Alpha-Lipoic acid supplementation during in vitro culture of abattoir- and OPU-derived bovine oocytes improves embryonic quality.

The Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) technique offers a rapid path to genetic improvement. Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is crucial for successful embryonic development and occurs in two phases: minor EGA (MN) from 2-cell to 8-cell stages, and major EGA (MJ) from 8-cell to 16-cell stages. Supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) during MN using abattoir derived-oocytes has been shown to enhance in vitro embryo production.

Impact of fluazuron on oocyte maturation: May the antiparasitic affect bovine reproduction?

Fluazuron is a novel veterinary pour-on antitick formulation which can be applied simultaneously with bovine reproduction management strategies. Considering the economic importance of the livestock industry in many countries, it is important to know whether antiparasitics such as fluazuron may cause embryonic loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effect of fluazuron on bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation.

Effect of estrogen and progesterone on intracellular free zinc and zinc transporter expression in bovine oviduct epithelial cells.

Zinc (Zn) plays essential roles in numerous cellular processes. However, there is limited understanding of Zn homeostasis within the bovine reproductive system. This study investigated the influence of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) on Zn transporter expression and intracellular free Zn levels in bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC).

In vitro adverse effects of amitraz on semen quality: Consequences in bovine embryo development.

Veterinary drugs are potential environmental pollutants that interfere with male reproductive function. Infertility has increased, and it is known that environmental toxins contribute to declining sperm parameters. Amitraz {N,N-[(methylamino) dimeth-ylidyne] di-2,4-xylidine} (AMZ) is a formamidine pesticide widely used as an insecticide and an acaricide.

Alpha-lipoic acid improves bovine preimplantation blastocyst quality and cryotolerance.

In vitro embryo production has grown in recent decades due to its great potential for cattle production. However, the quality of in vitro-produced embryos is lower compared with those produced in vivo. The postfertilization culture environment has a major influence on bovine embryo quality.

Parenteral Copper Administration at the Beginning of a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol in Beef Cattle: Effect on Ovarian Function and Pregnancy Rates.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma copper (Cu) concentration and ovarian function during a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol and the effect of parenteral Cu administration (100 mg) at the start of such protocol (day 0) on area of preovulatory follicle (APF); area of corpus luteum (ACL), plasma estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) concentrations; CL blood flow (CLBF); and pregnancy rate in beef heifers and cows. In cows, plasma Cu concentration on days 0 and 7 correlated positively with APF. Copper administration increased plasma Cu concentration and decreased APF and plasma E2 concentration (day 9), without modifying ACL, plasma P4 concentration, and CLBF (day 16) in cows.

Eicosapentaenoic acid supplemented to in vitro maturation medium results in lesser lipid content and intracellular reactive oxygen species in blastocysts of cattle.

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.

Amitraz induced cytotoxic effect on bovine cumulus cells and impaired oocyte maturation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of amitraz (AMZ) on the primary culture of bovine cumulus cells (CC) and oocyte nuclear maturation. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by assessing mitochondrial activity with the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Genotoxicity was estimated using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay.

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid during preimplantation development of cattle embryos when there were different in vitro culture conditions.

In many species, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is essential for embryo development. There, therefore, was investigation of effects of ALA supplementation to culture media for in vitro development of cattle embryos. In Experiment I, there were assessments of embryo production and oxidative status of cattle embryos derived by in vitro maturation and fertilization (IVM/IVF)that were cultured until the blastocyst stage of development using different ALA concentrations (5, 25 and 100 μM), fetal bovine serum (FBS) and amino acids (aa) as well as 20 % oxygen (O) in the culture atmosphere.

Effect of cysteine, glutamate and glycine supplementation to in vitro fertilization medium during bovine early embryo development.

Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant synthesized from three constitutive amino acids (CAA): cysteine (Cys), glycine (Gly) and glutamate (Glu). Glutathione plays an important role in oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryo development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Cys (0.