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Li T, Jin Y, Wu J, Ren Z. Beyond energy provider: multifunction of lipid droplets in embryonic development. Biol Res 2023; 56:38. [PMID: 37438836 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00449-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery, lipid droplets (LDs) have been recognized to be sites of cellular energy reserves, providing energy when necessary to sustain cellular life activities. Many studies have reported large numbers of LDs in eggs and early embryos from insects to mammals. The questions of how LDs are formed, what role they play, and what their significance is for embryonic development have been attracting the attention of researchers. Studies in recent years have revealed that in addition to providing energy for embryonic development, LDs in eggs and embryos also function to resist lipotoxicity, resist oxidative stress, inhibit bacterial infection, and provide lipid and membrane components for embryonic development. Removal of LDs from fertilized eggs or early embryos artificially leads to embryonic developmental arrest and defects. This paper reviews recent studies to explain the role and effect mechanisms of LDs in the embryonic development of several species and the genes involved in the regulation. The review contributes to understanding the embryonic development mechanism and provides new insight for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to embryonic developmental abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai Li
- Key Laboratory of Agriculture Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Yi Jin
- Key Laboratory of Agriculture Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Jian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agriculture Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuqing Ren
- Key Laboratory of Agriculture Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, P. R. China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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Aardema H, Bertijn I, van Tol HTA, Rijneveld A, Vernooij JCM, Gadella BM, Vos PLAM. Fatty Acid Supplementation During in vitro Embryo Production Determines Cryosurvival Characteristics of Bovine Blastocysts. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:837405. [PMID: 35356284 PMCID: PMC8959877 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.837405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro production (IVP) embryos have a reduced quality and poor cryotolerance in comparison to in vivo embryos. This study investigated whether free fatty acid (FFA) conditions, fatty acid free (FAF)- synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) without or with 25 μM of saturated stearic (C18:0) or unsaturated oleic (C18:1) acid during the first 5 IVP days, relate to quality and cryosurvival of day 8 blastocysts. Apart from the blastocyst scores, both 1) number and size of lipid droplets of fresh blastocysts and 2) total number and apoptotic and necrotic cells, before and after freezing-thawing, were scored by confocal microscopy. Blastocyst rates were significantly lower in the FAF SOF condition in comparison to other groups. Interestingly, blastocysts originating from the C18:1 group, with a significantly higher lipid content, and blastocysts from the FAF SOF group demonstrated a high cryosurvival rate (70.1 and 67.4%, respectively) comparable with in vivo blastocysts (68%), in contrast to the poor cryosurvival of C18:0 exposed embryos (17.6%). In all freeze-thawed embryos the average amount of apoptotic and necrotic cells increased albeit that the C18:0 condition rates were higher (43.2%) when compared to C18:1 (26.0%) and FAF SOF conditions (26.5%). The current data show that FFA administered during early embryonic development significantly affect the cryotolerance of blastocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Aardema
- *Correspondence: H. Aardema, ; B. M. Gadella,
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Eicosapentaenoic acid supplemented to in vitro maturation medium results in lesser lipid content and intracellular reactive oxygen species in blastocysts of cattle. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 229:106765. [PMID: 33989912 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sub-optimal cattle embryo development to the blastocyst stage still is a problem when conducting in vitro production (IVP) procedures. Supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium with omega 3-polyunsaturated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an approach that might have positive effects on lipid metabolism of cattle oocytes, potentially improving subsequent embryo development. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of EPA addition to serum-free IVM medium on pronuclear formation after in vitro fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst rates. Effects of EPA on lipid accumulation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with IVP of cattle embryos was also investigated. In all experiments, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in IVM medium supplemented with 0 nM, 1 nM, or 1 μM EPA for 24 h. Pronuclear formation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were similar for embryos when there was supplementation of EPA at all concentrations to those of the control group (P > 0.05). The inclusion of 1 nM EPA in medium resulted in a greater lipid content and less intracellular ROS in day 8-embryos compared with those of the Control group (P < 0.05). There were no differences, however, when there was inclusion of 1 μM EPA compared to embryos of the Control group at the day 8 developmental stage (P > 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with IVM medium with the 1 nM EPA concentration resulted in a lesser blastocyst lipid and intracellular ROS concentration, without modifying embryo development, therefore, EPA could be a desirable supplement to improve embryo quality in cattle.
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Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) alters lipid accumulation in bovine blastocysts after oocyte exposure during in vitro maturation. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 84:1-8. [PMID: 30502403 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) is one of the perfluoroalkyl acids present in human tissues. In this study, effects on early embryo development after PFNA exposure were investigated using the bovine in vitro production system. Oocytes were exposed to PFNA during maturation in vitro (10 μg mL-1 and 0.1 μg mL-1), and then fertilized and cultured in parallel with control groups. Developmental parameters (cleavage, blastocyst formation) were followed and embryo quality evaluated (stage, grade). Embryos developed after exposure to 0.1 μg mL-1 were stained to distinguish nuclei, active mitochondria and neutral lipids. 10 μg mL-1 of PFNA had a severe negative effect on blastocyst formation (OR: 0.27 p < 0.05), an effect not observed at 0.1 μg mL-1. However, lipid droplet distribution was significantly altered in embryos exposed to 0.1 μg mL-1, suggesting a disturbance of lipid metabolism after exposure to sublethal levels of PFNA during oocyte maturation in vitro.
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Reduction in cytoplasmic lipid content in bovine embryos cultured in vitro with linoleic acid in semi-defined medium is correlated with increases in cryotolerance. ZYGOTE 2015; 24:485-94. [PMID: 26350684 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199415000428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We examined whether culturing embryos with linoleic acid (LA) in semi-defined medium reduces lipid accumulation and improves cryosurvival after vitrification. Embryos were cultured with LA (100 μM) and a semi-defined medium was used during in vitro culture (IVC), in which the fetal calf serum was substituted by bovine serum albumin (BSA). There was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the embryonic development rate ( CONTROL 25.8% versus LA: 18.5%), but the proposed system was effective in promoting the decrease (P = 0.0130) in the intracellular lipid content ( CONTROL 27.3 ± 0.7 versus LA: 24.6 ± 0.7 arbitrary fluorescence units of embryos stained with the fluorescent dye Nile Red), consequently increasing (P = 0.0490) the embryo survival after 24h of culture post-warming ( CONTROL 50.0% versus LA: 71.7%). The results question the criteria used to evaluate the efficiency of an in vitro production system specifically with relation to the maximum number of blastocysts produced and suggest that might be more appropriate to improve the desired characteristics of embryos generated in accordance with the specific purpose of in vitro embryo production, commercial or scientific. In conclusion, supplying LA to serum-free culture medium was found to adversely affect the rates of embryo development to the blastocyst stage, but significantly reduced embryo lipid accumulation and improved cryopreservation survival.
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Schindler M, Pendzialek M, Navarrete Santos A, Plösch T, Seyring S, Gürke J, Haucke E, Knelangen JM, Fischer B, Santos AN. Maternal diabetes leads to unphysiological high lipid accumulation in rabbit preimplantation embryos. Endocrinology 2014; 155:1498-509. [PMID: 24428528 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
According to the "developmental origin of health and disease" hypothesis, the metabolic set points of glucose and lipid metabolism are determined prenatally. In the case of a diabetic pregnancy, the embryo is exposed to higher glucose and lipid concentrations as early as during preimplantation development. We used the rabbit to study the effect of maternal diabetes type 1 on lipid accumulation and expression of lipogenic markers in preimplantation blastocysts. Accompanied by elevated triglyceride and glucose levels in the maternal blood, embryos from diabetic rabbits showed a massive intracellular lipid accumulation and increased expression of fatty acid transporter 4, fatty acid-binding protein 4, perilipin/adipophilin, and maturation of sterol-regulated element binding protein. However, expression of fatty acid synthase, a key enzyme for de novo synthesis of fatty acids, was not altered in vivo. During a short time in vitro culture of rabbit blastocysts, the accumulation of lipid droplets and expression of lipogenic markers were directly correlated with increasing glucose concentration, indicating that hyperglycemia leads to increased lipogenesis in the preimplantation embryo. Our study shows the decisive effect of glucose as the determining factor for fatty acid metabolism and intracellular lipid accumulation in preimplantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Schindler
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (M.S., M.P., S.S., J.G., E.H., J.M.K., B.F., An.N.S.) and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Al.N.S.), Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (T.P.), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands
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Rooke JA, Watt RG, Ashworth CJ, McEvoy TG. Inclusion of bovine lipoproteins and the vitamin E analogue, Trolox, during in vitro culture of bovine embryos changes both embryo and fetal development. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012; 24:309-16. [DOI: 10.1071/rd11034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 05/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This experiment investigated effects of lipoproteins and Trolox (vitamin E analogue) on bovine embryo and fetal development. The treatments were: in vitro culture (IVC) in synthetic oviducal fluid alone (SOF); with bovine lipoproteins (2% v/v; SOFLP); with Trolox (100 μM; SOFT); and with lipoproteins and Trolox (SOFLPT). In vitro culture with lipoproteins increased fatty acid content of blastocysts (P < 0.001) whereas inclusion of Trolox had no effect (P > 0.05). Whereas lipoproteins reduced zygote development to blastocysts (P = 0.03), Trolox facilitated increased development (P < 0.001) and counteracted the reduction observed with lipoproteins (interaction, P = 0.009). Lipoproteins also compromised (P < 0.001) but presence of Trolox (P > 0.05) had no effect on blastocyst morphological grade. Pregnancy rates resulting from synchronous transfer of IVP embryos were not affected by IVC treatment. At Day 70 of pregnancy, compared with SOF, fetal weight was lower in SOFLP but not SOFLPT (interaction, P < 0.001). Liver weight (g kg–1 fetal weight) was greater (P = 0.03) in treatments containing Trolox. Placentome numbers were greater in SOF and SOFLPT compared with SOFLP and SOFT (interaction, P = 0.002); superior embryo grades were also associated with increased numbers of placentomes (P = 0.024). In conclusion, the interactive effects of lipoprotein and Trolox inclusion on in vitro embryo development were also evident in fetal development at Day 70.
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Hughes J, Kwong WY, Li D, Salter AM, Lea RG, Sinclair KD. Effects of omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on ovine follicular cell steroidogenesis, embryo development and molecular markers of fatty acid metabolism. Reproduction 2010; 141:105-18. [PMID: 21045166 DOI: 10.1530/rep-10-0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported increased follicular fluid progesterone (P(4)) concentrations in ewes fed an n-3 compared to an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched diet, but detected no differential effect of n-3 and n-6 PUFA-enriched high-density lipoproteins (HDL) on granulosa cell (GC) steroidogenesis in vitro. Moreover, net n-6 PUFA-enriched HDL reduced early embryo development, but in the absence of a net uptake of FA. Consequently, we hypothesised that a) effects of n-3 PUFA on ovarian steroidogenesis are mediated by theca rather than GCs and b) during embryo culture lipids are acquired solely from the albumin fraction of serum, so that albumin-delivered n-3 and n-6 PUFA exert a greater differential effect on embryo development than either low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- or HDL-delivered PUFA. Data confirmed that n-3 PUFA increases P(4) production solely in theca cells and that this is associated with an increase in STAR transcript expression. Furthermore, LDL- and HDL-delivered n-3 PUFA are equally efficacious in this regard during the first 96 h of culture, but thereafter only HDL-delivered n-3 PUFA induces this effect in partially luteinised theca cells. We also demonstrate that albumin is the sole serum fraction that leads to a net uptake of FA during embryo culture. PUFA-enriched serum and albumin increased the yield of morphologically poorer quality blastocysts with increased transcript expression for the antioxidant enzyme SOD1. Important differential effects of n-3 and n-6 PUFA on ovarian steroidogenesis acting solely on theca cells are identified, but differential effects of PUFA on embryo development are less apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Hughes
- Schools of Biosciences Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, UK
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Wonnacott KE, Kwong WY, Hughes J, Salter AM, Lea RG, Garnsworthy PC, Sinclair KD. Dietary omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the composition and development of sheep granulosa cells, oocytes and embryos. Reproduction 2010; 139:57-69. [PMID: 19789173 DOI: 10.1530/rep-09-0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The evidence that omega-3 (n-3) and -6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have differential effects on ovarian function, oocytes and embryo quality is inconsistent. We report on the effects of n-3 versus n-6 PUFA-enriched diets fed to 36 ewes over a 6-week period, prior to ovarian stimulation and follicular aspiration, on ovarian steroidogenic parameters and embryo quality. Follicle number and size were unaltered by diet, but follicular-fluid progesterone concentrations were greater in n-3 PUFA-fed ewes than in n-6 PUFA-fed ewes. The percentage of saturated FAs (mostly stearic acid) was greater in oocytes than in either granulosa cells or plasma, indicating selective uptake and/or de novo synthesis of saturated FAs at the expense of PUFAs by oocytes. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) fractionated from sera of these ewes increased granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenesis relative to the FA-free BSA control during culture, but there was no differential effect of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs on either oestradiol or progesterone production. HDL was ineffective in delivering FAs to embryos during culture, although n-6 PUFA HDL reduced embryo development. All blastocysts, irrespective of the treatment, contained high levels of unsaturated FAs, in particular linoleic acid. Transcripts for HDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors (SCARB1 and LDLR) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) are reported in sheep embryos. HDL reduced the expression of transcripts for LDLR and SCD relative to the BSA control. The data support a differential effect of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs on ovarian steroidogenesis and pre-implantation development, the latter in the absence of a net uptake of FAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Wonnacott
- School of Biosciences School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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Sturmey RG, Reis A, Leese HJ, McEvoy TG. Role of fatty acids in energy provision during oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Reprod Domest Anim 2009; 44 Suppl 3:50-8. [PMID: 19660080 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01402.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While much is known about the metabolism of exogenous nutrients such as glucose, lactate, pyruvate, amino acids by oocytes and pre-implantation mammalian embryos, the role of endogenous stores, particularly lipid, has been largely overlooked. The presence of lipid within oocytes and early embryos has been long known, and comparisons between species indicate that the amounts and types of lipid present vary considerably. Large amounts of intracellular lipid can compromise the success of cryopreservation and the removal of such lipid has been the subject of considerable effort. In this review, we present evidence that strongly suggests a metabolic role for lipid, specifically with regard to energy provision, in the late-stage oocyte and the pre-implantation embryo. We focus initially on oxygen consumption as a global indicator of metabolic activity, before reviewing different approaches that either have been designed to investigate directly, or have revealed indirectly the role of endogenous lipid in energy generation. These fall under five headings: (i) fatty acid oxidation; (ii) inhibition of triglyceride oxidation; (iii) culture in the absence of exogenous substrates; (iv) cytoplasmic organization; and (v) delipidation. On the basis of the data derived from these studies, we conclude that there is strong evidence for the utilization of endogenous lipid as an energy substrate by oocytes and early embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Sturmey
- Department of Biology (Area 3), University of York, York, YO10 5YW, UK.
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Pereira RM, Carvalhais I, Pimenta J, Baptista MC, Vasques MI, Horta AEM, Santos IC, Marques MR, Reis A, Pereira MS, Marques CC. Biopsied and vitrified bovine embryos viability is improved by trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during in vitro embryo culture. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 106:322-32. [PMID: 17580103 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2006] [Revised: 04/17/2007] [Accepted: 05/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Bovine embryos cultured in serum-containing media abnormally accumulate lipids in the cytoplasm. This is well known to contribute to their higher susceptibility to cryopreservation and biopsied embryos are even further susceptible. We aimed to improve in vitro produced (IVP) embryos resistance to micromanipulation and cryopreservation by supplementing serum-containing media with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10, c12 CLA). The effect of t10, c12 CLA on lipid deposition and embryonic development was also tested. After in vitro maturation and fertilization (IVF day=D0), zygotes were cultured on granulosa cells+M199+10% serum+100microM GSH supplemented with 100microM of t10, c12 CLA (CLA group, n=1394) or without supplementation (control group, n=1431). Samples of D7/D8 embryos were observed under Nomarsky microscopy for lipid droplets evaluation while others were biopsied and vitrified (group B-Control, n=24; group B-CLA, n=23). Non-biopsied embryos were also frozen (group NB-Control, n=49; group NB-CLA, n=45). Biopsied cells were used for embryo sex determination. Postwarming embryo survival and viability were determined at 0 and 24h of culture, respectively. Supplementation of t10, c12 CLA did not influence cleavage, embryo sex ratio, D7/D8 embryo rate or morphological quality. CLA embryos had higher number of small lipid droplets (P<or=0.003) and a smaller (P<0.001) fat embryo index being leaner (P=0.008) than control embryos. Embryo postwarming survival was higher in B-CLA than in B-control group (95.0+/-7.0% versus 62.5+/-7.9%; P<0.001). After 24h of culture, the viability (expansion rate) of biopsied embryos and nonbiopsied embryos, cultured with t10, c12 CLA was higher than control embryos (B-CLA=64.6+/-4.4% and B-control=27.5+/-2.5%, P=0.01; NB-CLA=86.0+/-3.5% and NB-Control=68.6+/-7.0%, P=0.05). Results showed that supplying t10, c12 CLA to serum-containing media decreases embryo cytoplasmic lipid deposition during in vitro culture and significantly improves resistance of IVP embryos to micromanipulation and cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Pereira
- Estação Zootécnica Nacional - INIAP, 2005-048 Vale de Santarém, Portugal.
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