The present study evaluates the effect of different embryo culture media on early embryonic developmental competence in cattle. In vitro techniques for the development of cattle embryo involves in vitro maturation of oocytes, in vitro fertilization, and culture of presumptive zygotes for early embryonic development. The cattle ovaries were collected from Kolkata slaughterhouse and immature oocytes were aspirated by follicular aspiration technique. After collection, these COCs were thoroughly washed in washing media before transferring them into IVM media droplets where they were cultured for 24 hours in CO2 incubator at 5% level of CO2 and at 38.5 °C with the maximum humidity. The in vitro matured oocytes were coincubated with processed and capacitated sperm for 14-18 hr. After fertilization, presumptive zygotes were washed to remove the cumulus layer surrounding the zygotes, and cultured in IVC media. Three different culture media i.e. (TCM-199, BO-IVF and mCR2aa) were used for early embryonic development.

The cleavage rate was higher in TCM-199 (74.47±9.63a) and mCR2aa (71.64±10.03a) medium as compared to BO-IVF medium (53.56±3.64b). Morula development rate was significantly higher in TCM-199 (35.39±1.467c) and BO-IVF (26.83±2.18d) medium as compared to mCR2aa (22.83±2.9d) medium. Blastocyst formation rate was observed significantly higher (P<0.05) in BO-IVF medium (14.17±2.85f) compared to TCM-199 (4.63±0.6301e) but not with mCR2aa (10.72±5.42f) culture medium. From the present study it could be concluded that all three culture media are able to produce blastocyst, but BO-IVF and mCR2aa media showed higher potential to produce blastocyst in contrast to TCM-199 media. 

Highlights

• Blastocyst formation rate was observed significantly higher (P<0.05) in BO-IVF medium (14.17±2.85f) compared to TCM-199 (4.63±0.6301e) but not with mCR2aa (10.72±5.42f) culture medium.