This study attempted to investigate and validate whether epididymis cold storage could be a suitable alternative for short-term preservation of spermatozoa. Mouse cauda epididymides and spermatozoa were preserved at 4–8°C from 1 day to 6 weeks. From days 1 to 10, motility and fertility were daily examined when motility loss occurred. From week 1, spermatozoa were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at weekly intervals to test their fertility, and spermatozoa DNA integrity was determined by comet assay. We found that motility and progressive motility scores gradually decreased with storage time. In nearly all spermatozoa, DNA integrity was maintained from days 1 to 10, but the percentage of spermatozoa with damaged DNA significantly increased from week 2 to week 6. Spermatozoa retained fertility until day 6, although fertility gradually decreased after day 3. From week 1 to week 5, fertilization rates by ICSI were more than 82.69% but decreased gradually after week 3. We found that spermatozoa preserved in the epididymis at 4–8°C had progressively lower motility, fertility and proportion of undamaged DNA, but could still fertilize oocytes. However, all the parameters of cold-preserved spermatozoa were completely inferior to that from cold-preserved cauda epididymides. The results imply that cold storage of cauda epididymides could be conducive to short-term preservation of spermatozoa, and the cold-stored spermatozoa can resist DNA denaturation, which is necessary for maintaining reproductive ability.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acylated ghrelin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. IVM medium was supplemented with 20, 40 or 60 pM acylated ghrelin concentrations. Cumulus expansion area and oocyte nuclear maturation were studied as maturation parameters. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were assessed with the comet, apoptosis and viability assays. The in vitro effects of acylated ghrelin on embryo developmental capacity and embryo quality were also evaluated. Results demonstrated that acylated ghrelin did not affect oocyte nuclear maturation and cumulus expansion area. However, it induced cumulus cell (CC) death, apoptosis and DNA damage. The damage increased as a function of the concentration employed. Additionally, the percentages of blastocyst yield, hatching and embryo quality decreased with all acylated ghrelin concentrations tested. Our study highlights the importance of acylated ghrelin in bovine reproduction, suggesting that this metabolic hormone could function as a signal that prevents the progress to reproductive processes.

Following ovulation, oocytes undergo a time-dependent deterioration in quality referred to as post-ovulatory ageing. Although various factors influence the post-ovulatory ageing of oocytes, oxidative stress is a key factor involved in deterioration of oocyte quality. Artemisia asiatica Nakai ex Pamp. has been widely used in East Asia as a food ingredient and traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, and microbial infections. Recent studies have shown that A. asiatica exhibits antioxidative effects. In this study, we investigated whether A. asiatica has the potential to attenuate deterioration in oocyte quality during post-ovulatory ageing. Freshly ovulated mouse oocytes were cultured with 0, 50, 100 or 200 μg/ml ethanol extracts of A. asiatica Nakai ex Pamp. After culture for up to 24 h, various ageing-induced oocyte abnormalities, including morphological changes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, apoptosis, chromosome and spindle defects, and mitochondrial aggregation were determined. Treatment of oocytes with A. asiatica extracts reduced ageing-induced morphological changes. Moreover, A. asiatica extracts decreased ROS generation and the onset of apoptosis by preventing elevation of the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio during post-ovulatory ageing. Furthermore, A. asiatica extracts attenuated the ageing-induced abnormalities including spindle defects, chromosome misalignment and mitochondrial aggregation. Our results demonstrate that A. asiatica can relieve deterioration in oocyte quality and delay the onset of apoptosis during post-ovulatory ageing.

This study examined the effects of meiosis inhibition during bovine oocyte transportation on developmental competence and quality of produced embryos. The transportation medium was supplemented with: 100 μM butyrolactone I (BL), 500 μM IBMX + 100 μM forskolin (mSPOM), 100 μM milrinone (MR) or follicular fluid (bFF), and was carried out in a portable incubator for 6 h. Next, oocytes were in vitro matured (IVM) for 18 h, without the meiotic inhibitors, with the exception of mSPOM group, in which was added 20 μM cilostamide. The three control groups were IVM with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) (Control Lab FCS) or 0.6% bovine serum albumin (BSA) (Control Lab BSA) in a CO2 in air incubator or in the portable incubator with 0.6% BSA (Control Transp BSA). Higher cleavage rates (P < 0.05) were obtained in the Control Lab FCS group (84.5 ± 5.3%) compared with the other groups (59.6 ± 3.4% to 70.9 ± 2.3%). Embryonic development was higher (P < 0.05) in the Control Lab FCS group (39.8 ± 4.7%) than in the Control Transp BSA (22.7 ± 3.4%) and MR (21.6 ± 2.3%) groups. However, they were similar (P > 0.05) to the other groups (23.6 ± 3.3% to 28.8 ± 2.7%). The total number of blastomeres was higher (P < 0.05) in the Control Lab FCS group (85.2 ± 5.6) than in Control Lab BSA (53.6 ± 2.9), Control Transp BSA (55.5 ± 4.4), BL (58.2 ± 3.0), mSPOM (57.9 ± 4.9) and MR (59.2 ± 3.9), but all these treatments did not differ (P > 0.05) from bFF (67.7 ± 4.2). No differences (P > 0.05) were found in apoptosis by the activity of caspases (139.0 ± 3.2 to 152.4 ± 6.5, expressed in fluorescence intensity) as well as the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells (12.3 ± 2.0% to 15.7 ± 1.7%). In conclusion, the transportation of oocytes over 6 h with BL, mSPOM or bFF enabled the acquisition of developmental competence at similar rates to the Control Lab FCS group.

The tubulin cofactors TBCD and TBCE play an essential role in regulation of the microtubule dynamics in a wide variety of somatic cells, but little information is known about the expression of these cofactors in human sperm and oocytes. In this study, we focused on the investigation of the presence of, and the differential distribution of, the tubulin cofactors TBCD and TBCE in human sperm and during human oocyte maturation. We performed expression assays for TBCD and TBCE by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunofluorescence and verified the presence of both cofactors in human gametes. TBCD and TBCE were located mainly in the middle region and in the tail of the sperm while in the oocyte the localization was cytosolic. The mRNA of both tubulin cofactors were present in the human oocytes but not in sperm cells. This finding gives a first insight into where TBCD and TBCE could carry out their function in the continuous changes that the cytoskeleton experiences during gametogenesis and also prior to fertilization.

High levels of reactive oxygen species in the semen of infertile patients or spontaneously generated during in vitro sperm handling may impair sperm quality, fertilization and embryo developmental competence. We recently reported that zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10, contained in the dietary supplement Genadis® (Merck Serono), have protective effects on human and bull sperm motility, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in vitro; furthermore, in bovine, treated spermatozoa had an improved ability to support embryo development. However, only a few studies have investigated the protective role of antioxidants during in vitro sperm handling in the presence of an exogenous oxidative stress. Herein, to simulate such conditions in an animal model, we induced exogenous oxidative stress on spermatozoa through the xanthine–xanthine oxidase system and investigated its effects on sperm function and subsequent embryo developmental competence in the presence of zinc, d-Asp and CoQ10 protection. The main results showed that exogenous oxidative stress decreased sperm motility, increased sperm DNA fragmentation, and reduced fertilization and blastocyst rates and quality. Pre-treatment with zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10 before exogenous oxidative stress was able to prevent these effects. Supplementation of sperm culture media with zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10 could protect sperm from oxidative stress damage during in vitro handling in assisted reproductive technologies.

Most wild equids and many domestic horse breeds are at risk of extinction, so there is an urgent need for genome resource banking. Embryos cryopreservation allows the preservation of genetics from male and female and is the fastest method to restore a breed. In the equine, embryo production in vitro would allow the production of several embryos per cycle. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used to generate horse embryos, but it requires expensive equipment and expertise in micromanipulation, and blastocyst development rates remain low. No conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique for equine embryo production is available. The development of culture conditions able to mimic the maturation of the oocyte in preovulatory follicular fluid (pFF) and the post-maturation in oviductal fluid (OF) may improve embryo production in vitro. Our aim was to analyse the effect of in vitro maturation in pFF and incubation in OF on in vitro maturation of equine oocytes, fertilization using conventional IVF or ICSI, and embryo development after culture in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) or DMEM-F12. Oocytes collected from slaughtered mares or by ovum pick up were matured in vitro in pFF or semi-synthetic maturation medium (MM). The in vitro maturation, fertilization and development rates were not statistically different between pFF and MM. After in vitro maturation, oocytes were incubated with or without OF. Post-maturation in OF did not significantly improve the fertilization and development rates. Thus, in our study, exposure to physiological fluids for oocyte maturation and post-maturation does not improve in vitro embryo production in the horse.

In vitro culture of the oocyte granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) from early antral follicles (EAFs) shows granulosa cell (GC) proliferation, but to a lesser extent than that observed in vivo during follicle development. As the number of GCs closely relates to energy sufficiency of the oocytes, enhancement of GC proliferation influences oocyte development. GC proliferation depends on glycolysis and insulin-mediated AKT/mTOR signaling pathway; therefore, addition of culture medium containing insulin and glucose may potentially promote GC proliferation and hence improve oocyte development. In the present study, we assessed the effect of exogenous insulin and glucose concentration on GC proliferation and oocyte energy status as well as developmental abilities of porcine oocytes grown in vitro. In the presence of 5.5 mM of glucose (Low), a comparison of 10 versus 20 μg/ml insulin showed that high insulin enhanced GC proliferation but exhausted glucose from the medium, which resulted in low energy status including lipid and adenosine triphosphate of the oocyte. Whereas, in the presence of 20 μg/ml insulin, medium with 11 mM glucose (High) enhanced GC proliferation and oocyte energy status as well as developmental ability up to the blastocyst stage. Considering that there was no difference in OGCs development observed with medium (10 μg/ml insulin) containing 5.5 versus 11 mM glucose, we concluded that the combination of high insulin and glucose enhanced GC proliferation and energy status of oocytes as well as the developmental ability of the oocytes grown in vitro.

Allicin (AL) regulates the cellular redox, proliferation, viability, and cell cycle of different cells against extracellular-derived stress. This study investigated the effects of allicin treatment on porcine oocyte maturation and developmental competence. Porcine oocytes were cultured in medium supplemented with 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 or 100 μM AL, respectively, during in vitro maturation (IVM). The rate of polar body emission was higher in the 0.1 AL-treated group (74.5% ± 2.3%) than in the control (68.0% ± 2.6%) (P < 0.1). After parthenogenetic activation, the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation were significantly higher in the 0.1 AL-treated group than in the control (P < 0.05). The reactive oxygen species level at metaphase II did not significantly differ among all groups. In matured oocytes, the expression of both BAK and CASP3, and BIRC5 was significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the 0.1 AL-treated group than in the control. Similarly, the expression of BMP15 and CCNB1, and the activity of phospho-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), significantly increased. These results indicate that supplementation of oocyte maturation medium with allicin during IVM improves the maturation of oocytes and the subsequent developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

The aim was to identify cell and genetic predictors of human blastocyst hatching success in assisted reproduction programmes via a prospective case–control study. Blastocysts, donated by couples in assisted reproduction programmes were used. Hatching success assessment was performed after 144–146 h post-fertilization. The mRNA expression levels of cathepsin V (CTSV), GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) and human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit 3, 5, 7 and 8 (CGB) genes were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The odds ratio (OR) of hatching due to zona pellucida (ZP) thickness, oocyte and sperm quality, embryo quality and mRNA expression of CTSV, GATA3 and CGB genes in blastocysts was determined. From 62 blastocysts included in the study, 47 (75.8%) were unable to hatch spontaneously. The ZP thickening, and oocyte and sperm quality did not affect human blastocyst ability to hatch, except the combination of cytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic oocyte dysmorphisms (OR = 1.25; 95% confidence interval = 1.08, 1.45). Hatching-capable blastocysts had higher Gardner scale grade and mRNA expression of CTSV, GATA3 and CGB genes than hatching-incapable blastocysts. The human blastocyst hatching success depends on the blastocyst Gardner grade, but not on ZP and gamete quality. Blastocyst development was regulated by CTSV, GATA3 and CGB gene expression.

Superovulatory response is characterized by a high degree of variability and unpredictability. The aim of the present experimental study was to examine whether the amount of maternal body fat can influence the efficiency of ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. Female mice of two body condition types, normal and obese, produced in a standardized two-generation model, were subjected to ovarian stimulation using eCG and hCG followed by natural mating. Produced ova and embryos were recovered on day 1 and day 4 of pregnancy respectively, and several quantitative, qualitative and developmental parameters were evaluated in them. The overall response of mouse females with normal and elevated amounts of body fat to superovulation was similar: They produced almost the same numbers of ova and embryos on average. Conversely, a higher number of immature oocytes, non-fertilized mature oocytes and lower-stage zygotes were collected from fat females. In both groups, the majority of fertilized oocytes was able to cleave and reach the higher stages of development. However, in the group of fat mice, a lower number of blastocysts was collected, and these blastocysts showed increased incidence of apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, although the response of normal and fat mice to superovulatory treatment was similar, the quality and developmental capacities of produced ova were lower in the group of fat donors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of cavy (Galea spixii) epididymal sperm following addition to TES or TRIS extenders and using a thermal resistance test (TRT), as well as fluorescence analysis as a complementary method to predict the viability of these gametes. Nine testicle–epididymis complexes were used for sperm collection using a flotation method. Epididymis tails were sliced and one was immersed in 3 ml of TRIS buffer, and the other in 3 ml of TES, for 5 min. After sperm recovery, the samples were subjected to a TRT which involved incubation in a water bath at 37°C for 3 h. During incubation, sample parameters were assessed at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 or 180 min intervals. Results indicated that the TRIS diluent was more efficient than TES (P < 0.05) for the maintenance of sperm parameters in Spix's yellow-toothed cavies over the whole TRT, maintaining sperm longevity for an extended time. In conclusion, we indicate the use of TRIS diluent for recovery and maintenance of longevity of epididymal sperm from cavies (G. spixii).

Vitrification is widely used to cryopreserve supernumerary embryos following in vitro fertilization (IVF). The mouse model was used to investigate the effects of vitrification on blastomere viability, using viability markers, and on the cytoskeleton, by analysing spindle/chromosome configurations, using confocal scanning microscopy. Ninety cleavage and morula stage dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)/EG vitrified mouse embryos were either processed immediately following warming for viability assessment by labelling with the fluorescent markers carboxyfluorescein-diacetate succinimidylester (CFSE) and propidium iodide (PI) or were cultured to the blastocyst stage and immunostained with α-tubulin antibody to visualize microtubules and DAPI or PI to visualize DNA. Sixty-five fresh embryos were also used as the control. Vitrified embryos showed high survival rates following warming, but they had a higher incidence of damaged blastomeres compared with fresh embryos. Most mitotic spindles examined in all groups were normal, but multivariable analysis revealed that the proportion of abnormal spindles was significantly higher in vitrified/warmed embryos (P < 0.05). This study is the first to examine the immediate effects of vitrification on blastomere viability, using fluorescent markers and shows that although vitrification results in a higher incidence of damaged blastomeres, vitrified embryos may compensate for this limited number of damaged/abnormal cells, as development to the blastocyst stage was not compromised.

Oocyte-secreted factors (OSFs) play an important role in the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence through bidirectional cross-talk between oocyte and cumulus cells via gap junctions. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of two OSFs, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), on the developmental competence of buffalo oocytes derived from two different follicle sizes. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) from large follicles (LF, >6 mm) or small follicles (SF, <6 mm) were collected and matured in vitro either in the presence of GDF9 or BMP15, or both, or with the denuded oocytes (DOs) as a source of native OSFs. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in LF-derived than SF-derived oocytes. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the DOs and the combination groups compared with the control, GDF9 alone and BMP15 alone groups, both in LF-derived and SF-derived oocytes, although the cleavage and blastocyst rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between DOs and combination groups. Relative mRNA analysis revealed significantly higher (P > 0.05) expression of the cumulus cell marker genes EGFR, HAS2, and CD44 in LF-derived than SF-derived oocyte; the expression of these markers was significantly higher (P > 0.05) in DOs and combination groups, irrespective of the follicle size. These results suggested that LF-derived oocytes have a higher developmental competence than SF-derived oocytes and that supplementation of GDF9 and BMP15 modulates the developmental competence of buffalo oocytes by increasing the relative abundance of cumulus-enabling factors and thereby increasing cleavage and the quality of blastocyst production.

Sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) is based on the capacity of sperm to bind exogenous DNA and transfer it into the oocyte during fertilization. In bovines, the progress of this technology has been slow due to the poor reproducibility and efficiency of the production of transgenic embryos. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different sperm transfection systems on the quality and functional parameters of sperm. Additionally, the ability of sperm to bind and incorporate exogenous DNA was assessed. These analyses were carried out by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy, and motility parameters were also evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Transfection was carried out using complexes of plasmid DNA with Lipofectamine, SuperFect and TurboFect for 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 h. The results showed that all of the transfection treatments promoted sperm binding and incorporation of exogenous DNA, similar to sperm incorporation of DNA alone, without affecting the viability. Nevertheless, the treatments and incubation times significantly affected the motility parameters, although no effect on the integrity of DNA or the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed. Additionally, we observed that transfection using SuperFect and TurboFect negatively affected the acrosome integrity, and TurboFect affected the mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm. In conclusion, we demonstrated binding and incorporation of exogenous DNA by sperm after transfection and confirmed the capacity of sperm to spontaneously incorporate exogenous DNA. These findings will allow the establishment of the most appropriate method [intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)] of generating transgenic embryos via SMGT based on the fertilization capacity of transfected sperm.

This study aimed to examine the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and different phosphodiesterase (PDE) families on meiosis resumption, nucleotides levels and embryo production. Experiment I, COCs were matured in vitro with the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) associated or not with the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), meiotic resumption and nucleotides levels were assessed. SNAP delayed germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) (53.4 ± 1.2 versus 78.4 ± 2.4% for controls, P < 0.05) and ODQ reversed its effect (73.4 ± 6.3%, P > 0.05). Cyclic GMP levels were higher in SNAP (3.94 ± 0.18, P < 0.05) and ODQ abolished the effect (2.48 ± 0.13 pmol/COC, P < 0.05), while cAMP levels were decreased in both treatments. Experiment II, COCs were cultured with SNAP alone or with PDEs inhibitors. SNAP alone or with PDEs inhibitors delayed GVBD (24.7 ± 2.8 to 56.9 ± 8.7%, P < 0.05) compared with the control (77.1 ± 1.8%), and SNAP and SNAP + cilostamide had lowest rates (34.9 ± 9.2% and 24.7 ± 2.8%). Experiment III, COCs were cultured (24–28 h) with SNAP and SNAP + cilostamide to assess metaphase II (MII) rates and embryo production. SNAP + cilostamide (50.0 ± 2.0%, P < 0.05) had lower MII rates at 24 h in vitro maturation (IVM), but at 28 h all groups were similar (66.6 to 71.4%, P > 0.05). Embryo development did not differ from the control for SNAP and cilostamide groups (38.7 ± 5.8, 37.9 ± 6.2 and 40.5 ± 5.8%, P > 0.05), but SNAP + cilostamide decreased embryo production (25.7 ± 6.9%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, SNAP was confirmed to delay meiosis resumption by the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway, by increasing cGMP, but not cAMP. Inhibiting different PDEs to further increase nucleotides in association with SNAP did not show any additive effects on meiosis resumption, indicating that other pathways are involved. Moreover, SNAP + cilostamide affected the meiosis progression and decreased embryo development.

The yolk syncytial layer (YSL) of Teleostei is a dynamic multifunctional temporary system. This paper describes the YSL structure of Misgurnus fossilis (Cobitidae) during its early developmental stages, studied using histological methods. YSL formation is prolonged. From the late blastula stage, the basal surface of the YSL is uneven and has protuberances, but becomes smoother during development. There are syncytial ‘islands’ with 1–2 yolk syncytial nuclei in the yolk mass. During epiboly, gastrulation and early segmentation, loach YSL is of different thickness in different regions along the dorso-ventral and antero-posterior axes of an embryo. The YSL is thickened in the dorsal region of gastrulae compared with the ventral region. Although the development of M. fossilis is similar to the development of zebrafish, there are important differences in YSL formation and organization that await further study and analysis. The study of YSL organization contributes to our knowledge of teleost developmental diversity and to the biology of temporary structures.

Prothymosin alpha (PTMA) is a highly acidic, intrinsically disordered protein that was first extracted from rat thymus and characterized as an immunogenic factor but soon detected in a variety of mammalian tissues. The presence of a nuclear localization signal and the adoption of a peculiar random-coil conformation are among the reasons behind its interaction with several molecular partners, hence at this time PTMA is known to be a very conserved and widely expressed molecule, involved in numerous and diverse biological processes. Only few studies have tried to weigh its possible involvement in reproduction, specifically in male gametogenesis: first reports have suggested that PTMA might be associated with the proliferative and early-meiotic phases of mammal spermatogenesis. Some years later, a comparative project on vertebrate spermatogenesis reported the isolation, for the first time, of prothymosin in a non-mammalian species, the amphibian Pelophylax esculentus. PTMA transcript and protein are localized in the germinal compartment, from spermatocytes to spermatozoa. A congruent pattern has been highlighted in studies on the fish Torpedo marmorata and Danio rerio, and in the mammal Rattus norvegicus, in which the expression of PTMA has been found in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells inside testicular cysts and tubules. Moreover, its presence has been confirmed in rat and human spermatozoa (associated with the acrosome); its retention in the apical region of the head after the acrosome reaction revealed a striking conservation of the pattern during phylogenesis and suggested a possible role for the protein in gametogenesis and in fertilization.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible molecular pathways through which ghrelin accelerates in vitro oocyte maturation. Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), after 18 or 24 h maturation in the absence or the presence of 800 pg ml–1 of acylated ghrelin were either assessed for nuclear maturation or underwent in vitro fertilization in standard media and putative zygotes were cultured in vitro for 8 days. In a subset of COCs the levels of phosphorylated Akt1 and ERK1/2 (MAPK1/3) were assessed at the 0th, 6th, 10th, 18th and 24th hours of in vitro maturation (IVM). At 18 and 24 h no difference existed in the proportion of matured oocytes in the ghrelin-treated group, while in the control group more (P < 0.05) matured oocyte were found at 24 h. Oocyte maturation for 24 h in the presence of ghrelin resulted in substantially reduced (P < 0.05) blastocyst yield(16.3%) in comparison with that obtained after 18 h (30.0%) or to both control groups (29.3% and 26.9%, for 18 and 24 h in maturation, respectively). Ghrelin-treated oocytes expressed lower Akt1 phosphorylation rate at the 10th hour of IVM, and higher ERK1/2 at the 6th and 10th hours of IVM compared with controls. In cumulus cells, at the 18th and 24th hours of IVM Akt1 phosphorylation rate was higher in ghrelin-treated oocytes. Our results imply that ghrelin acts in a different time-dependent manner on bovine oocytes and cumulus cells modulating Akt1 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which brings about acceleration of the oocyte maturation process.

Primordial germ cell (PGC) transplant is a promising tool in aquaculture; however, successful use of this technique requires in depth knowledge of the early stages of embryo and larval development. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of different temperatures (22, 26, and 30°C) on the early development of B. amazonicus. The newly fertilized eggs were distributed into tanks with controlled temperature and oxygenation. Samples were collected at pre-established times and analysed under light and fluorescence microscopy. Temperature influenced the speed and duration of each stage of early development, including hatching time. The highest pronuclei fusion rate was observed 8 min post-fertilization (mpf) at 22 and 26°C, and 6 mpf at 30°C. The duration of the 512–1000 blastomeres phase during in the blastocyst stage was 1 h 30 min at 22°C, and 25 min at 26 and 30°C. Hatching occurred at 24 h 30 mpf at 22°C, 16 h post-fertilization (hpf) at 26°C, and 11 h 30 mpf at 30°C. The rate of morphologically normal larvae was 88.34% at 22°C, 90.49% at 26°C, and 73% at 30°C. Malformations of the head, yolk sac, heart, and tail were observed in all temperatures. Nevertheless, B. amazonicus embryos were able to develop satisfactory in all three temperatures tested. These results enable embryo manipulation at different temperatures to optimize the micromanipulation time of embryos and larvae for biotechnological studies.