Insulin, transferrin and selenium (ITS) complex is reported to improve in vitro development of oocytes and embryos. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of ITS during in vitro culture (IVC) of porcine parthenogenetic and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos on subsequent developmental capacity in vitro. The electrically activated oocytes were cultured in Porcine Zygote Medium (PZM-3) with various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0%) of ITS for 7 days. Also, the electrically activated reconstructed embryos were cultured in PZM-3 with various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0%) of ITS for 6 days. Addition of ITS to culture medium did not affect development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos in vitro. To test the effect of ITS on the in vitro development of porcine NT embryos, factorial experiments were also performed for in vitro maturation (IVM) medium (TCM-199) with or without 1% ITS and culture medium (PZM-3) with or without 0.5% ITS. Addition of 0.5% ITS to culture medium increased (p<0.05) the proportion of NT blastocysts compared with non-treated group. In contrast, addition of 1% ITS to culture medium was ineffective or had a detrimental effect. Also, addition of ITS only to maturation medium increased (p<0.05) the percentage of NT blastocysts formation compared with the control group. In conclusion, addition of ITS to IVM or IVC medium could improve subsequent blastocyst development of porcine NT embryos.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS    Preparation of Oocytes     Production of Porcine Parthenogenetic Embryos    Preparation of Fetal Fibroblasts    Production of Porcine Nuclear Transfer embryos    Evaluation of Developmental Ability of Parthenogenetic and Reconstructed Embryos    Experimental Design    Statistical Analysis   RESULTS   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Yan Shi Quan(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Kenji Naruse(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Baek Chul Kim(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Hong Rye Kim(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Rong Xun Han(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Su Min Choi(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Chang Sik Park(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University)
• Dong Il Jin(Research Center for Transgenic and Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University) Corresponding author