Effect of Mitogens, Supplement of -mercaptoethanol and Fetal Bovine Serum Supplementation in Whole Blood Culture Medium for Bovine Chromosome Analysis

We investigated the effects of the mitogen supplements of 3 types, pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA), to a whole blood culture system on the number of metaphase spreads obtained in perinatal bovine chromosome analysis. In addition, the supplementation of -mercaptoethanol (-ME) and FBS was examined in such system. Significant differences (p 30 ng/ml) of the blood samples were examined. There was no significant effect of cortisol concentration (p>0.05) among these 3 cortisol concentration groups. The mean percentages of normal metaphase plates (2n=60) from each calf 1) with -ME, 2) without -ME and 3) with FBS stimulated with PWM were not significantly different (p>0.05). In conclusion, these findings may be useful in cytogenetic screening programs for not only perinatal calves but also for mature cattle. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 5 : 615-621)