Researcher National Institute of Animal Science Hamyang-gun, Kyongsang-namdo, Republic of Korea
Abstract Authors: Kwan-Woo Kim, Eun-Do Lee, Dong-Kyo Kim, Bonghwan Choi Animal Genetic Resources Research Center, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Gyeongnam Korea
Abstract Text: Owing to the growing interest in the consumption of health food, public interest in goats has been increasing. An embryonic in vitro culture technique capable of embryo transfer is required to ensure prolific goat genetic resources. Here, we analyzed the effects of goat oocyte grade, fertilization time, and in vitro culture method on in vitro goat oocyte maturation and embryo culturing. The oocyte grade was evaluated according to cytoplasm and cumulus cells using fertilization times of 6, 12, and 18 h. In vitro culture methods were divided into steps and the development rate was analyzed. In vitro maturation rates differed depending on oocyte grade, along with differences in embryo development rates. When analyzed by fertilization time, there was no difference in the cleavage rate between 6 h (87.38%), 12 h (84.85%), and 18 h (88.79%). Furthermore, embryo development rate remained unchanged between 6 h (31.07%) and 18 h (32.71%). However, the blastocyst rate was low at 12 h (25.25%). Embryo development rates did not significantly differ between steps; 26.32% and 23.81% in the first and second steps, respectively. Our study findings indicate that it is essential to use high-grade oocytes for successful embryo development, whereas fertilization time and in vitro culture steps do not have significant effect. In future studies, additional research on in vitro goat embryo culturing will be necessary. Conclusively, the establishment of a dependable in vitro fertilized goat embryo system will contribute to successful goat husbandry.
