SeamlessBio — IVF · Oestrus Serum · Follicular Fluid · DACH
Animal Reproduction — Oestrus Serum, IVF & Follicular Fluid Guide
In vitro fertilisation, embryo transfer, and reproductive cell culture in bovine, equine, porcine, and ovine species require specialised serum formats that standard cell culture suppliers do not carry. Oestrus serum provides the specific hormonal and growth factor composition required for oocyte maturation and early embryo development. SeamlessBio supplies fresh and frozen oestrus serum and species-matched reproductive sera for veterinary IVF and reproductive research.
Serum Selection by Reproductive Application
| Application | Species | Recommended Serum | Concentration & Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oocyte maturation in vitro (IVM) | Bovine, porcine, ovine | Bovine Oestrus Serum (heat-inactivated) or FBS Low Endotoxin | 10–20% — oestrus serum provides LH surge-associated factors that support final nuclear maturation of oocytes; FBS Low Endotoxin for standard IVM where oestrus serum is not available |
| Fertilisation medium (IVF) | Bovine, porcine, equine | Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) ≥98% or species-matched serum | 3–6 mg/mL BSA Fatty Acid-Free or 10% species-matched serum — BSA supports sperm capacitation; serum provides protein matrix for gamete culture |
| Early embryo culture (IVC) | Bovine (day 1–8), porcine, ovine | FBS Low Endotoxin ≤5 EU/mL | 5–10% — embryo culture medium supplement. Low Endotoxin mandatory — LPS causes embryo developmental arrest at morula-blastocyst transition. |
| Equine oocyte IVF | Equine | Equine Serum or Equine Oestrus Serum | 10–20% — species-matched serum provides equine-specific factors; bovine serum is often poorly tolerated by equine gametes and embryos |
| Sperm selection / swim-up | All species | BSA Fatty Acid-Free | 0.3–5 mg/mL — protein supplement in sperm preparation medium; fatty acid-free grade prevents lipid-mediated sperm toxicity |
| Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) | Bovine | FBS Low Endotoxin | 10–20% — activation medium and early cloned embryo culture; Low Endotoxin critical for nuclear reprogramming efficiency |
Available Species-Specific Sera for Reproduction
| Species | Serum Format | Application | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovine | Oestrus Serum (fresh or frozen), NCS, CS, FBS | Bovine IVF/IVM/IVC — the most common veterinary reproductive technology species | Bovine Sera → |
| Equine | Equine Serum, Donor Horse Serum | Equine IVF, embryo flush media, stallion sperm processing | Horse Serum → |
| Porcine | Pig Serum, FBS | Porcine IVF, embryo culture, reproductive toxicology | Pig Serum → |
| Ovine | Lamb Serum, Sheep Serum | Ovine embryo transfer, IVF, early embryo culture | Lamb/Sheep Serum → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is oestrus serum and why is it different from standard serum?
Oestrus serum is collected from donor animals during oestrus (the period of sexual receptivity and LH surge). At this hormonal state, serum contains elevated concentrations of LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone, and IGF-1 — growth factors specifically involved in oocyte maturation, follicular rupture, and early embryo development. Standard serum collected from non-oestrus animals lacks these elevated reproductive hormones. For bovine IVM, oestrus serum significantly improves oocyte nuclear maturation rates and subsequent fertilisation success compared to standard serum.
Why is Low Endotoxin FBS critical for embryo culture?
Early embryos are extremely sensitive to endotoxin — LPS causes developmental arrest at the morula-to-blastocyst transition in bovine, porcine, and murine embryos. The mechanism involves TLR4-mediated activation of inflammatory signalling in totipotent blastomeres, which compete with the zygotic gene activation programme. Standard FBS at 10–100 EU/mL directly reduces blastocyst formation rates in bovine IVC. FBS Low Endotoxin ≤5 EU/mL eliminates this interference and is the minimum specification for embryo culture applications.
More Frequently Asked Questions
Which serum grade is recommended for bovine embryo culture (IVC)?
FBS Low Endotoxin ≤5 EU/mL is the minimum for bovine IVC. Endotoxin causes developmental arrest at the morula-to-blastocyst transition via TLR4 activation in blastomeres. Standard FBS at 10–100 EU/mL directly reduces blastocyst formation rates. FBS Low Endotoxin at 5–10% in SOF or KSOM medium is the standard protocol for commercial and research bovine IVF programmes.
Can BSA replace serum in the fertilisation step of bovine IVF?
Yes — BSA Fatty Acid-Free at 3–6 mg/mL is the standard protein supplement in bovine fertilisation medium (TALP-FERT). BSA supports sperm capacitation without growth factor variability of serum. Fatty acid-free grade is specified — standard BSA fatty acids are spermicidal in fertilisation droplets. Serum is used in IVM and IVC, not the fertilisation step.
Is oestrus serum available from SeamlessBio for bovine IVM?
Yes — bovine oestrus serum (heat-inactivated, sterile-filtered) is available. Collected from donor cows during oestrus, providing LH surge-associated factors for final nuclear maturation of cumulus-oocyte complexes. Available fresh or frozen. Full documentation: origin, collection date, viral screening. Contact info@seamlessbio.de for lot availability and pricing.
Request Oestrus Serum & Reproductive Sera Samples
Species-matched reproductive sera and oestrus serum available. Low Endotoxin grades for embryo culture. Batch reservation for reproductive research programmes.
Email: info@seamlessbio.de | +49 851 37932226
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