<div>Background: The embryo genomic material used in this study came from an equal contribution of maternal and paternal genes. Gene expression during IVEP embryo development was controlled by several factors: the genetic makeup of the embryo, the epigenetic contributions and the culture materials. The aims of this research were to study the impact of ionomycin treatment on the sperm capacitation time and its impacts on the gene expression of some sensitive genes (Bcl-2, Bax, HSPB1, IGF1 and GDF9) during IVEP.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The semen was placed in a sterile 15ml tube containing 5ml of capacitation medium and then split into three different experimental groups: the first group was the control; the second was the low-treated group, which contained sperm in a capacitation medium with 25 nM of ionomycin; the third group included 50 nM ionomycin.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The gene expression of BAX during early cleavage did not show any differences. However, in the late cleavage stage, the control group presented higher gene expression (P&lt;0.05) than that in the two treated groups. The Bcl-2 genes of the control group showed higher gene expression (P&lt;0.05) in both the early and late cleavage stages compared to the low-treated group. Gene expression of the HSP-1 gene was observed during early embryo development in the treated group (25 nM ionomycin). In conclusion, concentration 25 nM ionomycin showed higher gene expression in the early stages of embryo development also the best-quality embryos and gene expression results were found by studying gene expression. The transition from the maternal and paternal genome to the embryonic genome and gene expression during embryo development is controlled by several factors.&nbsp;</div>

Impact of Ionomycin on the Gene Expression of In vitro Fertilized Bovine Embryos

Background: The utilization of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) has increased significantly as an effective tool of assisted reproductive technology. Sperm capacitation is a process of membrane maturation allowing the acrosome reaction to take place. Ionomycin is a calcium ionophore that induces the acrosome reaction by increasing calcium cycling across phospholipid membranes. The aim of this study was to enhance the cleavage rate and development of bovine embryos.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Bovine ovaries were collected from the central slaughter house. Oocytes were obtained from follicles and were let to mature for 24 h. Frozen bull semen thawed in 37&deg;C water and transferred to a discontinuous percoll gradient (Sigma GE17-0891-01). The spermatozoon pellet was separated into four groups after resuspension in bovine in vitro fertilization media (BO-IVF): control without additives; with DMSO and with ionomycin (25 and 50 nM) and kept in an incubator for three hours. The oocytes matured under commonly used media (TCM-199) for 24 h. The mature oocytes were then fertilized for 18-24h. The embryos were cultured in SOF medium until the seventh day to study cleavage rate and blastocyst rate.&nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;The results indicated that 50 nM ionomycin supplementation considerably reduced cleavage while DMSO and 25 nM ionomycin supplementation had no effect on cleavage percentage. Moreover, when compared to the other groups, ionomycin at 25 nM significantly increased blastocyst development. In conclusion, the highest rate of blastocyst development was observed in the capacitation medium supplemented with 25 nM ionomycin, apparently due to the importance of calcium and metabolism in spermatozoa for fertilization and embryo development.

Impact of Ionomycin on the Gene Expression of In vitro Fertilized Bovine Embryos

The Role of Ionomycin in the Improvement of in vitro Fertilization and Increasing the Rate of Bovine Embryo Development