Different thermotolerances in in vitro-produced embryos derived from different maternal and paternal genetic backgrounds.

The present study evaluated the effects of genetic backgrounds on the developmental competence and thermotolerance of bovine in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos. First, Holstein (Hol) and Japanese Black (JB) oocytes were fertilized with sperm from Hol, JB and a thermotolerant breed (Brahman), and in vitro development was evaluated when the embryos were exposed to heat shock on Day 2 (Day 0 = day of fertilization). Sperm genetic backgrounds affected the developmental competence in controls (P < 0.05). Second, the effect of sperm pre-incubation for 4 h on subsequent in vitro fertilization was assessed using different sperm genetic backgrounds. The pre-incubation of sperm did not decrease the embryonic development regardless of the breed of the sperm. A milder heat shock (40.0°C) effect on parthenotes (Hol and JB) and IVP embryos were evaluated. JB parthenotes showed developmental arrest after Day 4, and the rate of development to the blastocyst stage decreased by heat shock, but not in Hol parthenotes. Heat shock decreased developmental competence after cleavage of IVP embryos regardless of genetic background. The thermotolerance of IVP embryos would be controlled by both maternal and paternal factors but genetic involvement was still unclear. Further evaluation is needed to reveal the genetic contribution to thermotolerance.