Comparative stepwise pattern of reactive oxygen species production during in vitro development of fertilized and nuclear transferred goat embryos

ABSTRACT

Background: A unique feature of embryo metabolism is production of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. It is well established that during in vitro culture, ROS levels increase over normal ranges observed for embryos developed in vivo. This study evaluates and compares the stepwise pattern of ROS production during in vitro development of reconstructed goat embryos produced by zona-free method of somatic cell nuclear transfer [SCNT]. Furthermore, the pattern of ROS production of SCNT embryos were compared with zona free embryos derived from in vitro fertilization [IVF]