Abstract

GARCIA-DIAZ, J.R; ROMERO-AGUIRREGOMEZCORTA, J; ASTIZ BLANCO, S  and  RUIZ LOPEZ, S. Addition of antioxidant substances to culture media used in the in vitro production of mammal embryos. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2013, vol.35, n.1, pp.10-19. ISSN 0253-570X.

The oxidative stress is among the factors affecting the embryonic development in vitro. It has been attenuated by adding antioxidant substances to the media used for the in vitro embryo production. Vitamins A and E, added to the maturation and in vitro cultivation media, favored the embryo development, while the ascorbic acid showed contradictory results. The addition of cysteine to the in vitro maturation and fertilization, the use of growth factors in the in vitro cultivation, and the combination insulin-transferrin-selenium during in vitro maturation, favored the embryo development. Microelements have also been studied as antioxidants; different levels of Zn²⁺ added to the maturation medium in vitro increased the percentage of division and of blastocysts. Different concentrations of Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ added to the maturation medium in vitro did not affect the maturation rate, but their addition to the cultivation medium in vitro increased the percentage of 8 cell embryos, morulae, and blastocysts. Despite the advantages of the supplementation of the media used in the in vitro production of embryos with antioxidant substances, there are aspects to be deeply studied that should constitute the critical route of investigations in this field such as: the exposure time and optimum concentrations of ascorbic acid, the necessities of microelements by the oocyte and the embryo during the different development phases, their appropriate inclusion levels, the effect of their combined supplementation, and their association with other antioxidant substances.

Keywords : embryo development; oxidative stress; antioxidants.

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