Fetal calf serum enhances in vitro production of Bos taurus indicus embryos

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fetal calf serum (FCS) on the quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs, n = 2 449) recovered by ovum pick-up from Bos taurus indicus donors were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Sperm selected by Percoll gradient was used for in vitro fertilization (insemination = Day 0). In Experiment 1 (n = 1 745 COCs), zygotes were cultured in vitro in Synthetic Oviduct Fluid + 4 mg/mL of bovine serum albumin (BSA), or BSA + 2% FCS (BSA+FCS). In Experiment 2 (n = 704 COCs), the COCs were cultured in SOF + BSA, BSA + 2% FCS, or BSA + 2% FCS on D4 (BSA + FCSD4). In Experiment 1, blastocyst yield (51%) and Quality I blastocysts (41%) at Day 7 were higher (P < 0.05) in the BSA + FCS treatment than in BSA (42 and 30%, respectively). In Experiment 2, blastocyst yield was higher (P < 0.05) in the BSA+FCS (47%) treatment. Quality I blastocyst yield was higher (P < 0.05) for BSA + FCS (34%) and BSA+FCSD4 (32%) compared to the BSA treatment (20%). A total of 820 embryos were transferred, with no significant differences among groups in pregnancy rates. In conclusion, in vitro culture in SOFaaci + BSA + FCS enhanced blastocyst yield and Quality I blastocysts; adding FCS to the culture medium increased the efficiency of IVP of bovine embryos.

Supplementation of fetal bovine serum alters histone modification H3R26me2 during preimplantation development of in vitro produced bovine embryos

“…The use of fetal bovine serum in culture media has been controversial with both positive and negative effects reported. Several studies have demonstrated increased blastocyst development when FBS is supplemented, (Lazzari et al 2002, Leivas et al 2011) similar to the current study. However, the use of FBS has also been associated with abnormal fetal growth, in subsequent pregnancies (Young et al 1998, Lazzari et al 2002, Farin et al 2004).…”

“…In addition, FBS has an adverse effect on embryo survival after cryopreservation, due to increased lipid content within the embryos ). Leivas and co-authors (Leivas et al 2011) also suggest that embryos from certain breeds of cattle may depend more on the presence of FBS in the culture media. Similar to the current study, they report a 10% increase in blastocyst rates between IVP embryos from Bos indicus cattle cultured with 2% FBS than embryos cultured with BSA alone (Leivas et al 2011).…”

“…Leivas and co-authors (Leivas et al 2011) also suggest that embryos from certain breeds of cattle may depend more on the presence of FBS in the culture media. Similar to the current study, they report a 10% increase in blastocyst rates between IVP embryos from Bos indicus cattle cultured with 2% FBS than embryos cultured with BSA alone (Leivas et al 2011). For this reason, many laboratories in South America, where most cattle are of Bos indicus origin, still utilize FBS during embryo culture.…”

“…In addition, the use of FBS in IVP systems appears to be more important for certain breeds of cattle. Leivas and co-authors (Leivas et al 2011) reported improved blastocyst rates for IVP Bos indicus embryos cultured with 2% FBS than embryos cultured with BSA alone. No differences in blastocyst rates were identified for embryos produced from Bos taurus oocytes (Leivas et al 2011).…”

Oxygen tension affects histone remodeling of in vitro–produced embryos in a bovine model

“…Culture media containing FBS generally produce better blastocyst rates because of the presence of growth factors and other known and unknown components that the growing embryo requires [6,7], although early embryo development may be delayed [8,9]. Although many laboratories in the world have tried to remove FBS from their culture media, the addition of FBS is still a common practice in many countries, such as Brazil, the biggest producer of bovine IVP embryos.…”