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Currin L, Baldassarre H, de Macedo MP, Glanzner WG, Gutierrez K, Lazaris K, Guay V, Herrera MEC, da Silva Z, Brown C, Joron E, Herron R, Bordignon V. Factors Affecting the Efficiency of In Vitro Embryo Production in Prepubertal Mediterranean Water Buffalo. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243549. [PMID: 36552466 PMCID: PMC9774791 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryos from prepubertal water buffalo can be produced using laparoscopic ovum pickup (LOPU) and in vitro embryo production (IVEP). However, to date, it is unclear what factors and environmental conditions can affect LOPU-IVEP efficiency in prepubertal animals, especially buffalo. In this study, we explored the impact of season, age and individual variation among female donor animals, as well as the effect of the sire used for in vitro fertilization. Donor animals between 2 and 6 months of age were stimulated using gonadotropins prior to LOPU, which was performed at two-week intervals. Following in vitro maturation and fertilization, the resulting embryos were then cultured to the blastocyst stage until they were either vitrified or transferred into recipient animals. The number of follicles available for aspiration and embryo development rates was stable throughout the year. As animals became older, there was a slight trend for fewer COCs recovered from LOPU and better embryo development. There was a large individual variation in both ovarian response and the developmental competence of oocytes among donors. The bull used for fertilization also had a significant impact on embryo development. Upon embryo transfer, pregnancy rates were not affected by the number of embryos transferred per recipient. The best pregnancy rates were achieved when transferring blastocysts, compared to compact morula or hatched blastocysts. Finally, vitrification had no effect on pregnancy rate compared to fresh embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Currin
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Hernan Baldassarre
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Werner Giehl Glanzner
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Karina Gutierrez
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Katerina Lazaris
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Vanessa Guay
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Zigomar da Silva
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction—BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Caitlin Brown
- Ontario Water Buffalo Company, Stirling, ON K0K 3E0, Canada
| | - Erin Joron
- Ontario Water Buffalo Company, Stirling, ON K0K 3E0, Canada
| | - Ron Herron
- Ontario Water Buffalo Company, Stirling, ON K0K 3E0, Canada
| | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(514)-398-7793
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Bogdaniuk AO, Yurchuk TO, Petrushko MP. Seasonal Differences in Sperm Characteristics and the Level of DNA Fragmentation in Fresh and Cryopreserved Sperm of Saanen Goats. CYTOL GENET+ 2022. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452722050036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Currin L, Baldassarre H, Bordignon V. In Vitro Production of Embryos from Prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo: Problems, Progress and Potential. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2275. [PMID: 34438733 PMCID: PMC8388507 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in prepubertal cattle and buffalo accelerates genetic gain. This article reviews LOPU-IVEP technology in prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo. The recent expansion of genomic-assisted selection has renewed interest and demand for prepubertal LOPU-IVEP schemes; however, low blastocyst development rates has constrained its widespread implementation. Here, we present an overview of the current state of the technology, limitations that persist and suggest possible solutions to improve its efficiency, with a focus on gonadotropin stimulations strategies to prime oocytes prior to follicular aspiration, and IVEP procedures promoting growth factor metabolism and limiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; (L.C.); (H.B.)
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da Silva JCB, Alves MBR, Bridi A, Bohrer RC, Escobar GSL, de Carvalho JABA, Binotti WAB, Pugliesi G, Lemes KM, Chello D, Perecin F. Reproductive seasonality influences oocyte retrieval and embryonic competence but not uterine receptivity in buffaloes. Theriogenology 2021; 170:77-84. [PMID: 34000520 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Since buffaloes are a seasonal, polyestrous species, optimizing reproduction during the non-breeding season is a key factor in increasing the reproductive and productive efficiency of herds. Ovum pick-up associated with in vitro embryo production and embryo cryopreservation is an alternative to reduce seasonal impacts. We studied the effects of seasonality in buffalo oocyte donors and embryo recipients during the favorable and non-favorable breeding seasons. Donors were evaluated for oocyte recovery and blastocyst production rate as dFBS (donors in favorable breeding season) or dNBS (donors in non-favorable breeding season). Embryos produced from dFBS or dNBS were cryopreserved by vitrification or the slow-freeze method for direct transfer and transferred to recipients in the favorable (rFBS) or non-favorable breeding season (rNBS). The heifers or cows were subjected to a fixed-time embryo transfer protocol and conception rates were determined on day 30 and on day 60. The oocyte recovery was lower in dFBS than in dNBS (7.6 vs. 10.0 oocyte/OPU, p = 0.0262); while no difference was found comparing blastocyst production rate (23.7% vs. 30.9% of blastocysts, respectively). Embryos from dFBS resulted in greater (p = 0.0013) conception rates on day 30 compared to dNBS (46.5% vs. 22.4%, respectively), despite the breeding season. The rFBS and rNBS treatments had similar (p = 0.6714) conception rates on day 30 (38.0% vs. 33.0%, respectively), indicating similar uterine receptivity. However, heifers on FBS had higher (p = 0.0003) conception rates on day 30 than cows (73.9% vs. 13.3%, respectively) when receiving embryos from dFBS. Vitrification and direct transfer had similar (p = 0.1698) conception rates on day 30 (30.4% vs. 41.4%, respectively). In conclusion, in vitro-produced embryos derived from dFBS were more competent in establishing pregnancy than dNBS counterparts, independent of recipients' reproductive seasonality. Heifers achieved better conception rates than cows during the favorable breeding season when the embryo came from dFBS. Cryopreserved in vitro produced embryos represent a reliable alternative to reduce seasonal variations in buffalo reproduction. The data elucidate the seasonal effects on embryo competence and on recipients' uterine receptivity, affording new strategies to implement ovum pick-up associated with in vitro embryo production programs in buffalo herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlio César Barboza da Silva
- FZEA/USP - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maíra Bianchi Rodrigues Alves
- FZEA/USP - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Bridi
- FZEA/USP - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Guilherme Pugliesi
- FMVZ/USP - Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Damiana Chello
- FMVZ/USP - Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Perecin
- FZEA/USP - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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