Effects of hyaluronan, BSA, and serum on bovine embryo in vitro development, ultrastructure, and gene expression patterns

Effects of hyaluronan (HA), BSA, and FCS on in vitro development, ultrastructure, and mRNA transcription of four developmentally important genes: apoptosis (Bax), oxidative stress (SOX), growth factor (IGF‐II), and cell‐to‐cell adhesion (Ecad) were examined. Two biological origin HA, Hylartil and Hyonate and one produced by fermentation (f‐HA) MAP‐5 were tested. Embryos were cultured in SOF medium with 0.4% BSA or with 0.4% BSA and 10% FCS. HA was added 96 hr post insemination (pi) to half of the embryos from each culture group. Embryo development was not affected by either HA preparation, however, hatching rates were higher in Hyalartil and MAP‐5 than in control and Hyonate (P