IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF OVA FROM PREPUBERAL CATTLE

Ova obtained from superovulated and inseminated calves nine or 17 weeks old were cultured in bovine or rabbit serum, follicular fluid, and synthetic media, Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate solution, and Ham's F10 medium. Of 184 ova cultured, 45% cleaved in vitro. No significant differences were found among media in their ability to support limited early embryo development. One-celled fertilized ova cleaved more times in culture than ova which had cleaved before collection (P < 0.01). None of the cultured ova cleaved more than 2.5 times and none cleaved beyond the 16-cell stage. However, this development is equivalent to the best results obtained with cow's ova in vitro and indicates that the potential of ova obtained from young calves is equivalent to those from sexually mature cattle. © 1969, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.