Use of G1.2/G2.2 media for commercial bovine embryo culture: equivalent development and pregnancy rates compared to co-culture

Abstract

The expanded application of commercial bovine IVM, IVF, and IVC systems is dependent on the ability to produce embryos in culture that are capable of producing normal pregnancies. Because serum containing culture systems can induce neonatal and fetal problems there exists a definite need for a serum-free culture system that produces viable blastocysts. This study demonstrated that the physiological sequential media system G1.2/G2.2 could produce bovine blastocysts at rates equivalent to co-culture. Additionally, these blastocysts had equivalent or increased cell numbers and inner cell mass development. Blastocysts produced in the G1.2/G2.2 culture system produced pregnancies following both f..