VARIABILITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF Mus domesticus domesticus EMBRYOS.

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to verify the variability of the Mus domesticus domesticus (CF1 strain) to produce viable embryos. We collected 4196 structures from 74 females individually mated with five (5) different males. The zygotes of each female donor were cultured in vitro in KSOM medium incubated at 37ºC in a 5% CO2 air humidified atmosphere for 120 h. Females were distributed in five groups (G1- G5) according to the number of collected structures and the number of superovulatory treatments that they were submitted. Analysis of data showed a variability in the embryo production capacity among the females and in response to the first superovulatory treatment (p< 0.05). The males also played a role in the results (p< 0.05). Thereby, male number five (5) presented the greatest potential for embryo production. The embryonic cleavage and the development rates to the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stage were determined. Results demonstrated variability in the number of produced embryos and their development competence to reach the hatched blastocyst stage taking into account the female donor and the male. KEY-WORDS: Variability. Zygotes. Culture. Cleavage. Preimplantation.