Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulate the development of bovine embryos fertilized in vitro.
To study the effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on early development of bovine embryos, one-cell embryos were cultured in a chemically defined, protein-free medium: modified synthetic oviduct fluid. The addition of 10 micrograms/ml insulin or 20 ng/ml IGF-I increased the percentage of morulae at Day 5 (5 days after insemination). The cell number of blastocysts which developed after 2 days culture of morulae obtained at Day 5 was increased by supplementation with insulin or IGF-I. The combination of insulin and IGF-I had neither additive nor synergistic effect on the embryonic development. These results clearly show that insulin and IGF-I improve the in vitro development of bovine embryos.
Matsui
M
M
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Takahashi
Y
Y
Hishinuma
M
M
Kanagawa
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009028:Morula / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I