Minigradientes isolate e Optiprep como alternativas ao gradiente de Percoll na produção in vitro de embriões bovinos

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative methods to the gradient of Percoll® for sperm selection used in bovine in vitro production systems. We evaluated the following parameters: sperm quality, embryo development, the viability after cryopreservation and sex ratio of bovine embryos produced in vitro. Four treatments were performed: percoll group (90 and 45%) 4 mL, centrifuged at 700xg for 20 min; minipercoll group (90 and 45%) 800 μL, centrifuged at 700xg for 5 min; miniisolate group (90 and 45%) 800 μL, centrifuged at 700xg for 5 min; and minioptiprep group (30,28 and 26%) 1,2 mL, centrifuged at 900xg for 15 min. Different gradients did not affect the semen characteristics compared with the evaluation immediately after thawing (P>0,05). It was only observed a decrease in total motility in minioptiprep group (P<0,05). The cleavage rates were similar among the percoll and miniisolate groups (P>0,05). Minipercoll and minioptiprep groups were lower to percoll (P<0,05) and similar to isolate (P>0,05). At Day 7 the developmental rates were higher in miniisolate group than other groups (P<0,05). But at D8 the developmental rates of minigradients were similar to percoll (P>0,05). Among the minigradientes, the miniisolate was higher to minipercoll and minioptiprep (P<0,05). The treatments did not affect the sex ratio expected of 50:50% (P.0,05) and there was no difference among the four groups (P>0,05). Also, there was no difference in survival rates after vitrification (P>0,05). In conclusion, the miniisolate and the minioptiprep groups, in the concentration and volume used in our experiment, reached similar results to the percoll group. So, they are alternatives to the gradient of Percoll® in the routine of IVP bovine embryos.