Comparative effects of adding β-mercaptoethanol or L-ascorbic acid to culture or vitrification-warming media on IVF porcine embryos

摘要

The aims of the present study were to; (1) determine the effects of supplementation with two antioxidants during in vitro culture (IVC) on embryo development and quality; and (2) test the effects of adding the antioxidants to vitrification-warming media on the cryotolerance of in vitro-produced (IVP) porcine blastocysts. In Experiment 1, presumptive zygotes were cultured without antioxidants, with 50μM β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) or with 100μM l-ascorbic acid (AC). After culture, blastocyst yield, quality and cryotolerance were evaluated in each treatment group. In Experiment 2, survival rates (3 and 24h), total cell number, apoptosis index and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in blastocysts vitrified-warmed with 100μM AC or 50μM β-ME or without antioxidants added to the vitrification medium were compared. Antioxidant addition during IVC had no effect on embryo development, total cell number or the apoptosis index, and culturing embryos in the presence of β-ME had no effects on cryotolerance. In contrast, ROS levels and survival rates after vitrification-warming were significantly improved in embryos cultured with AC. Furthermore, addition of AC into vitrification-warming media enhanced embryo survival and embryo quality after warming. In conclusion, our results suggest that supplementing culture or vitrification media with 100μM AC improves the quality and cryosurvival of IVP porcine blastocysts. Journal compilation