Alleviating the stress response in porcine embryos due to embryo culture

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro production of porcine embryos, are a crucial part of biomedical and agricultural research. They can be used to create models of disease, to study development, or to improve different production traits. These embryos are highly valuable, because most pig embryos that are transferred have been genetically modified. However, the culture system used to produce these embryos is generally inefficient; thus, there is an interest in improving the system to enhance the production of genetically modified pigs. Preimplantation embryos can adapt to the stress of the in vitro culture environment, but the quality of such embryos is often impaired. Furthermore, significant embryo loss occurs during the first few weeks of gestation in the pig. This loss is even greater in pregnancies using valuable in vitro produced embryos. Therefore, different components of porcine embryo culture media were investigated, with the goal of potentially making modifications to improve development of embryos in vitro. The first aim was to determine if gentamicin has an adverse effect on the quality of porcine embryos cultured in vitro. The second aim was to evaluate different p53 inhibiting compounds for their ability to encourage porcine to embryos resist apoptosis. The third aim was to determine if a combination of three antioxidants could improve porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro. These studies ultimately provide information which can be used to better understand the embryo's interaction with the in vitro culture environment or to improve the system.