Table 3.

Maturation, fertilization, and degeneration rates of vitrified and fresh domestic cat oocytes following in vitro embryo production (6 replicates).

Oocytes	n.	Maturation† % (n.)	Fertilization‡ % (n.)	Deg/N.A. % (n.)
VOs(+/+)	128	53.1 (68)a, b	44.5 (57)a	35.2 (45)a
VOs(−/−)	129	47.3 (61)a	41.1 (53)a	38.8 (50)a
FOs	130	65.4 (85)b	52.3 (68)a	13.9 (18)b

Different superscripts (a, b) within the same column indicate significant differences among groups (p < 0.05). Percentages calculated on the total number of oocytes in each group.

VOs(+/+), oocytes vitrified-warmed and in vitro matured with the addition of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK; VOs(−/−), oocytes vitrified-warmed and matured without the inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (control); FOs, fresh control oocytes; Deg, degenerated; N.A., not assessable.

^†Sum of cleaved embryos, uncleaved fertilized oocytes (i.e., with pronuclei) and unfertilized metaphase II oocytes.

^‡Sum of cleaved embryos and uncleaved fertilized oocytes.