The effect of macromolecule and growth factor combinations on in vitro development of bovine embryos

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diferent macromolecule sources added to synthetic oviduct fuid (SOF) culture medium supplemented with growth factors on the development of bovine embryos and blastocyst morphology. Zygotes were distributed into 5 treatment groups. Cleavage, morula, and blastocyst rates were evaluated under a stereomicroscope. Trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) cells were determined by diferential staining method. It was found that bovine serum albumin (BSA), either alone or in combination with growth factors, as compared to the control or polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) resulted in higher embryo yield and faster development during early bovine embryo culture. The quality of bovine embryos, based on the number of blastocyst cells and the ratio of ICM to total blastomeres, was afected by the sources of macromolecules and their combinations with growth factors. Growth factors supplemented to SOFaa media with BSA and PVA signifcantly increased the number of ICM cells and the ratio of ICM cells to total number of cells. In conclusion, replacing BSA with PVA depressed the blastocyst rate and cell numbers, and the number of blastomeres and ICM and TE cell numbers were afected by both the type of macromolecule and the growth factor supplements.This study was conducted to determine the effects of diferent macromolecule sources added to synthetic oviduct fuid (SOF) culture medium supplemented with growth factors on the development of bovine embryos and blastocyst morphology. Zygotes were distributed into 5 treatment groups. Cleavage, morula, and blastocyst rates were evaluated under a stereomicroscope. Trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) cells were determined by diferential staining method. It was found that bovine serum albumin (BSA), either alone or in combination with growth factors, as compared to the control or polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) resulted in higher embryo yield and faster development during early bovine embryo culture. The quality of bovine embryos, based on the number of blastocyst cells and the ratio of ICM to total blastomeres, was afected by the sources of macromolecules and their combinations with growth factors. Growth factors supplemented to SOFaa media with BSA and PVA signifcantly increased the number of ICM cells and the ratio of ICM cells to total number of cells. In conclusion, replacing BSA with PVA depressed the blastocyst rate and cell numbers, and the number of blastomeres and ICM and TE cell numbers were afected by both the type of macromolecule and the growth factor supplements

Effect of donor cell type, gender on efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer

European Biotechnology Conference -- MAY 05-07, 2016 -- LATVIA[No Abstract Available

Melatonin Administration Enhances Testicular Volume, Testicular Blood Flow, Semen Parameters and Antioxidant Status during the Non-Breeding Season in Bafra Rams

Our objectives were to investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin on testicular volume (TV), testicular blood flow (TBF), and semen quality in Bafra rams during the non-breeding season. One group of rams (MEL, n = 5) received a 36 mg melatonin implant twice, with 30 days in between, while the other group (CON, n = 5) served as the control. TBF, TV, and semen quality parameters were determined at three-week intervals starting three weeks before until twelve weeks after the first melatonin implant. Testicular blood flow was determined in the supratesticular (STA) and marginal testicular artery (MA) using color Doppler ultrasound. Semen was collected and evaluated, and the total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidative status (TAS) was determined using an ELISA. The MEL group had increased (p 0.05) between the two groups in most semen quality parameters. However, TAS concentrations increased (p < 0.05) in the MEL group compared with the CON. The results of this study show that exogenous melatonin in the non-breeding season significantly increased both TBF and TV in Bafra rams. Therefore, giving rams implants with 36 mg melatonin twice at least one month prior to the non-breeding season is expected to improve testicular size and function and reproductive capacity

Effect of growth factors on oocyte maturation and allocations of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells of cloned bovine embryos

This study was conducted to determine the additive effects of exogenous growth factors during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) and the sequential culture of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. Oocyte maturation and culture of reconstructed embryos derived from bovine granulosa cells were performed in culture medium supplemented with either epidermal growth factor (EGF) alone or a combination of EGF with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The maturation rates of oocytes matured in the presence of EGF or the EGF + IGF-I combination were significantly higher than those of oocytes matured in the presence of only fetal calf serum (FCS) (P 0.05). IGF-I alone or in combination with EGF in sequential embryo culture medium significantly increased the ratio of inner cell mass (ICM) to total blastocyst cells (P < 0.05). Our results showed that the addition of growth factors to IVM and sequential culture media of cloned bovine embryos increased the ICM without changing the total cell number. These unknown and uncontrolled effects of growth factors can alter the allocation of ICM and trophectoderm cells (TE) in NT embryos. A decrease in TE cell numbers could be a reason for developmental abnormalities in embryos in the cloning system.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [KAMAG-106G005]We wish to thanks Dr. O. Yavuz for statistical analysis, Sakir Sekmen, Gazi Turgut and Erman Ates for technical assistance. The manuscript has been edited by native speaker Dr. Anita L. Akkas, who has PhD degree in English Literature and MA degree in Linguistics Engineering and Science. This research was supported by TUBITAK with grant number KAMAG-106G005 and was conducted at TUBITAK-MRC, the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute in Turkey