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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Inclusion of bovine lipoproteins and the vitamin E analogue, Trolox, during in vitro culture of bovine embryos changes both embryo and fetal development

J. A. Rooke A C , R. G. Watt A , C. J. Ashworth A B and T. G. McEvoy A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.

B The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.

C Corresponding author. Email: john.rooke@sac.ac.uk

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24(2) 309-316 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD11034
Submitted: 8 February 2011  Accepted: 28 May 2011   Published: 11 October 2011

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.

Additional keywords: antioxidant, embryo culture.


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