic cells [24]. Alternatively, medium conditioned with bovine oviduct cells [12,13] or buffalo rat liver cells [25] may be as effective as coculture in supporting in vitro development of bovine embryos.…”

Horse Conceptuses Secrete Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 31

“…Vero cells, which promote early embryonic development in coculture [19], release IGFBP3 into the culture medium [20], and the culture medium containing the most IGFBP3 was the most effective at promoting development. In addition, granulosa cells [48,49], oviductal and endometrial cells [20,50], and liver cells [51,52] promote development of conceptuses in vitro, and these cells all secrete IGFBP3 [15,20,[53][54][55][56]. In all these coculture systems, IGFBP3 may be one of the factors that supports development.…”

Development of IVM‐IVF produced 8‐cell bovine embryos in simple, serum‐free media after conditioning or Co‐culture with buffalo rat liver cells

“…x,YWalues with different superscripts within same column differ (P < 0.05). available commercially and endotoxin tested (ATCC, Rockville, MD) with the ability to grow in the absence of serum (Nissely and Short, 1977), was chosen over other somatic cells (i.e., BOEC, granulosa cells) commonly used for bovine embryo co-culture (Eyestone and First, 1989;Goto et al, 1992). Although this study used a fresh BRLC monolayer only for 2 days in order to produce conditioned media, others have used BRLC monolayers that were up to 30 days old to produce 48-hr conditioned medium in the absence of serum (Duluk and Temin, 1973).…”

“…In cattle, sheep, and goat, few embryos produced in vitro develop in either simple or complex media through the 8to 16-cell stage (Wright and Bondioli, 1981;Bavister, 1988). The use of trophoblast, granulosa, endometrial, oviductal, or other cell types for embryo co-culture have been beneficial for the development of bovine embryos (Kuzan and Wright, 1982; 0 1994 WILEY-LISS, INC. Heyman et al, 1987;Eyestone and First, 1989;Goto et al, 1992;Xu et al, 1992;Yang et al, 1993).…”