Maintenance of developmental competence in feline oocytes following 24 h of meiotic arrest with physiological agents

Context In vitro matured (IVM) feline oocytes exhibit reduced developmental competence compared to in vivo matured oocytes. Aims Arresting meiosis prior to IVM (pre-IVM) has been shown to improve oocyte quality in other species. Methods Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from domestic cats were matured in vitro immediately after collection or following 24h of pre-IVM. Following IVF, embryonic development was evaluated. Key results Embryonic cleavage, development to blastocyst, and hatching were not different (P >0.05) for oocytes subjected to meiotic arrest compared to control oocytes. Gene expression of pluripotency markers and blastocyst cell numbers were also unchanged by the various pre-IVM supplements. Conclusions It is possible to maintain feline oocytes in culture for up to 24h without compromising developmental competence. Implications Further manipulation of the culture environment during this period of meiotic arrest could be a novel means of improving the quality of feline oocytes.