Singina GN, Chinarov RYu, Shedova EN.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025. Vol. 108. No. 4. Р. 31-40.

doi:10.33284/2658-3135-108-4-31

Original article

Optimization of in vitro development conditions for OPU/IVP bovine embryos: the effect

of medium replacement

 

Galina N Singina1, Roman Yu Chinarov2, Ekaterina N Shedova3

1,2,3Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia

1g_singina@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0198-9757

2roman_chinarov@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6511-5341

3shedvek@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9642-2384

 

Abstract. Oocyte retrieval from follicles under ultrasound guidance (OPU) and the subsequent in vitro embryo production (IVP) represent a modern biotechnological approach in cattle breeding that enables the generation of a greater number of offspring from genetically valuable animals. A stage of the OPU/IVP procedure, the optimization of which can substantially improve its efficiency, is the culture of matured oocytes after in vitro fertilization up to the blastocyst (Bl) stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of culture medium renewal conditions on the development and quality of IVP embryos during in vitro culture (IVC). OPU-derived bovine oocytes, following in vitro maturation and fertilization, were transferred into BO-IVC medium for culture and embryonic development. The effects of not refreshing the IVC medium during the 7-day embryonic development period (NRM) and completely refreshed medium (CRM) on day 3 of IVC were compared. The results demonstrated that, compared with NRM, CRM increased blastocyst yield from 19.3±0.7% to 31.7±2.0% (P=0.005). In addition, a higher proportion of excellent- and good-quality blastocysts was observed in the CRM group compared with the NRM group (53.6±5.9% vs. 22.9±3.4%, P=0.011). Therefore, the in vitro developmental performance of bovine embryos in BO-IVC medium appears to depend on the medium renewal regimen. To achieve higher blastocyst yield and quality, a complete medium replacement on the third day of culture is recommended.

Keywords: cattle, owum pick up, in vitro embryo production, embryo culture medium

Acknowledgments: the work was performed in accordance to the plan of research works of the FGBNU FRC VIZh named after academician LK Ernst (No FGGN-2025-0008).

For citation: Singina GN, Chinarov RYu, Shedova EN. Optimization of in vitro development conditions for OPU/IVP bovine embryos: the effect of medium replacement. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025;108(4):31-40. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-108-4-31

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Information about the authors:

Galina N Singina, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Head of the Laboratory of Embryonic Technologies, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132, mobile: 8-9851434552.

Roman Yu Chinarov, Cand. Sci. (Veterinary), Senior Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Embryonic Technologies, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132, mobile: 8-9153899065.

Ekaterina N Shedova, Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Embryonic Technologies, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132, mobile: 8-9167117673.

The article was submitted 06.10.2025; approved after reviewing 28.11.2025; accepted for publication 15.12.2025.

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