Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the efficacy of Surfacten, a bovine pulmonary surfactant, on the maturation of in vitro bovine ova.
Methods: We used Surfacten as a supplement to the coculture media both at the onset of coculture and after cleavage in bovine ova had been determined. The controls received no Surfacten.
Results: The maturation rate in bovine embryos to the blastocyst stage statistically improved (P < 0.05) in the series in which Surfacten was added to the media at the onset of coculture, compared with the controls and the series in which Surfacten was added after cleavage had been determined.
Conclusions: Surfacten, a commercially available surfactant which is a naturally occurring phospholipid that dramatically increases in the cervical mucus and the ampullaris of the oviduct at or near the time of ovulation, improves the maturation of bovine embryos in vitro by making the coculture medium approach the conditions found in the oviducts.