title: Development of a single bovine embryo improved by co-culture with trophoblastic vesicles in vitamin-supplemented medium.
abstract: To improve the development of singly cultured bovine embryos, we developed a co-culture method with trophoblastic vesicles. The growth of trophoblastic cells was markedly increased in vitamin-supplemented medium 199 compared with medium 199. Upon co-culture of a single embryo with trophoblastic vesicles in vitamin-supplemented medium 199, embryo development to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher than in embryos co-cultured with trophoblastic vesicles in RPMI 1640 or with cumulus cells in medium 199 (control). In the absence of the vitamin cocktail, co-culture with trophoblastic vesicles in medium 199 did not improve embryo development compared with that of the control. The vitamin cocktail was effective in embryo development when co-cultured with trophoblastic vesicles, but not with cumulus cells. Embryo development was not improved in the absence of co-cultured trophoblastic vesicles, even in the presence of vitamin cocktail. In conclusion, the co-culture system with trophoblastic vesicles in vitamin-supplemented medium 199 efficiently enhances the development of singly cultured embryos.
authors.affiliation: Fukuoka Agricultural Research Center, Fukuoka 818-8549, Japan. mori-m2180@pref.fukuoka.lg.jp
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Shojiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasa
authors.forename: Masa-aki
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D014815:Vitamins
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014815:Vitamins