In Vitro Production of Embryos from Prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo: Problems, Progress and Potential

Abstract

Laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in prepubertal cattle and buffalo accelerates genetic gain. This article reviews LOPU-IVEP technology in prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo. The recent expansion of genomic-assisted selection has renewed interest and demand for prepubertal LOPU-IVEP schemes; however, low blastocyst development rates has constrained its widespread implementation. Here, we present an overview of the current state of the technology, limitations that persist and suggest possible solutions to improve its efficiency, with a focus on gonadotropin stimulations strategies to prime oocytes prior to follicular aspiration, and IVEP procedures promoting growth factor metabolism and limiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Comparing in vitro maturation rates in buffalo and cattle oocytes and evaluating the effect of cAMP modulators on maturation and subsequent developmental competence

“…As The data of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in buffalo showed a lower efficiency compared to cattle. This rapid maturation rate can explain the developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes is lower than in vivo matured as mentioned before by [4,[24][25][26].…”

“…Buffalo oocytes reached nuclear maturation faster than cattle oocytes, according to these findings. The higher maturation rate observed in buffalo than cattle oocytes doesn't mean that developmental competence of buffalo oocytes will be higher than cattle [4]. As The data of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in buffalo showed a lower efficiency compared to cattle.…”

“…In vitro embryo production (IVEP) efficiency in buffalo is lower than in cattle, according to research, and this could be improved further by selecting highquality oocytes and/or improving the in vitro embryo culture system [3] [4] [5] [6]. The lack of synchronization between nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, as well as insufficient cytoplasmic maturation, results in oocytes matured in vitro having lower developmental competence than those matured in vivo [3,4,6,7]. Despite extensive research into factors affecting oocyte maturation in mice and other animals, the molecular mechanism governing oocyte maturation in buffalo remains unknown [8][9][10][11].…”

Factors Affecting the Efficiency of In Vitro Embryo Production in Prepubertal Mediterranean Water Buffalo

“…Although the age of first calving is affected by various factors including nutrition [ 11 ], the interval between generations is a major factor impeding rates of genetic gain. Hence, a viable alternative is recovering cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from prepubertal animals using laparoscopic ovum pickup (LOPU) combined with IVEP to produce embryos from elite donor animals at a very young age [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. As LOPU can safely be repeated at regular intervals on animals as young as two months of age [ 14 ], prepubertal LOPU-IVEP programs represent an exciting biotechnology that dramatically decreases the generation interval and has been used in multiple ruminant species including buffalo [ 5 , 15 ], cattle [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], goat [ 19 , 20 ] and sheep [ 21 , 22 ].…”

IGF2R, KCNQ1, PLAGL1, and SNRPN DNA methylation is completed in bovine by the early antral follicle stage

“…However, this shorter generation interval comes at the expense of developmental competence (Landry et al, 2016; Lévesque & Sirard, 1994; Steeves et al, 1999). Differences in follicular development dynamics (Currin et al, 2021; Landry, Labrecque, et al, 2018; Landry, Rossi‐Perazza, et al, 2018; Warzych et al, 2017) result in oocytes collected from prepubertal donors to enter atresia faster than their mature donor counterparts when left in the follicle longer before OPU (Landry, Labrecque, et al, 2018; Landry, Rossi‐Perazza, et al, 2018). Moreover, molecular evidence highlighted transcriptomic (Morin‐Doré et al, 2017) and epigenetic (Morin‐Doré et al, 2020) differences between embryos derived from mature and immature oocyte donors.…”