Influence of Oxygen Consumption on Pregnancy Rates of Hanwoo Calves following Embryo Transfer

Abstract

Recently, several approaches have been used to measure the oxygen consumption rates of individual embryos, but relationship between oxygen consumption and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo following embryo transfer has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the correlation between oxygen consumption rate and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo embryo using a SECM. In addition to, the expression of apoptosis-related genes was determined using real-time PCR by extracting RNA according to the oxygen consumption of in vivo embryo. First, we found that the oxygen consumption significantly increased in blastocyst-stage embryos (blastocyst) compared to early blastocyst stage embryos, indicating that oxygen consumption reflects the embryo quality (Grade I). The oxygen consumption or GI blastocysts were significantly higher than those of GⅡ blastocysts (10.2×10 14 /mol s -1 versus 6.4×10 14 /mol s -1 , p< 0.05). Pregnant rate in recipient cow was 0, 60 and 80% in the transplantation of embryo with the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0∼12.0 and over 12.0 × 10 14 /mol s -1 , respectively. Apoptosis regulatory genes, Hsp-70.1 were significantly increased in over-10.0 group than below 10.0 group but in Caspase-3, Bax and P53 gene, there was no significant difference. In conclusion, These results suggest that measurement of oxygen consumption maybe help increase the pregnant rate of Hanwoo embryos.