Produção in vitro (PIV) de embriões em bovinos

The in vitro embryo production (IVP) is a major tool for exploration of the genetic potential of cows and has been used in commercial scale in Brazil and worldwide. The IVP technique involves the steps of collecting, maturation, fertilization and in vitro culture and the efficiency of the steps of maturation and fertilization in vitro does not differ from that obtained in vivo. However, the in vitro culture continues to be the step that has the lowest efficiency and, on average, only 30% of in vitro matured oocytes develop to blastocyst stage. In addition, in vitro produced blastocysts differ from those produced in vivo, with lower pregnancy rates and are less tolerant to cryopreservation. Therefore, the aim of this review is to perform an updated approach to the main steps of in vitro production of bovine embryos.