Different factors affect developmental competence and cryotolerance in in vitro produced bovine embryo

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of culture systems and culture media on developmental competence and freezability of bovine embryos obtained by in vitro culture of in vitro matured and fertilized (IVM-IVF) oocytes. No significant difference was observed in the proportions of oocytes developed to blastocysts, the speed at which the oocytes reached the blastocyst stage and the number of cells, when the IVM-IVF oocytes were cultured in CR1aa with or without cumulus cells. Nevertheless, more of the IVM-IVF oocytes cultured either with or without cumulus cells in CR1aa were seen to reach the blastocyst stage much sooner than those cultured with cumulus cells in TCM199 (P<0.05). The proportion of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage by day 7 in CR1aa culture was significantly higher than embryos cultured in TCM199. Viability after frozen-thawed blastocysts were obtained in vitro, was seen in a significantly higher percentage of embryos cultured in TCM199 and developed to the hatched blastocysts than in those cultured in CR1aa (P<0.05). These results indicate that CR1aa was superior to TCM199 for the potential developmental of IVM-IVF oocytes to blastocysts during in vitro culture regardless of co-culture with or without cumulus cells. But the freezability of blastocysts developed in CR1aa was inferior to those developed in TCM199.