Stem Cell Conditioned Media Contains Important Growth Factors and Improves In Vitro Buffalo Embryo Production

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of MSCs-conditioned media (CM) on quality buffalo embryo production in vitro. MSCs were harvested from Wharton's jelly of 2-3 month old fetus and MSCs CM was collected. Immunocytochemistry and western blot assay revealed that MSCs secrete several important growth factors viz. FGF-2, IGF-1, LIF, TGF-β, and VEGF. Slaughterhouse derived culture grade cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured and fertilized in vitro. Presumptive zygotes were divided in four groups and cultured in vitro in respective media viz. group I (100% mSOF), Group II (100% Knockout Media DMEM+SR), Group III (50% CM + 50% mSOF), and group IV (100% CM). It was found that though the cleavage rate did not changed significantly (p < 0.05), but blastocyst rate was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in Group III and IV (24.24 ± 1.34 and 23.29 ± 1.25, respectively) compared to group I and II (16.04 ± 1.46 and 17.72 ± 0.94, respectively). Similarly, TCN was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 50% CM and 100% CM replacement group (93.33 ± 1.91 and 92.13 ± 1.04, respectively) than the other two groups. It can be concluded from the study that MSCs secrete several important growth factors and MSCs-CM can be effectively used for enhancement of quality buffalo embryo production in vitro.