Journal of Animal Science, Vol 72, Issue 2 434-437, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effect of free amino acids and vitamins on cleavage and developmental rate of bovine zygotes in vitro

C. F. Rosenkrans Jr and N. L. First
Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701.

Due to the complicated media used for culturing bovine embryos, most of the nutrient requirements are unknown. Recently, we developed a simple, serum-free medium (CR1) that allows bovine embryos to develop in vitro. Therefore, our objective was to determine whether development of bovine embryos would be improved by the addition of free amino acids and vitamins to CR1. Oocytes were recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries and matured 22 +/- 2 h, following which the oocytes were randomly allotted to treatment. The experiment was a randomized block design with a 2 x 5 factorial treatment structure. The oocytes were fertilized with or without cumulus cells intact. The five fertilization media were 1) Control (CR1 +/- 10 micrograms/mL of phenol red); 2) control + basal medium Eagle (BME) essential amino acids (EAA) + minimum essential medium (MEM) nonessential amino acids (NEA) + MEM vitamins (VIT); 3) control + EAA + NEA; 4) control + EAA + VIT; and 5) control + NEA + VIT. Cleavage rate was greater (P < .001) when cumulus cells remained on the oocytes during fertilization (51.7 vs 73.2% without and with cumulus cells, respectively). The frequency of blastocysts was increased (P < .001) when EAA or NEA were added to CR1; however, adding VIT had no effect or tended (P = .12) to decrease the frequency of embryos attaining the blastocyst stage. This experiment demonstrates that development of bovine embryos in vitro can be improved by the addition of free amino acids to a simple medium. Contrary to work in rodents, the mixture of vitamins in MEM was not beneficial for bovine embryos.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Hylan, A. M. Giraldo, J. A. Carter, G. T. Gentry Jr., K. R. Bondioli, and R. A. Godke Sex Ratio of Bovine Embryos and Calves Originating from the Left and Right Ovaries Biol Reprod, November 1, 2009; 81(5): 933 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hoelker, F. Rings, Q. Lund, N. Ghanem, C. Phatsara, J. Griese, K. Schellander, and D. Tesfaye Effect of the microenvironment and embryo density on developmental characteristics and gene expression profile of bovine preimplantative embryos cultured in vitro Reproduction, March 1, 2009; 137(3): 415 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Giraldo, D. A. Hylan, C. B. Ballard, M. N. Purpera, T. D. Vaught, J. W. Lynn, R. A. Godke, and K. R. Bondioli Effect of Epigenetic Modifications of Donor Somatic Cells on the Subsequent Chromatin Remodeling of Cloned Bovine Embryos Biol Reprod, May 1, 2008; 78(5): 832 - 840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. El-Sayed, M. Hoelker, F. Rings, D. Salilew, D. Jennen, E. Tholen, M.-A. Sirard, K. Schellander, and D. Tesfaye Large-scale transcriptional analysis of bovine embryo biopsies in relation to pregnancy success after transfer to recipients Physiol Genomics, December 13, 2006; 28(1): 84 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ponsuksili, R. M. Brunner, T. Goldammer, C. Kuhn, C. Walz, S. Chomdej, D. Tesfaye, K. Schellander, K. Wimmers, and M. Schwerin Bovine NALP5, NALP8, and NALP9 Genes: Assignment to a QTL Region and the Expression in Adult Tissues, Oocytes, and Preimplantation Embryos Biol Reprod, March 1, 2006; 74(3): 577 - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.M. Powell, N.C. Talbot, K.D. Wells, D.E. Kerr, V.G. Pursel, and R.J. Wall Cell Donor Influences Success of Producing Cattle by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Biol Reprod, July 1, 2004; 71(1): 210 - 216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Forsberg, N. S. Strelchenko, M. L. Augenstein, J. M. Betthauser, L. A. Childs, K. J. Eilertsen, J. M. Enos, T. M. Forsythe, P. J. Golueke, R. W. Koppang, et al. Production of Cloned Cattle from In Vitro Systems Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 327 - 333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Hill, R. C. Burghardt, K. Jones, C. R. Long, C. R. Looney, T. Shin, T. E. Spencer, J. A. Thompson, Q. A. Winger, and M. E. Westhusin Evidence for Placental Abnormality as the Major Cause of Mortality in First-Trimester Somatic Cell Cloned Bovine Fetuses Biol Reprod, December 1, 2000; 63(6): 1787 - 1794. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. R. Hill, Q. A. Winger, C. R. Long, C. R. Looney, J. A. Thompson, and M. E. Westhusin Development Rates of Male Bovine Nuclear Transfer Embryos Derived from Adult and Fetal Cells Biol Reprod, May 1, 2000; 62(5): 1135 - 1140. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A.P. Gandhi, M. Lane, D.K. Gardner, and R.L. Krisher A single medium supports development of bovine embryos throughout maturation, fertilization and culture Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2000; 15(2): 395 - 401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.E. Steeves and D.K. Gardner Temporal and Differential Effects of Amino Acids on Bovine Embryo Development in Culture Biol Reprod, September 1, 1999; 61(3): 731 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. L. Krisher, M. Lane, and B. D. Bavister Developmental Competence and Metabolism of Bovine Embryos Cultured in Semi-Defined and Defined Culture Media Biol Reprod, June 1, 1999; 60(6): 1345 - 1352. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F.F. Paula-Lopes, A.A.S. de Moraes, J.L. Edwards, J.E. Justice, and P.J. Hansen Regulation of Preimplantation Development of Bovine Embryos by Interleukin-1ß Biol Reprod, December 1, 1998; 59(6): 1406 - 1412. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. W. S. Chan, E. J. Homan, L. U. Ballou, J. C. Burns, and R. D. Bremel Transgenic cattle produced by reverse-transcribed gene transfer in oocytes PNAS, November 24, 1998; 95(24): 14028 - 14033. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]