title: Effect of follicle-stimulating hormone on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of sow oocytes in vitro.
abstract: A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of FSH supplementation during IVM on porcine oocyte nuclear maturation, and subsequent fertilization, cleavage and embryo development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured 40 h without FSH (control), 40 h with FSH (FSH 0-40 h), or 20 h with FSH followed by a 20-h culture period without FSH (FSH 0-20 h). Nuclear stage of oocytes was assessed at intervals from 12 to 40 h of IVM. Furthermore, oocytes were in vitro fertilized, fixed and stained to determine normally fertilized and polyspermic oocytes. Additionally, COCs were matured with FSH, fertilized and zygotes cultured in NCSU-23. The percentage of cleaved embryos and blastocysts were determined and the number of nuclei was counted. The presence of FSH during the first 20 h of IVM retarded germinal vesicle breakdown. After 40 h of culture 84, 67 and 58% MII oocytes were observed in the FSH 0-20 h, FSH 0-40 h and control groups, respectively. After IVF, penetration rates were similar at 27, 26 and 29%, while the proportion of polyspermic oocytes was 7, 19 and 11% of penetrated oocytes for control, FSH 0-40 and FSH 0-20 h groups, respectively. Cleavage and blastocyst rates differed among treatments (21, 29 and 38%, and 7, 15 and 20% for control, FSH 0-40 and FSH 0-20 h groups, respectively). No differences in blastocyst cell number were found among groups. Blastocyst rates, based on number of cleaved embryos, were 51 and 52% for the FSH 0-40 and FSH 0-20 h groups, which differed significantly from the control group (31%). The results indicate that FSH has a stimulatory effect on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of sow oocytes. Addition of FSH for the first 20 h of culture was most beneficial, based on cleavage and blastocyst development rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.schoevers@vet.uu.nl
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schoevers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kidson
authors.forename: J H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Verheijden
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bevers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D009865:Oocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone