Minitube is pleased to announce the manufacturing and distribution of BBH7 embryo culture medium under an exclusive license agreement.
BBH7 will be available as part of the BOVIPRO media line, established by Minitube as a complete line of bovine oocyte maturation, IVF, embryo recovery, culture and cryopreservation media.
BBH7 was developed by University of Florida scientists Jeremy Block, PhD, Luciano Bonilla, DVM, and Peter J. Hansen, PhD to improve the yield and freezability of bovine embryos produced in vitro. A recent study published by the American Dairy Science Association (Block et al., J. Dairy Sci. 93: 5234–5242) demonstrates how embryos cultured in BBH7 have improved blastocyst yield and survival after cryopreservation and thawing (Table 1).
* P<0.001
Fig. 1. Pregnancy success after transfer of embryos cultured in BBH7. Pregnancy was determined at Day 45 (Florida; Block et al., J. Dairy Sci. 93:5234) or at Day 70 (Brazil, Bonilla et al., unpublished). Data from Texas are calving rates only.
Higher pregnancy rates can be achieved after the transfer of embryos produced in BBH7 vs. conventional medium (Figure 1). During the summer months pregnancy rates in lactating cows were higher for cows receiving fresh embryos vs. traditionally timed AI while pregnancy rates of cows receiving vitrified embryos were equivalent to those bred using timed AI. In Nelore cows, a breed in which cryopreservation is difficult, a 55% pregnancy rate was obtained after the transfer of vitrified embryos produced in BBH7.
On November 14th, 2008 bovine embryos cultured in BBH7 were flown on the Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-126 mission. These were the first bovine embryos sent into space on an American space craft.
BBH7 is a defined, proprietary synthetic medium that does not require serum or natural animal products. It is packaged in 2ml vials and can be stored at +4°C for 30 days after receipt of product. The BBH7 medium in each 2ml vial will yield approximately 40 µ-drops which are adequate for the culturing of nearly 500 OPU/IVF embryos from as many as 80 donor cows. Minitube is excited to bring forth this revolutionary culture media for the in vitro production of bovine embryos. Minitube International
is a biotechnology company specializing in advanced reproduction technologies and cell biology. With partners and clients in the agricultural, veterinary, medical and research communities, Minitube is active in the fields of food animal production, companion and sport animal breeding, clinical research and cellular diagnostics.