CRYOTOLERANCE AND GENE EXPRESSION OF IN VITRO PRODUCED PREPUBERTAL GOAT BLASTOCYSTS

Twelve prepubertal (35-45-day-old) and 13 adult (3-6-year-old),Oats were stimulated and COCS were collected by OPU and matured in vitro. After oocyte in vitro fertilization and culture, blastocysts were vitrified/warmed and cultured in vitro to assess blastocoelic re-expansion and gone expression. Prepubertals produced more COCs (p < 0.01) than adults. Degenerated COCs number (p < 0.01) was higher in prepubertals than adults and lower cleavage (p < 0.01) and blastocyst rates (p < 0.05) were evidenced in prepubertal compared to adult fertilized oocytes. Prepubertal vitrified/warmed blastocysts present a lower viability (p < 0.05) than adults. No significant differences were found in the expression of Cyclin B1, E-caderin, Na/K-ATPase, HSP90 and Aquaporin 3 genes. In conclusion our results evidenced a low development and cryotolerance of prepubertal goat embryos. However, the quality of viable prepubertal ernbryos after vitrification do not differ from the adult counterpart.