Follistatin supplementation during in vitro embryo culture improves developmental competence of bovine embryos produced using sex-sorted semen.

ABSTRACT: Using sex-sorted semen to produce offspring of desired sex is associated with reduced developmental competence in vitro and lower fertility rates in vivo. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of exogenous follistatin supplementation on the developmental competence of bovine embryos produced with sex-sorted semen and possible link between TGF-β regulated pathways and embryotrophic actions of follistatin. Effects of follistatin on expression of cell lineage markers (CDX2 and Nanog) and downstream targets of SMAD signaling (CTGF, ID1, ID2 and ID3) and AKT phosphorylation were investigated. Follistatin was supplemented during the initial 72 h of embryo culture. Exogenous follistatin restored the in vitro developmental competence of embryos produced with sex-sorte

SUBMITTER: Ashry M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7747478 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature