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Effect of delipidant agents during in vitro culture on the development, lipid content, gene expression and cryotolerance of bovine embryos
Author(s) -
Dias Luzia Renata Oliveira,
Leme Ligiane Oliveira,
Sprícigo José Felipe Warmling,
Pivato Ivo,
Dode Margot Alves Nunes
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13579
Subject(s) - carnitine , embryo , blastocyst , in vitro , biology , cryopreservation , conjugated linoleic acid , gene expression , andrology , embryo culture , chemistry , linoleic acid , embryogenesis , biochemistry , fatty acid , gene , genetics , medicine
In vitro produced embryos are still sensitive to the freezing process which can be explained, in part, by the high‐lipid accumulation that characterizes these embryos. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of delipidating agents, L‐carnitine and the trans‐10 cis‐12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer, on blastocyst development, lipid content, gene expression and cryotolerance when added to embryo culture media. Embryos were cultured in four different media: T1: control ( n = 616), synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) media with 5% foetal bovine serum (FBS); T2: L‐carnitine ( n = 648), SOF medium with 5% FBS and 0.6 mg/ml of L‐carnitine; T3: CLA ( n = 627), SOF medium with 5% FBS and 100 μM trans‐10 cis‐12 CLA; and T4: L‐carnitine + CLA: ( n = 597), SOF medium with 5% FBS plus 0.6 mg/ml L‐carnitine and 100 μM trans‐10 cis‐12 CLA. Supplementation of culture medium with either or both delipidating agents reduced ( p < .05) blastocyst rate on D7 (T1 = 49 ± 3.5; T2 = 39 ± 3.0; T3 = 42 ± 3.9 and T4 = 39 ± 3.9), but did not affected gene expression ( p > .05). Although embryos cultured in the presence of L‐carnitine contained fewer ( p < .05) lipid droplets than the control embryos, they showed a lower re‐expansion rate 24 hr post‐thaw than those ( p < .05). In conclusion, although L‐carnitine reduced the amount of lipids in cultured embryos, the use of L‐carnitine and CLA during in vitro culture was not able to improve the embryo production and the response to cryopreservation.