Laboratory production of cattle embryos

577 Pages·2003·11.87 MB·English

by  I Gordon, what can be done for the cow today will later be applicable to other farm livestock and

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE SERIES
General Editor: Gabrielle J. Persley, Biotechnology Adviser, Environmentally Sustainable
Development, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA.
For a number of years, biotechnology has held out the prospect for major advances in agricultural
production, but only recently have the results of this new revolution started to reach application in
the field. The potential for further rapid developments is, however, immense.
The aim of this book series is to review advances and current knowledge in key areas of
biotechnology as applied to crop and animal production, forestry and food science. Some titles focus
on individual crop species, others on specific goals such as plant protection or animal health, with yet
others addressing particular methodologies such as tissue culture, transformation or immunoassay.
In some cases, relevant molecular and cell biology and genetics are also covered. Issues of relevance
to both industrialized and developing countries are addressed and social, economic and legal
implications are also considered. Most titles are written for research workers in the biological sciences
and agriculture, but some are also useful as textbooks for senior-level students in these disciplines.
Editorial AdvisoryBoard:
E.P. Cunningham, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland.
P. Day, Rutgers, University, New Jersey, USA.
J.H. Dodds, Attorney at Law/Patent Attorney, Washington, DC, USA.
S.L. Krugman, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
I. Morrison, Institute for Animal Health, Compton, UK.
W.J. Peacock, CSIRO, Division of Plant Industry, Australia.
Titles Available:
1: Beyond Mendel’s Garden: Biotechnology in the Service of World Agriculture*
G.J. Persley
2: Agricultural Biotechnology: Opportunities for International Development
Edited by G.J. Persley
3: The Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Potato*
Edited by M.E. Vayda and W.D. Park
4: Advanced Methods in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Edited by D.R. Murray
5: Barley: Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Edited by P.R. Shewry
6: Rice Biotechnology
Edited by G.S. Khush and G.H. Toenniessen
7: Plant Genetic Manipulation for Crop Protection*
Edited by A. Gatehouse, V. Hilder and D. Boulter
8: Biotechnology of Perennial Fruit Crops
Edited by F.A. Hammerschlag and R.E. Litz
9: Bioconversion of Forest and Agricultural Plant Residues
Edited by J.N. Saddler
10: Peas: Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Edited by R. Casey and D.R. Davies
11: Laboratory Production of Cattle Embryos
I. Gordon
12: The Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Potato, 2nd edn
Edited by W.R. Belknap, M.E. Vayda and W.D. Park
13: New Diagnostics in Crop Sciences
Edited by J.H. Skerritt and R. Appels
14: Soybean: Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Edited by D.P.S. Verma and R.C. Shoemaker
15: Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management
Edited by G.J. Persley
16: Biotechnology of Ornamental Plants
Edited by R.L. Geneve, J.E. Preece and S.A. Merkle
17: Biotechnology and the Improvement of Forage Legumes
Edited by B.D. McKersie and D.C.W. Brown
18: Milk Composition, Production and Biotechnology
Edited by R.A.S. Welch, D.J.W. Burns, S.R. Davis, A.I. Popay and C.G. Prosser
19: Biotechnology and Plant Genetic Resources: Conservation and Use
Edited by J.A. Callow, B.V. Ford-Lloyd and H.J. Newbury
20: Intellectual Property Rights in Agricultural Biotechnology
Edited by F.H. Erbisch and K.M. Maredia
21: Agricultural Biotechnology in International Development
Edited by C. Ives and B. Bedford
22: The Exploitation of Plant Genetic Information: Political Strategies in Crop Development
R. Pistorius and J. van Wijk
23: Managing Agricultural Biotechnology: Addressing Research Program Needs and Policy
Implications
Edited by J.I. Cohen
24: The Biotechnology Revolution in Global Agriculture: Innovation, Invention and Investment in
the Canola Industry
P.W.B. Phillips and G.G. Khachatourians
25: Agricultural Biotechnology: Country Case Studies – a Decade of Development
Edited by G.J. Persley and L.R. MacIntyre
26: Biotechnology and Sustainable Development: Voices of the South and North
Edited by I. Serageldin and G.J. Persley
27: Laboratory Production of Cattle Embryos, 2nd edition
I. Gordon
28: Intellectual Property Rights in Agricultural Biotechnology, 2nd edition
F.H. Erbisch and K.M. Maredia
*Out of print
Biotechnology in Agriculture No. 27
Laboratory Production of Cattle Embryos
Second Edition
I. Gordon
Professor Emeritus
Department of Animal Science and Production
University College Dublin
Ireland
CABI Publishing
CABI Publishing is a division of CAB International
CABI Publishing CABI Publishing
CAB International 44 Brattle Street
Wallingford 4th Floor
Oxon OX10 8DE Cambridge, MA 02138
UK USA
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E-mail:
Contents
List of Tables and Figures xx
Preface xxvi
1 Developments in Embryo in Vitro Production (IVP) Technology1
1.1. Historical Aspects 1
1.1.1. Early IVF reports 1
1.1.2. Cattle IVF 1
1.2. Cambridge Contributions 3
1.2.1. School of Agriculture 3
1.2.2. Animal Research Station 3
Embryos across the Atlantic 4
Using rabbits to good effect 4
Dawn of cattle ET industry 5
1.2.3. Cambridge, Babraham and beyond 5
1.3. Irish Contributions 6
1.3.1. Early studies in cattle 7
1.3.2. Cattle twins by embryo transfer 8
1.3.3. Low-cost embryos 8
1.3.4. Commercializing the embryo production procedure 10
1.3.5. Commercial unacceptability 10
1.3.6. Towards sexed semen on the farm 12
1.4. Developments in ET Technology 13
1.4.1. Thirty years of progress 13
1.4.2. Current cattle ET activity 14
1.4.3. Commercial advantages of cattle ET 15
1.5. Laboratory-produced Embryos 15
1.5.1. Current level of activity 16
Ovum pick-up (OPU) 16
1.5.2. Research with bovine IVP embryos 17
1.5.3. Commercial use of IVP embryos 18
1.5.4. Pathogen-free IVP embryos 19
1.5.5. Animal health and welfare considerations 20
1.6. Embryo Production in Other Farm Mammals 20
1.6.1. Buffaloes 21
1.6.2. Horses 22
v
vi Contents
1.6.3. Pigs 26
1.6.4. Sheep and goats 28
1.6.5. Deer 30
1.6.6. Camelids 31
1.7. Human in Vitro Fertilization 32
1.7.1. Historical aspects 32
1.7.2. Establishment of pregnancy by embryo transfer 33
1.7.3. Ovarian stimulation regimens for IVF 33
1.7.4. Recovery of human oocytes 34
1.7.5. In vitro maturation of human oocytes 34
1.7.6. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) 36
1.7.7. Early embryo culture 37
1.7.8. Assessing embryo quality 38
1.7.9. Cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes 39
Oocyte preservation 40
1.7.10. Gender preselection 40
2 The Bovine Oestrous Cycle and Associated Events 42
2.1. Oestrus and the Oestrous Cycle 42
2.1.1. Oestrus 42
2.1.2. Expression of heat 44
2.1.3. Aids to heat detection 44
2.1.4. Endocrine basis of oestrus 45
2.2. The Oestrous Cycle 46
2.2.1. Corpus luteum and progesterone 46
2.2.2. Follicular dynamics in the cow 49
Growing understanding of folliculogenesis 49
Zebu cattle 52
2.2.3. The dominant follicle 52
2.2.4. Monitoring ovarian activity 53
2.3. Endocrine Events in the Oestrous Cycle 55
2.3.1. Gonadotrophin release 55
2.3.2. Intraovarian events 56
2.4. Synchronizing Oestrus 56
2.4.1. Treatment regimens 56
2.5. Prenatal Development of the Bovine Ovary 58
2.5.1. Migration of primordial germ cells 59
2.5.2. Formation of oogonia 59
2.5.3. The primordial follicle 60
2.5.4. Activation of primordial follicles 61
2.5.5. Growth and development of follicles 61
2.5.6. Formation of the zona pellucida 62
2.5.7. Development of growing follicles 63
2.5.8. Antral follicles 63
2.5.9. Follicular atresia 64
2.6. The Bovine Ovary in Postnatal Life 64
2.6.1. The prepubertal animal 64
2.6.2. Antral follicle population 65
2.6.3. Follicle development 65
Granulosa cells 66
Thecal cells 67
Basement membrane 68
Contents vii
2.6.4. Oocyte growth and development 68
Nucleus and nucleolus 70
Mitochondria 70
Golgi complex 70
Cortical granules 71
Ribosomes and cytoplasmic lattices 71
Biochemical aspects of oocyte growth 71
2.6.5. Endocrine events during follicle growth and development 72
Gonadotrophins 72
Oestradiol and progesterone 72
Androstenedione and testosterone 72
2.6.6. Follicular atresia 73
2.7. Induction of Multiple Ovulations in the Cow 73
2.7.1. Gonadotrophins 74
2.7.2. Control of follicle growth 74
Controlling ovulation 75
2.7.3. Animal and environmental effects 75
Nutritional effects 76
2.7.4. Long-range assessments and sexed semen 77
2.7.5. Recombinant bovine somatotrophin (r-BST) and follicle growth 77
2.7.6. Characteristics of preovulatory follicles and oocytes after superovulation 78
3 Recovering the Bovine Oocyte 79
3.1. Oocyte Recovery: Abattoir Ovaries 79
3.1.1. Dissecting the intact follicle 79
Sheep and cattle 79
Other farm animals 80
3.1.2. Aspiration techniques: old and new 80
3.1.3. Ovary slicing techniques 81
Slicing and aspiration 83
Other farm animals 83
3.1.4. Transillumination-aspiration ovary (TAO) 83
3.2. Abattoir Ovaries 83
3.2.1. Ovary storage: temperatures and time-limits 83
3.2.2. Ovary storage to enhance oocyte quality
3.2.3. Temperature sensitivity of oocytes
3.2.4. Follicle size and quality
3.3. Recovering Oocytes: Live Cattle 85
3.3.1. Advantages and alternatives 86
Mares 87
Buffaloes and pigs 87
3.3.2. Laparoscopic methods of follicular aspiration 87
3.3.3. Ultrasonic methods of follicular aspiration 88
Developments in ultrasound technology 88
Ultrasound in research and practice 88
3.3.4. Developments in ovum pick-up technology 89
OPU in zebu cattle 92
3.3.5. Hormonal and nutritional pretreatments 92
Influence of growth hormone 93
Retinol 93
3.3.6. Oocytes from pregnant cattle 93
FSH stimulation 94
viii Contents
3.3.7. Oocytes from post-partum cattle 94
3.3.8. Oocytes from calves and prepubertal cattle 94
3.4. Live Donors: Other Considerations 95
3.4.1. Recovering secondary oocytes 96
3.4.2. Enhancing quality of primary oocytes 96
3.4.3. Oocyte transportation 97
3.5. Factors Affecting Oocyte Quality 97
3.5.1. Age of animal 98
Oocytes from fetal ovaries 101
3.5.2. Cattle category, oestrous cycle and ovarian morphology 101
Cattle category 101
Stage of cycle 101
Determining cycle stage 102
Morphology of ovaries 102
Cystic follicles 103
3.5.3. Body condition and nutritional considerations 103
3.5.4. Reproductive status of donor 104
3.5.5. Animal factors 104
3.5.6. Environmental factors 104
3.6. Assessing Oocyte Quality 105
3.6.1. Oocyte morphology: classification schemes 105
Oocyte diameter 108
Lipid vesicles 108
Oestradiol: progesterone ratio 108
Gene expression 108
Oocytes from zebu cattle 108
3.7. Oocytes from Preantral and Early Antral Follicles 108
3.7.1. Birth of young in mice 109
3.7.2. Differences between mice and cattle follicles 109
3.7.3. Utilizing early antral follicles 110
3.7.4. Preantral follicles in humans and pigs 111
4 Maturing the Bovine Oocyte 112
4.1. Oocyte Maturation in Vivo 112
4.1.1. Summary of events 112
4.1.2. Events leading to ovulation 113
4.1.3. Nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation 114
4.1.4. Biochemical and physiological events during maturation 116
4.2. Oocyte Maturation in the Laboratory 118
4.2.1. Historical aspects 118
4.2.2. Current understanding of in vitro maturation in cattle 120
4.3. In Vitro Maturation (IVM) Culture Systems 121
4.3.1. Culturing intact follicles 122
4.3.2. Simple and complex maturation media 122
Tissue culture medium 199 123
4.3.3. Buffering systems, osmolarity and surface tension 123
4.3.4. Water-quality considerations 123
4.3.5. Static and flux culture systems 124
4.3.6. Effect of maturation time 124
4.3.7. Antibiotic cover and oil overlay 125
Contents ix
4.3.8. Temperature, gas phase and toxic factors 125
Temperature 125
Gas phase 126
Toxic factors – ammonium 126
4.3.9. Bovine serum and bovine serum albumin 126
Bovine serum albumin (BSA) 127
Sources of bovine serum 127
Constituents of bovine serum 127
Serum levels employed in IVMmedia 128
Heat treatment of serum 128
4.3.10. Bovine follicular fluid 129
Inhibitory action of follicular fluid 130
Follicular fluid composition 130
Hyaluronic acid as a serum substitute 131
Hyaluronan in culturing oocytes in small groups 131
4.4. Somatic-cell Support 132
4.4.1. Cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) 132
4.4.2. Connexin 43 and oocyte meiotic maturation 132
4.4.3. Additional cumulus/granulosa cells 133
4.4.4. Special needs of ovum pick-up (OPU) oocytes 134
4.4.5. Use of non-follicular cells 135
4.4.6. Action of theca cells 135
4.5. Hormones and Growth Factors 135
4.5.1. Hormones 136
Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone 136
Prolactin 137
Growth hormone (somatotrophin) 137
Steroids 137
Insulin and GH-RH 138
4.5.2. Growth factors 138
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) 139
IGF family 139
Midkine and other growth factors 140
Other farm animals 140
4.5.3. Cytokines 140
4.5.4. Oocyte-derived growth factors 140
4.6. Oocytes Cultured Singly or in Groups 141
4.6.1. Single-oocyte culture systems 141
4.7. Single-culture medium systems 142
4.7.1. Synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) formulations 142
4.8. Chemically Defined Culture Systems 143
4.8.1. Using synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) 143
4.8.2. TCM-199 143
4.9. Oxidative Stress in Oocyte Maturation 144
4.9.1. Role of glutathione (GSH) 144
4.10. Two-step Culture Systems 145
4.10.1. Background information 145
4.10.2. Maintenance of meiotic arrest 146
Cattle oocytes 147
4.10.3. Biological inhibitors 147
Influence of granulosa–theca cells 147