Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development

In vitro embryo production (IVP) in felid species faces difficulties derived from their conservation status, challenging reproductive traits and low success rates during in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). This study aimed to evaluate different IVC strategies for domest...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Muñoz-Maceda, Ana, Pericuesta Camacho, Eva, Priego-Gonzalez, Andrea, Núñez, Carolina, Martínez de los Reyes, Nuria, Cerdeira, J., Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana, Ramos Ibeas, Priscila, Rizos, Dimitrios, Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso, Roldán, Eduardo R. S., Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J.
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/419626
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/419626
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105013503130
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Blastocyst
Domestic cat
In vitro culture
Inner cell mass
SOX2/OCT4
id ES_e256e1aafda18c09b565f83a2a7c14e2
oai_identifier_str oai:digital.csic.es:10261/419626
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst developmentMuñoz-Maceda, AnaPericuesta Camacho, EvaPriego-Gonzalez, AndreaNúñez, CarolinaMartínez de los Reyes, NuriaCerdeira, J.Sánchez-Rodríguez, AnaRamos Ibeas, PriscilaRizos, DimitriosGutiérrez-Adán, AlfonsoRoldán, Eduardo R. S.Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J.BlastocystDomestic catIn vitro cultureInner cell massSOX2/OCT4In vitro embryo production (IVP) in felid species faces difficulties derived from their conservation status, challenging reproductive traits and low success rates during in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). This study aimed to evaluate different IVC strategies for domestic cat IVP, as a model to improve assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) in wild felids. Three IVC media were compared: (i) synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (“FBS”); (ii): SOF supplemented first with bovine serum albumin (BSA), followed by FBS addition (“BSA-FBS”); and (iii): a commercial IVC human medium (IVC-CULT®) (“COM”). A total of 1064 in vitro matured cat oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa, and 813 presumptive zygotes were cultured in the three experimental groups. Expanded blastocysts (n = 108) were snap-frozen or fixed for differential cell count and quantitative analysis of pluripotency-related gene expression. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences in IVP rates and blastocyst developmental parameters. No significant differences in cleavage or blastocyst rates were found among groups, nor in total blastomere count (P > 0.05). However, the FBS group showed higher SOX2 pluripotency marker expression compared to the other groups, while BSA-FBS exhibited a more balanced SOX2/OCT4 ratio, linked to blastocyst competence in other species. Furthermore, a tendency was found towards a lower proportion of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM) in the FBS group. Our results suggest that elevated SOX2 expression alone may not reflect improved developmental competence in the domestic cat blastocysts. Instead, early BSA supplementation followed by FBS might enhance ICM differentiation, benefiting first from BSA's fatty acids and later from FBS's antioxidants and growth factors. Lastly, the commercial medium yielded comparable embryonic developmental outcomes to BSA-FBS, offering a viable alternative. Thus, this research represents a contribution to the refinement of IVP protocols in the domestic cat, promoting standardization that could be adapted for wild feline conservation.This research was funded by project IND2022/BIO23496, of Comunidad de Madrid, Spain; and PID2023-149027OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/.Peer reviewedElsevierComunidad de MadridAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)European CommissionMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)Pericuesta Camacho, Eva [0000-0001-9387-3270]Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana [0000-0002-3724-9470]Ramos Ibeas, Priscila [0000-0003-4578-0189]Rizos, Dimitrios [0000-0001-6813-3940]Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso [0000-0001-9893-9179]Roldán, Eduardo R. S. [0000-0002-7545-4248]Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J. [0000-0002-4280-992X]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262026info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/419626https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105013503130reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-149027OB-I00https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117641Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4196262026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
title Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
spellingShingle Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
Muñoz-Maceda, Ana
Blastocyst
Domestic cat
In vitro culture
Inner cell mass
SOX2/OCT4
title_short Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
title_full Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
title_fullStr Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
title_full_unstemmed Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
title_sort Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Muñoz-Maceda, Ana
Pericuesta Camacho, Eva
Priego-Gonzalez, Andrea
Núñez, Carolina
Martínez de los Reyes, Nuria
Cerdeira, J.
Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana
Ramos Ibeas, Priscila
Rizos, Dimitrios
Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso
Roldán, Eduardo R. S.
Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J.
author Muñoz-Maceda, Ana
author_facet Muñoz-Maceda, Ana
Pericuesta Camacho, Eva
Priego-Gonzalez, Andrea
Núñez, Carolina
Martínez de los Reyes, Nuria
Cerdeira, J.
Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana
Ramos Ibeas, Priscila
Rizos, Dimitrios
Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso
Roldán, Eduardo R. S.
Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J.
author_role author
author2 Pericuesta Camacho, Eva
Priego-Gonzalez, Andrea
Núñez, Carolina
Martínez de los Reyes, Nuria
Cerdeira, J.
Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana
Ramos Ibeas, Priscila
Rizos, Dimitrios
Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso
Roldán, Eduardo R. S.
Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Comunidad de Madrid
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
European Commission
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
Pericuesta Camacho, Eva [0000-0001-9387-3270]
Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ana [0000-0002-3724-9470]
Ramos Ibeas, Priscila [0000-0003-4578-0189]
Rizos, Dimitrios [0000-0001-6813-3940]
Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso [0000-0001-9893-9179]
Roldán, Eduardo R. S. [0000-0002-7545-4248]
Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J. [0000-0002-4280-992X]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Blastocyst
Domestic cat
In vitro culture
Inner cell mass
SOX2/OCT4
topic Blastocyst
Domestic cat
In vitro culture
Inner cell mass
SOX2/OCT4
description In vitro embryo production (IVP) in felid species faces difficulties derived from their conservation status, challenging reproductive traits and low success rates during in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). This study aimed to evaluate different IVC strategies for domestic cat IVP, as a model to improve assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) in wild felids. Three IVC media were compared: (i) synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (“FBS”); (ii): SOF supplemented first with bovine serum albumin (BSA), followed by FBS addition (“BSA-FBS”); and (iii): a commercial IVC human medium (IVC-CULT®) (“COM”). A total of 1064 in vitro matured cat oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa, and 813 presumptive zygotes were cultured in the three experimental groups. Expanded blastocysts (n = 108) were snap-frozen or fixed for differential cell count and quantitative analysis of pluripotency-related gene expression. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences in IVP rates and blastocyst developmental parameters. No significant differences in cleavage or blastocyst rates were found among groups, nor in total blastomere count (P > 0.05). However, the FBS group showed higher SOX2 pluripotency marker expression compared to the other groups, while BSA-FBS exhibited a more balanced SOX2/OCT4 ratio, linked to blastocyst competence in other species. Furthermore, a tendency was found towards a lower proportion of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM) in the FBS group. Our results suggest that elevated SOX2 expression alone may not reflect improved developmental competence in the domestic cat blastocysts. Instead, early BSA supplementation followed by FBS might enhance ICM differentiation, benefiting first from BSA's fatty acids and later from FBS's antioxidants and growth factors. Lastly, the commercial medium yielded comparable embryonic developmental outcomes to BSA-FBS, offering a viable alternative. Thus, this research represents a contribution to the refinement of IVP protocols in the domestic cat, promoting standardization that could be adapted for wild feline conservation.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/419626
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105013503130
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/419626
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105013503130
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/PID2023-149027OB-I00
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117641
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869422376782921728
score 15.812429

Similar Items