USE OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE (FSH) TO INCREASE THE IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) EFFICIENCY OF MICE

Purpose: The possibility of increasing the efficiency of an in vitro f ertilization system (IVF) for Swiss OFI mice was studied. The experime ntal protocol proposed analyzed the use of FSH as a superovulatory ind ucing hormone in comparison to traditional PMSG treatment. At the same time, the quality of IVF-derived embryos was evaluated both in vitro, with culture in CZB medium and fixation in advanced stages of develop ment, and in vivo, by transfer to female recipients. Results: Treatmen t with FSH induced a much higher ovulation number compared to PMSG (64 .26 vs 33.85; P < 0.01). With this gonadotropin, IVF provided a positi ve tendency to normal fecundation (67.76 vs 64.72; P < 0.1) and a much lower index of abnormal division in embryos (10.57 vs 15.11; P < 0.05 ). The viability of embryos obtained from donors treated with hormones was similar, although differences did exist regarding embryo origin: those obtained following natural fertilization showed a higher develop mental capacity both in vitro (P < 0.05) and in vivo (P < 0.05). Concl usions: We conclude that FSH is an improved superovulation alternative treatment in comparison to PMSG for IVF. It provides a higher number of embryos with the same in vitro and in vivo viability as those obtai ned from PMSG.