title: Factors affecting laboratory production of buffalo embryos: a meta-analysis.
abstract: In vitro fertilization (IVF) provides an excellent and inexpensive source of embryos for carrying out basic research on developmental physiology, farm animal breeding, and for commercial applications. Meta-analysis of the results from different publications rather than a narrative review may provide a current status of this technology in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In order to gain an idea of the factors affecting the IVF in buffalo, a review of the various studies conducted on buffalo IVF and a meta-analysis of their findings was undertaken. More than 100 articles published from 1991 to 2008 were searched, and results were subjected to meta-analysis to determine the treatment variations without any bias. Thirty factors affecting in vitro embryo production in buffalo were considered. Initially, both fixed- and random-effect models were used. We did not observe any heterogeneity between the studies. Thereafter, all the studies were pooled using the fixed-effect model for analysis. Our analysis suggested that good buffalo oocytes with more than three to five cumulus layers recovered from large-sized follicles in cold seasons when cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with serum, follicle-stimulating hormone, and cysteamine resulted in maximum maturation rate and subsequent embryonic development after insemination. The values obtained in the current study may be considered for a simulation model in establishing a cost-effective suitable method for buffalo IVF in further planned research.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000196:embryology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D003543:Cysteamine; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone