Oviductal flushing medium support in vitro fertilization of mice: experimental model for mammals

ABSTRACT

To evaluate and examine the effect of oviductal flushing medium on the fertilization rate and embryonic development in vitro using the mice as a model. Prospective study. The study was conducted through years 2001-2003 in IVF Institute-Baghdad University. Two hundred fifty mice ova were collected from superovulated [SUO] and spontaneously ovulated [SO] females. Oviductal fluid was flushed and treated for in vitro vasal sperms activation . In vitro fertilization was performed using 50% oviductal flushing medium [OFM] and IVF medium alone. Fertilization rate, normal development of different early embryonic cleavage stages was recorded. There was a significant increase [P < 0.05] in the fertilization rate [FR] of SO mice oocytes [75%] by using 50% OFM compared to both groups of SUO mice, 50% OFM group [57%] and IVF medium group [43%] . Using 50% OFM, the number of 1-cell and 4-cell embryonic stages of SO mice were significantly higher [P < 0.05] than that of SO mice embryos cultured with IVF medium alone [65% and 50% Vs. 33.3% and 30% .respectively]. The investigation showed that the oviductal flushing medium may contain many growth factors that support the FR and normal development of early cleavage stages of mice embryos in vitro