Exogenous paraoxonase-1 during oocyte maturation improves bovine embryo development in vitro.

The aims of this study were (i) to measure the direct effects of exogenous human recombinant PON1 (rPON1) on bovine oocyte maturation at the molecular level (gene expression) and (ii) to measure the carry-over effects of PON1 on pre-implantation embryo development in vitro.

Effects of cAMP modulators during in vitro prematuration of bovine oocytes on gap junctional communication and embryo development potential.

2016

The optimum concentration and timing of melatonin supplementation during IVP to improve bovine embryo development.

2015

Glutathione and abscisic acid supplementation influences somatic embryo maturation and hormone endogenous levels during somatic embryogenesis in Podocarpus lambertii Klotzsch ex Endl.

Here we propose a protocol for embryogenic cultures induction, proliferation and maturation for the Brazilian conifer Podocarpus lambertii, and investigated the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and glutathione (GSH) supplementation on the maturation phase. ABA, zeatin (Z) and salicylic acid (SA) endogenous levels were quantified. Number of somatic embryos obtained in ABA-supplemented treatment was signifi- cant higher than in ABA-free treatment, showing the relevance of ABA supplementation during somatic embryos maturation. Histological analysis showed the stereotyped sequence of developmental stages in conifer somatic embryos, reaching the late torpedo-staged embryo. GSH supplementation in maturation culture medium improved the somatic embryos number and morphological features. GSH 0 mM and GSH 0.1 mM treatments correlated with a decreased ABA endogenous level during maturation, while GSH 0.5 mM treatment showed constantlevels. Alltreatments resulted in decreased Z endogenous levels, supporting the concept that cytokinins are important during the initial cell division but not for the later stages of embryo development. The lowest SA levels found in GSH 0.5 mM treatment were coincident with early embryonic development, and this treatment resulted in the highest development of somatic embryos. Thus, a correlation between lower SA levels and improved somatic embryo formation can be hypothesized

Restricted intake and lipid inclusion: effects on ovarian follicular development in Santa Inês ewe lambs.

The reproductive efficiency is directly related to the nutritional management. The diet lipid inclusion, especially with enhanced sources of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, is positively associated to the ovarian follicular development of ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of toasted soybean grain addition on restricted or ad libitum feeding on ovarian follicular development of Santa Inês ewe lambs In conclusion, the diameter of the largest follicle and the number of >5 mm follicles were not influenced by the restricted intake diet nor the lipid inclusion; however, they increased in a direct relationship with the age of the animals.