Intraovarian Injection of Reconstituted Lyophilized Growth-Promoting Factor Extracted from Horse Blood Platelets (L-GF(equina)) Increases Oocytes Recovery and In Vitro Embryo Production in Holstein Cows

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Lyophilized horse-platelet-derived growth factor (L-GF(equina)) is a brand-new, improved platelet-rich protein growth factor. It has been successfully used to treat a number of inflammatory and degenerative musculoskeletal diseases in several disciplines of regenerative medicine. Our study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using an intraovarian injection of L-GF(equina) in the assisted reproduction of Holstein cows. L-GF(equina) employs allogenic, pathogen-free platelets from horses that have been successfully used in other species to prevent changes in technical platelet specifications caused by the centrifugation process and time, as well as the integrity and quality of autologous platelets. The number of ovum pick-up (OPU) sessions per cycle, the growth of medium- and large-sized follicles, the number of COCs produced per cow per session, and the formation of blastocysts during OPU-IVEP in eCG stimulated Holstein cows were all boosted in this study by an intraovarian injection of L-GF(equina). ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of intraovarian injections of a reconstituted lyophilized growth-promoting factor extracted from horse blood platelets (L-GF(equina)) on the number of ovarian follicles, the recovery of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), and embryo development to the blastocyst stage in Holstein cows. Thus, 12 Holstein cows were assigned to three protocols. According to the number of punctured follicles in protocol 1, ovum pick-up (OPU) was conducted on days 6 and 14 of the cycle (day 0 = estrus). In protocol 2, every large follicle (more than 7 mm) was removed, and 1 mL of L-GF(equina) was intraovarian injected (day 0). Two days later, equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was administered, and OPU sessions were conducted on days 6, 10, and 14. The same ovarian stimulation procedure as that in protocol 2 was performed in protocol 3, except that equine L-GF(equina) was not supplied. OPU was carried out on days 6 and 10 of the cycle. The results indicate that the intraovarian injection of L-GF(equina) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the number of OPU sessions per cycle, the recovery of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), and the production of blastocysts. In conclusion, an intraovarian injection of L-GF(equina) can improves OPU-IVEP results in Holstein cows.