Evaluating the potential of autologous and allogeneic mice serums in comparison with bovine serum and albumin on oocyte maturation and fertilization in NMRI mice

Sera are a multifaceted mixture of growth factors, proteins, and etc. which can influence oocyte maturation and fertilization. The aim of this survey is assessing the effect of different sera on in vitro maturation and fertilization in NMRI mice.

In this experimental study, maturation of oocytes was evaluated in α-MEM medium treated with 0 to 20 allogenic and autologous mice serums, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) after 14-18h incubation period. Then MII oocytes were fertilized with capacitated sperms that percentages of 0 to 20 and investigated fertilization ratio.

In vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization level elevated significantly by adding serum to the culture medium (P<0.05). The most prominent maturation rate was observed in denuded oocytes (DOs) treated with FBS 10% (80%) and cumulus oocyte complex (COCs) treated with BSA 5% (98%) (P<0.001). In addition, the highest fertilization rate was observed in DOs treated with BSA 5% and COCs treated with allogenic serum 15% (77%, 75%), respectively (P<0.001).

The results of this study revealed that although BSA and FBS had better results than allogeneic and autologous sera, therefore, IVF findings in oocyte containing cumulus indicated high capacity of allogenic serum in this process. So, application of allogenic serum can be an appropriate replacement versus animal serum to reduce the challenges of infertility treatment modalities.