the effect of various concentrations of myo-inositol in culture medium on development of bovine embryos

background: progress achieved in culture media formulations have resulted led to an improvement in maintaining the mammalian embryo in culture throughout the preimplantation and pre-attachment period. objective: the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of myo-inositol during in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes on subsequent embryo development. materials and methods: bovine cumulus oocytes complexes (cocs) were matured in vitro at 39oc, in humidified 5% co2 atmosphere for 22-24 h. the cocs were coincubated with epididymal spermatozoa of post mortem bulls in modified talp medium for 22-24hr. the fertilization medium used was: 1) talp medium without myo-inositol (control); 2) control+0.02 g/l myo-inositol; 3) control+0.03 g/l myoinositol; 4) control+0.04 g/l myo-inositol. zygotes were cultured in vitro for 8 days when the ratios of in vitro embryo development of the hatched blastocysts were assessed and compared with the control group (p<0.05). results: the presence of 0.04 g/l myo-inpsitol significantly improved overall morula and blastocyst rates (46.94%) compared to control (32.19%), but there was no difference in the percentage of embryos successfully developed to the morula and blastocyst stage when different levels of myo-inositol were used (46.94, 36.36 and 37.33% respectively). the mean percentage of cleavage rate was not significantly affected by treatments. conclusion: these results suggest that, addition of 0.04 g/l myo-inositol in talp medium is more beneficial for subsequent bovine embryonic development.