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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of antifreeze glycoprotein 8 (AFGP8) supplementation during vitrification on the in vitro developmental capacity of expanded bovine blastocysts

Shuang Liang A , Bao Yuan A B , Yong-Xun Jin B C , Jia-Bao Zhang B , Jeong Kyu Bang D and Nam-Hyung Kim A B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Naesudong-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28864, Republic of Korea.

B Department of Laboratory Animal Center, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Xi’an Road 5333, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China.

C Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, 64 Kyunginro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 152-895, Republic of Korea.

D Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Chung-Buk, 363-883, Republic of Korea.

E Corresponding author. Email: nhkim@chungbuk.ac.kr

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 29(11) 2140-2148 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD16426
Submitted: 5 August 2016  Accepted: 19 January 2017   Published: 28 February 2017

Abstract

Cryopreservation is an effective method for the long-term storage of valuable germplasm in the field of reproductive research. The present study examined the developmental capacity of post-thaw bovine blastocysts during vitrification after supplementation with antifreeze glycoprotein 8 (AFGP8). Survival and re-expansion rates in culture during the 12 h after thawing were significantly higher in the AFGP8-treated than untreated group. In addition, blastocysts from the AFGP8-treated group exhibited lower rates of apoptosis. Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the expression of the Bcl-2 gene, coding for an anti-apoptotic protein, was increased significantly, whereas the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax was decreased significantly in the AFGP8-treated group. The cellular proliferation rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly higher in post-thaw re-expanded blastocysts from the AFGP8-treated compared with untreated group. In addition, outgrowth potential in post-thaw blastocysts in re-expanded blastocysts after vitrification was significantly increased in the AFGP8-treated compared with untreated group. Together, these results are the first to demonstrate that the addition of AFGP8 during vitrification can help protect bovine blastocysts against chill-induced injury.

Additional keywords: embryos, cryopreservation.


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