Use of Colony Stimulating Factors 1 and 3 to Improve oocyte In vitro Maturation

Author(s): Annie L Whitty, Nicole O Mcpherson, Karen L Kind, Kylie R Dunning, Mark B Nottle

We have recently shown that CSF-2 can improve in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) and subsequent development in a mouse model. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether CSF-1 and CSF-3 can also improve IVM in this model. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) from CBAF1 mice were matured with 0, 2 or 10 ng/ml of CSF-1 or CSF-3, fertilised and then cultured in vitro for 96 h. Cumulus expansion, cleavage rate, blastocyst development and inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers were examined. The addition of CSF-1 during IVM tended to increase ICM numbers in both treatment groups and significantly increased the ratio of ICM:TE cell number in the 2 ng/ml group compared with control. The addition of CSF-3 during IVM had no effect on embryo development. In conclusion, our results suggest that the addition of CSF-1 can improve IVM.