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Theriogenology2004; 63(8); 2254-2268; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.10.015

Differences in the incidence of apoptosis between in vivo and in vitro produced blastocysts of farm animal species: a comparative study.

Abstract: The occurrence of pregnancies and births after embryo transfer (ET) of in vivo produced embryos is generally more successful compared to that of embryos produced in vitro. This difference in ET success has been observed when embryos of morphological equal (high) quality were used. The incidence of apoptosis has been suggested as an additional criterion to morphological embryo evaluation in order to assess embryo quality and effectively predict embryo viability. In this study, equine, porcine, ovine, caprine and bovine in vivo and in vitro produced morphologically selected high quality (grade-I) blastocysts were compared for the occurrence of apoptosis in blastomeres. The total number of cells per embryo and the number of cells with damaged plasma membranes, fragmented DNA and fragmented nuclei per embryo were assessed in selected blastocysts by combining Ethidium homodimer (EthD-1), terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Hoechst 33342 staining. In general, the level of blastomere apoptosis was low. A higher level of apoptosis was observed in in vitro produced equine, porcine and bovine blastocysts compared to their in vivo counterparts. Interestingly, 4 of the initially selected 29 bovine in vitro produced blastocysts exhibited extensive signs of apoptosis affecting the inner cell mass (ICM), which is not compatible with a viable conceptus. Repeated occurrence of this observation may explain the lower ET outcome of in vitro produced bovine embryos compared to in vivo produced embryos. It is concluded that, although in morphologically high quality blastocysts of several farm animal species a significant difference exists in the percentages of apoptotic cells between in vivo and in vitro produced embryos, the incidence of apoptosis at the blastocyst stage is at such a low level that it cannot reflect the substantial differences in embryo viability that have been described between in vivo and in vitro produced blastocysts following ET.
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Publication Date: 2004-11-28 PubMed ID: 15826688DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.10.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study compared the occurrence of cell death (apoptosis) in animal embryos developed in a lab (in vitro) and those developed naturally (in vivo). Despite both set of embryos being of high quality, there were more instances of cell death in the lab-developed ones. Particularly, the study also found that some signs of cell death were repeatedly found in the inner cell mass of lab-developed embryos, which could potentially explain lower embryo transfer success rates with these embryos.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The objective of the research was to investigate why in vitro produced embryos from various farm animals (equine, porcine, ovine, caprine, and bovine) have lower success rates in terms of pregnancies and births upon embryo transfer (ET) despite being of high morphological quality like their in vivo counterparts.
  • The team used a comparative approach, examining both in vitro and in vivo produced embryos of the same species and focusing on the incidence of cell death (apoptosis) as a potential factor in their viability and success in ET.
  • Cell death was detected by examining cell membrane damage, fragmented DNA and fragmented nuclei in selected embryos using Ethidium homodimer (EthD-1), terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Hoechst 33342 staining.

Findings

  • In general, cell death in these embryos was found to be low across all species examined.
  • Blastomeres (an early stage cell in the embryo) in in vitro produced equine, porcine and bovine embryos showed a higher level of cell death compared to their in vivo counterparts.
  • In particular, 4 out of the 29 lab-developed bovine blastocysts studied showed extensive cell death signs in their inner cell mass (ICM), a condition which is not compatible with a viable embryo.
  • This higher cell death rate specifically in the ICM of in vitro developed embryos could possibly explain why they have lower ET outcomes.

Conclusion

  • Despite the fact that morphologically high-quality blastocysts of several farm animal species present a significant difference in the percentage of cell death between in vitro and in vivo production, the incidence of this phenomenon at the blastocyst stage is low.
  • This suggests that while a difference in occurrence of cell death exists and could contribute to the described difference in success rate, it isn’t extensive enough to fully account for the substantial difference in embryo viability observed between in vivo and in vitro produced blastocysts following ET.

Cite This Article

APA
Pomar FJ, Teerds KJ, Kidson A, Colenbrander B, Tharasanit T, Aguilar B, Roelen BA. (2004). Differences in the incidence of apoptosis between in vivo and in vitro produced blastocysts of farm animal species: a comparative study. Theriogenology, 63(8), 2254-2268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.10.015

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 0093-691X
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 8
Pages: 2254-2268

Researcher Affiliations

Pomar, F J Rubio
  • Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Teerds, K J
    Kidson, A
      Colenbrander, B
        Tharasanit, T
          Aguilar, B
            Roelen, B A J

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Animals, Domestic
              • Apoptosis
              • Benzimidazoles
              • Blastocyst / ultrastructure
              • Cattle / embryology
              • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
              • DNA Fragmentation
              • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
              • Female
              • Fertilization / physiology
              • Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
              • Fluorescent Dyes
              • Goats / embryology
              • Horses / embryology
              • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
              • Pregnancy
              • Sheep / embryology
              • Swine / embryology

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