Uterine fluid from llama (Lama glama) as a means to enhance embryonic development of cows (Bos taurus) in in vitro cultures

Nina, M., Ayala, C., Susaño, R.

Abstract

Llama (Lama glama) uterine fluid was evaluated as a means to enhance in vitro embryo development in cattle. Llama uterine fluid was obtained and refrigerated. The first was with conventional culture medium and the second with culture medium + uterine fluid. The maturation process of the oocytes was carried out with (BO-HEPES) for 24 hours, then they were fertilized (FER-TALP) for a period of 24 hours, the sperm capacitation was through the Swin-up technique. The incubation process was at 38.5°C, 5% CO2 air and 95% relative humidity. At 48 hours, 31.40% embryo division was obtained for the first group and 36.97% for the second group, with no significant differences (p<0.05). At day eight, the percentage of embryos with the addition of uterine fluid reached 20.17% compared to the first group with 14.88%, with significant differences (p>0.05). The embryos were classified in four categories according to IETS, for the conventional culture medium 9.91 % excellent quality, 19.83 % regular quality, 24.79 % poor quality, for the enriched culture medium 15.13 % excellent quality, 25.21 % regular quality, 27.73 % poor quality were found, considering that they can still be transferable. The fourth category is considered as non-transferable, of which 45.55% was obtained for the first group and 31.39% for the second. The addition of Llama uterine fluid to the culture medium has improved the embryo development rate reaching the expanded blastocyst stage, showing improvements in embryo quality in morphological aspects.