Jr. Broussard et al., FROZEN-THAWED CUMULUS-GRANULOSA CELLS SUPPORT BOVINE EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT DURING COCULTURE, Fertility and sterility, 62(1), 1994, pp. 176-180
Objective: To evaluate the ability of bovine cumulus-granulosa cells t
o survive cryopreservation and subsequently support bovine embryo deve
lopment during coculture. Design: In vitro-matured and -fertilized bov
ine embryos (two- to four-cell) were allotted randomly to one of three
treatment groups: [1] control medium alone consisting of Medium 199 c
ontaining 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics, [2] cocultured on fr
esh bovine cumulus-granulosa cells in control medium, or [3] coculture
d on frozen-thawed cumulus-granulosa cells in control medium. Embryo d
evelopment was assessed on days 7 and 8 after IVF. Results: Coculture
improved embryo development on days 7 and 8 compared with the control
group. However, embryo development on days 7 and 8 did not differ amon
g coculture groups. Conclusions: Frozen-thawed cumulus-granulosa cells
enhance embryo development similar to fresh cells during in vitro coc
ulture.