Método de maturação ovocitária e cultivo embrionário bovino sob agitação 3D (por inclinação) lenta

Abstract

In vitro embryo production (IVEP) is a technique that has revolutionized the bovine reproduction niche by enabling the selection and dissemination of genetic material of interest to improve herd reproductive and zootechnical efficiency. However, some stages of this process, such as in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) and in vitro embryo culture (IVC), still present limitations, resulting in low rates of marketable blastocysts. Therefore, this study investigated the use of the 3D slow agitation method by tilting as an alternative to mimic the physiological environment of the fallopian tube in order to increase the efficiency of IVP. To this end, the continuous agitation regime was evaluated in various study groups and compared to control groups to investigate the impact of this methodology on cleavage rates, embryonic development, and blastocyst formation. Cleavage rates did not show significant differences between protocols, indicating that mechanical stimulation during in vitro maturation does not interfere with the initial number of embryos produced. However, embryonic development and, consequently, blastocyst formation were negatively affected, demonstrating that in vitro culture is a more sensitive stage and susceptible to environmental variations. The results showed that slow 3D tilting agitation, although a promising alternative due to its simplicity, low cost, and ease of application, still requires adjustments to the mechanical stimulus employed.