La cisteamina en la producción in vitro de embriones

Abstract

Abstract: In vitro embryo production is a reproductive biotechnology applied in animal species of productive interest and has great potential to produce and multiply animals of high genetic value. In vitro production of embryos develops through three phases, maturation, fertilization, and in vitro culture. The success of in vitro production of embryos depends on factors inherent to the oocyte, the physiological environment of the female and environmental factors typical of cell culture. The absence of the maternal antioxidant system limits the levels of reactive oxygen species, produces higher levels of oxidative stress with adverse effects on oocyte maturation and embryonic development. The maturation media are supplemented with antioxidants such as cysteamine, an aminothiol of low molecular weight (77.1 g / mol), it promotes the transport of cysteine into the cell and favors glutathione synthesis, oocyte maturation and segmentation and blastulation process. The present work reviews the properties and effects of cysteamine in the in vitro embryo production system.