Optimizing camel (Camelus dromedarius) oocytes in vitro maturation and early embryo culture after parthenogenetic activation

This study was undertaken to investigate on camel oocytes the effects of different in vitro maturation (IVM) time, supplementation of the IVM medium on oocyte maturation and the use of different in vitro culture media (KSOMaa, mSOF, TCM, and K-SICM) on embryo development to optimize in vitro embryo production procedures. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 28, 32, 36, 42, and 48 h for IVM and were examined for cumulus expansion, meiotic maturation, and early embryo development after parthenogenetic chemical activation and IVC. The results showed that IVM of oocytes for 32 and 36 h significantly increased embryonic development (P < 0.05) compared with other treatments. Culturing the oocytes for longer durations (42 and 48 h) permitted the entry and completion of meiosis II and significantly reduced embryonic developmental competence, as indicated by reduction in morula and blastocyst ratios (P < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation of IVM medium with follicular fluid improved cumulus expansion when compared with fetal bovine serum supplementation. Culturing of parthenogenetic embryos in KSOMaa medium significantly improved morula and blastocyst development, compared with culturing in mSOF, TCM, and K-SICM media (P < 0.05). We conclude that IVM of camel oocytes for a period of 32-36 h would be sufficient to support early embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation and that KSOMaa is an efficient culture medium for in vitro camel embryo production.