title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes the early development of bovine embryo in the presence of cumulus cells.
abstract: Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on bovine embryonic development in vitro. Human recombinant VEGF(165) was employed at 5 ng/ml in modified synthetic oviduct fluid. In Exp. 1, bovine cumulus oocyte complexes were matured with or without VEGF for 22 hr, inseminated without VEGF for 6 hr, then cultured with or without VEGF for 42 hr. The cleavage rate and the development rate to 4- to 8-cell were higher (P<0.05) in groups with VEGF during in vitro maturation (IVM, 71.4% and 59.6%), in vitro culture (IVC, 70.3% and 62.3%), and both IVM and IVC (75.9% and 67.8%) than in the group cultured thoroughly without VEGF (49.9% and 38.4%, respectively). In Exp. 2, 4- to 8-cell embryos produced in vitro without VEGF were removed from cumulus cells at 48 hr post-insemination (Pi) and cultured with or without VEGF for 144 hr. The development rates to blastocyst at 96 hr (D6), 120 hr (D7) and 144 hr (D8) were similar (P>0.05) in both groups. In Exp. 3, cumulus cells were removed from presumptive embryos produced by IVM and IVF without VEGF at 10 hr Pi. Denuded embryos were cultured with or without VEGF for 38 hr or 182 hr. The cleavage rate and the development rates to 4- to 8-cell at 48 hr Pi and to blastocyst on D6, D7 and D8 were similar (P>0.05) in all groups. These results suggest that VEGF has a beneficial effect on the initial development of bovine embryo through surrounding cumulus cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hailing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirako
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors