Cytogenetic analysis of caprine 2- to 4-cell embryos produced in vitro

Prepubertal goat in vitro matured/in vitro fertilised oocytes produce only a small percentage of blastocysts. The present study examines the incidence of chromosomal anomalies in 2- to 4-cell embryos in vitro produced (IVP) from prepubertal oocytes fertilised with the semen of two males. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained by slicing ovaries from slaughtered prepubertal goats. Oocytes were matured in TCM199 supplemented with 20% heat inactivated Donor Bovine Serum (DBS), 10 microg/ml FSH + 10 microg/ml LH + 1 microg/ml 17beta-oestradiol for 27 h at 38.5 degrees C in 5% CO2 in air. IVM oocytes were inseminated with the sperm from two males prepared using the swim-up and heparin-capacitation procedures. At 24 h postinsemination (hpi) the oocytes were transferred to 100 microl drops of SOF medium for a further 24 h. At 17 hpi a sample of oocytes was stained with lacmoid to evaluate the nuclear stage after fertilisation. The cleavage rate was determined at 24, 36 and 48 hpi and chromosome slides were prepared according to the gradual-fixation technique and stained with Leishman. A total of 1070 2- to 4-cell embryos from prepubertal goat oocytes were studied, but it was only possible to analyse 241 cytogenetically. Of these, 40% exhibited a normal diploid chromosome complement, 59% were haploid and 1% were triploid. There were significant differences between the two males in sperm oocyte penetration and oocyte cleavage but no differences were found in chromosomal anomalies. In conclusion, the low number of embryos karyotyped and the high number of haploid embryos found in this study suggested a high incidence of abnormal fertilised embryos and deficient cytoplasmic maturation of the oocyte which inhibits sperm head decondensation.