Growth factors supplementation had a mitogenic effect in numerous species. Two experiments were conducted for improving embryo development in buffalo by addition of epidermal growth factors and cysteamine as antioxidant. The first one was carried out to evaluate the different concentrations (0, 5, 25, 50 ng/ml) of epidermal growth factors (EGF) on developmental competence of buffalo oocytes. Buffalo oocytes were cultured in the four concentrations of EGF. The embryo cleavage rate was significantly higher in oocytes exposed to 5, 25, 50 ng/ml EGF than control. There were no significant difference in four groups (0, 5, 25, 50 ng/ml EGF) in the rate of morula. But, better cleavage and blastocyst rates were observed at 5 ng/ml EG. In the second experiment, the additive effect of 5 ng/ml EGF with 50 µM cysteamine on maturation and embryo development was studied. Oocytes were collected, matured and cultured in media supplemented with 5 ng/ml EGF and 50 µM cysteamine combination (first group), single supplementation with EGF (second group) and cysteamine alone(third group). There was a significant increase in cleavage rate in combination group than EGF (P< 0.05) and cysteamine (P< 0.01) groups. But there was no significant difference in cleavage rate between EGF and cysteamine. The morula percentage was nearly similar in the three groups. but blastocyst rate was significantly (P |
