title: Progesterone improves porcine in vitro fertilisation system.
abstract: In an effort to improve the quality of in vitro produced porcine embryos, the effect of progestagens - progesterone analogues - on the in vitro developmental competence of porcine oocytes was studied. A total of 1421 in vitro matured oocytes, from 4 replicates, were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Progestagens were added to late maturation and embryo cultures (10 IU/ml). Fertilisation success (pre-maturation, penetration, monospermy and efficiency) and nuclear maturation were evaluated. There were no differences among prematuration rates between groups (P = 0.221). Penetration rates were higher (P < 0.001) in the presence of progestagens (75.0%) as compared to the control (51.7%). However, no differences were observed in monospermy percentages (P = 0.246). The results indicated that supplementation with progestagens increased the efficiency of the in vitro fertilisation system (P < 0.001). An additional beneficial effect was observed in nuclear maturation with progestagens (P = 0.035). In summary, progestagen supplementation is an important factor to improve the in vitro fertilisation procedure.
authors: Universidad de Zaragoza Department of Animal Pathology, Obstetrics and Reproduction Area, Faculty of Veterinary Miguel Servet 177 Zaragoza 50013 Spain.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Malo
authors: Universidad de Zaragoza Department of Animal Pathology, Obstetrics and Reproduction Area, Faculty of Veterinary Miguel Servet 177 Zaragoza 50013 Spain.
authors: Lydia
authors: L
authors: Gil
authors: Universidad de Zaragoza Department of Animal Pathology, Obstetrics and Reproduction Area, Faculty of Veterinary Miguel Servet 177 Zaragoza 50013 Spain.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Cano
authors: Universidad de Zaragoza Department of Animal Pathology, Obstetrics and Reproduction Area, Faculty of Veterinary Miguel Servet 177 Zaragoza 50013 Spain.
authors: Felisa
authors: F
authors: Martinez
authors: Universidad de Zaragoza Department of Animal Pathology, Obstetrics and Reproduction Area, Faculty of Veterinary Miguel Servet 177 Zaragoza 50013 Spain.
authors: Noelia
authors: N
authors: Gonzalez
keywords: In vitro fertilisation; oocyte maturation; porcine; progesterone