The present study was performed to investigate the effects of in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) duration on the development of Korean Native Cattle embryos. The time of blastocyst formation and the quality of blastocysts based on cell numbers were examined. The cleavage rate increased with the length of IVF duration in the groups of 18-hr IVM, but was constant in the groups of 24-hr IVM. The development rate to the 8-cell stage was significantly higher in the IVM 18: IVF 20 group than in the IVM 24: IVF 24 group. The development rate to the blastocyst stage was highest in the IVM 18: IVF 20 group, significantly different from that of the IVM 18: IVF 16, IVM 24: IVF 20 and IVM 24: IVF 24 group. The time of blastocysts formation tended to be shorter when IVM and IVF duration were decreased. The number of inner cell mass, trophoblast and the total cells were significantly higher in the IVM 18: IVF 16 group than in the IVM 24: IVF 24 group (P<0.05). These results demonstrated that the IVM and IVF duration should be adequate for the efficient production of bovine embryos, and it might particularly be essential to determine the proper combination of IVM and IVF duration.

INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS    Oocyte Collection and In Vitro Maturation    Sperm Preparation and In Vitro Fertilization    Prepatation of Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cells and In Vitro Culture    Differential Staining of Blastocysts    Statistical Analysis   RESULTS    Effects of IVM and IVF Duration on Embryo Development    Effects of IVM and IVF Duration on Blastocyst Formation    Effects of IVM and IVF Duration on Cell Number   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Park Yong-Soo(Kyongbuk Livestock Research Institute)