Simple separation of good quality bovine oocytes using a microfluidic device

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) efficiency is limited by oocyte quality.
• Selecting high-quality oocytes is crucial for successful embryo development.
• Current selection methods can be subjective or labor-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple microfluidic device for separating bovine oocytes based on quality.
• To improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by utilizing superior oocytes.
• To offer a potentially more efficient and objective method for oocyte selection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microfluidic device with a 700 µm wide, 1 mm high, and 10 mm long separation channel.
• Separation of oocytes based on differential sedimentation rates in a sucrose buffer, correlating with oocyte quality.
• Collection of oocytes from distinct upper and lower outlets based on their settlement speed.

Main Results:

• Good quality bovine oocytes exhibited faster sedimentation rates in sucrose buffer compared to poor quality oocytes.
• Oocytes collected from the lower outlet (presumed good quality) showed a significantly higher developmental rate to blastocysts (36.0%) compared to those from the upper outlet (14.1%).
• The microfluidic device's performance was comparable to the established BCB staining method (BCB+: 35.7%, BCB-: 15.4%).

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic device offers a viable method for separating bovine oocytes based on quality.
• This technology has the potential to enhance in vitro embryo production systems by improving oocyte selection.
• The device provides a promising tool for increasing the efficiency and success rates of bovine IVF.