In vitro production of cattle embryos: review and Belgian results

This paper reviews the overall process of in vitro production and cryopreservation of bovine embryos in Belgium. Three laboratories are involved in this field, one at the University of Liège, one at the University of Ghent and ours at the University of Louvain-La-Neuve. Each one uses this technology as a tool to reach different goals. This paper refers mainly to the work done in Louvain-La-Neuve. Oocytes are obtained by punction of 2-4 mm follicles on slaughtered cow ovaries. They are matured in hormone-supplemented TCM199 containing 10% heat-treated fetal calf serum. In vitro fertilization by Percoll-selected spermatozoa is followed by in vitro culture in oviduct-conditioned medium for 7-9 days. Six calves have been born from in vitro produced blastocysts. Recently, full development was obtained in conditioned medium without protein supplementation. This finding will allow further investigations on oviduct/embryo molecular communication and research of oviduct-secreted embryotrophic proteins which were impaired in previous culture systems using serum-supplemented media. In vitro produced blastocysts were frozen-thawed and non-surgically transferred: 7/19 recipients remained pregnant beyond 2 months. Embryo loss was high between day 21 and 35 (31%).