Alpha-lipoic acid improves bovine preimplantation blastocyst quality and cryotolerance

FABRA, MARIANA CAROLINA; ANCHORDOQUY, JUAN PATRICIO; CARRANZA-MARTÍN, ANA CRISTINA; FARNETANO, NICOLÁS; ANCHORDOQUY, JUAN MATEO; FURNUS, CECILIA CRISTINA; NIKOLOFF, NOELIA

THERIOGENOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2022

0093-691X

In vitro embryo production has grown in recent decades due to its great potential for cattle production. However, the quality of in vitro-produced embryos is lower compared with those produced in vivo. The postfertilization culture environment has a major influence on bovine embryo quality. We hypothesize that the inclusion of the inclusion of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in the in vitro culture (IVC) medium during the first 24 h would have positive effects on embryo development in vitro and cryotolerance. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antioxidant effect of ALA in IVC medium for 24 h on bovine zygotes (21 h post in vitro fertilization, IVF), day 2 cleaved embryos (46 h post-IVF), and to assess embryo quality, developmental competence, and cryotolerance after vitrification. In all experiments, IVC medium was the Control, and 2.5 μM ALA was the treatment implemented. Viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in zygotes and day 2 embryos did not differ from the Control (P > 0.05). Supplementation with ALA increased total blastocyst and hatching rates (P