Gentamicin has no significant adverse affect on porcine embryo development in vitro

Authors: NOLAND, RYLIE - University Of Missouri; Redel, Bethany; LAMARTINA, MARISSA - University Of Missouri; Chen, Paula; PRATHER, RANDALL - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Molecular Reproduction and Development
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2024
Publication Date: 12/29/2024
Citation: Noland, R.S., Redel, B.K., Lamartina, M.G., Chen, P.R., Prather, R.S. 2024. Gentamicin has no significant adverse affect on porcine embryo development in vitro. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 91(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.70008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.70008

Interpretive Summary: Embryos produced in a petri dish are not as competent as embryos that are produced in the body. Previous studies revealed that different genes are expressed when cultured in a petri dish and in synthetic medium compared to embryos that were produced in the pig. Based on these differential gene expression, genes involved with antibiotic toxicity were identified. Therefore, it was decided to remove the antibiotic from the culture to see if more and improved embryos would develop. There was no difference detected in embryo development, total cell number, or expression of 3 selected genes between embryos cultured with or without gentamicin. Therefore, pig embryos are able to tolerate the presence of gentamicin without significant impacts on embryo development rate, total cell number, or cell death.

Technical Abstract: The composition of the culture medium affects the viability and developmental competency of porcine embryos produced in vitro. Previous transcriptional profiling has identified areas of improvement in the formulation of these media. Xenobiotic metabolism-related genes were upregulated in in vitro-cultured porcine embryos compared to their in vivo-derived counterparts, and the antibiotic gentamicin is a component of porcine embryo culture media. While effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, gentamicin has been observed to be toxic to rat embryos and may induce changes in gene expression in cell culture. The objective of this study was to determine if gentamicin has an adverse effect on the development of porcine embryos. After in vitro fertilization, presumptive zygotes were placed in either MU4 medium containing gentamicin or MU4 medium without gentamicin. No difference was detected in blastocyst development, total cell number, apoptotic index, or expression of 3 selected genes between embryos cultured with or without gentamicin (p'>'0.05). Therefore, porcine embryos are able to tolerate the presence of 10'µg/mL gentamicin without significant impacts on blastocyst development rate, total cell number, or apoptosis.