Improve developmental competence of parthenogenetic porcine embryo by combination ascorbic acid insulin- transferrin - selenium in culture condition

Abstract

Culture medium is an essential factor that affects directly on the development of the embryo during pre-implantation stages. In order to improve the quantity and quality of desired embryo, many treatments have been applied in culture condition. In this study, to enhance the quality of porcine blastocyst after culture, a timing assessment was used to evaluate the combination of Ascorbic acid (AA) and Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS) when added in IVM medium. Their effects will be observed based on the maturation of porcine oocytes and the development of parthenogenetic embryos. 1% ITS will be supplied for the first 22hrs or 44hrs during IVM with the presence of 50mg/ml AA. After examining the effect of AA addition, it can be concluded that there are no significant differences in the oocyte maturation rate between control and treated group (92.66±2.45%, 93.58±1.66%, respectively), but the blastocyst production ability was increased after culturing (39.22±2.06%, 46.53±2.03%, respectively). Likewise, in the study of ITS supplementation, the addition of AA when combined with or without ITS for the first 22hrs or 44hrs of IVM also showed no critical distinction among three groups (93.54±2.20%, 95.04±2.10%, 98.39±1.61%, respectively). However, when evaluating AA-ITS in 20hrs group with AA and AA-ITS in 44hrs groups, it appears to decrease the quantity of oocytes with non-expanding cumulus cell (2.15±1.08%, 6.46±2.20%, and 4.96±2.10%), hence yielding a higher number of blastocyst (56.67±1.92%, 46.81±5.01%, and 40.50±5.47%, respectively). To sum up, the timing assay of antioxidant supplement in the IVM culture medium did not promote a higher rate for oocyte maturation, but provide positive effects on developmental competence of parthenogenetic embryo. Keywords: Ascorbic acid, ITS, IVM, IVD, parthenogenetic embryo.