A comparison of Menezo's B2 and tissue culture Medium-199 for in vitro production of bovine blastocysts.

The objectives of this study were, first, to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 culture media, Menezo's B2 (B2) and Tissue Culture Medium-199 (M-199), for the production of bovine blastocysts in a commercial embryo transfer program; and, second, to characterize the stage of development, quality grade and cell number of blastocysts produced in each medium. One-cell bovine embryos were produced using in vitro maturation and fertilization procedures. After fertilization, the embryos were co-cultured on Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cell monolayers in either B2 or M-199+1% BSA (M-199) medium.

Influence of vitamin A injection before mating on oocyte development, follicular hormones, and ovulation in gilts fed high-energy diets.

Previous research revealed that treatment with vitamin A approximately 5 d before ovulation may increase litter size in weaned sows and improve embryonal survival in gilts fed high-energy diets that reduced embryonal survival. For the current study, the hypothesis was that administration of vitamin A before ovulation would alter development of follicles and oocytes in a way favorable to enhanced embryonal survival. (Landrace x Large White) x (Duroc x Hampshire) gilts (n = 44) were fed 11.

Enhancement of bovine oocyte fertilization in vitro with a bovine oviductal specific glycoprotein.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a partially purified bovine oviductal glycoprotein (bOGP) on fertilization rates of bovine oocytes. The effect of albumin (control protein) or bOGP at 100 micrograms ml-1 during the 16-18 h fertilization period was evaluated in a standard IVF system using a sperm concentration between 0.5 and 0.