Table 4.
Embryonic developmental rates of vitrified and fresh domestic cat oocytes following in vitro embryo production (6 replicates).
| Oocytes | Matured n. |
2–4 cells % (n.) |
5–8 cells % (n.) |
9–16 cells % (n.) |
Morulae % (n.) |
Blastocysts % (n.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOs(+/+) | 68 | 64.7 (44)a | 29.4 (20)a | 8.8 (6)a | 1.5 (1)a | 0 (0)a |
| VOs(−/−) | 61 | 67.2 (41)a | 19.7 (12)a | 6.6 (4)a | 1.6 (1)a | 0 (0)a |
| FOs | 85 | 72.9 (62)a | 62.4 (53)b | 49.4 (42)b | 35.3 (30)b | 15.3 (13)b |
Different superscripts (a, b) within the same column indicate significant differences among groups (p < 0.05). Percentages calculated on the total number of matured 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.