Thermoprotection of preimplantation bovine embryos from heat shock by glutathione and taurine

To determine if deleterious effects of heat shock on embryos could be reduced in vitro by glutathione or taurine, morulae from superovulated cows were placed in modified Hams-F10 medium supplemented with 50 nM glutathione (GSH), 50 mM taurine or neither. Morulae were incubated for 2 hours at 38.5°C, then at 42.0°C (heat shock) or 38.5°C for 2 hours and followed by incubation at 38.5°C for 20 hours. Neither GSH nor taurine enhanced viability or blastocyst development at 38.5°C. At 42.0°C, however, GSH and taurine increased (P < 0.02) viability (73 %, 41 % and 26 % live for GSH, taurine and control); GSH increased (P < 0.05) blastocyst development (55 % for GSH vs. 30 % for control). In conclusion, partial thermoprotection of bovine embryos from heat shock can be achieved in vitro by administration of GSH. Taurine is only slightly effective.