Abstract

FERNANDEZ, Adriana; DIAZ, Thaís  and  MUNOZ, Gladys. In vitro Production of Bovine Embryos. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2007, vol.48, n.1, pp.51-60. ISSN 0258-6576.

The aim of the present work was to standardize and validate the techniques for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the in vitro production of bovine embryos at the Biotechnology Lab of Instituto de Reproducción Animal, at the Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Central de Venezuela. A total of 544 oocytes were obtained from ovaries collected at the slaughterhouse and selected to undergo the process of IVF. Of the total, three hundred and ninety nine oocytes were fertilized, reaching a fertilization rate of 73.3%; with an embryo development rate of 35.1% (191/544); a total of 74 morulae (13.6%); and 9 transferable blastocysts (1.6%). According to their morphology, out of 148 oocytes surrounded by more than six layers of cumulus cells, 107 (72.7%) were fertilized; 35.1% (52/148) had embryo development rate, while oocytes surrounded by 4-6 layers of cumulus cells reached a fertilization rate of 81.8% (122/148), and a rate of embryo division of 46.3% (69/149). Oocytes with 2-3 layers of cumulus cells at the moment of oocyte maturation, reached a fertilization rate of 76.9% (117/152), with an embryo division rate of 37% (56/152). Denuded oocytes at the moment of maturation had a fertilization rate of 55.7% (53/95), as well as 14.7% (14/95) of embryo development. These results show the feasibility of the development and implementation of the IVF technique for production of bovine embryos, which allows an increase in the production, selection and commercialization of bovine embryos with the purpose of stimulating the embryo transfer biotechnology industry in Venezuela. These techniques could serve as the basis for the development of other technologies.

Keywords : In vitro fertilization; cattle; in vitro embryo production.

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