供体牛外周血AMH浓度对荷斯坦青年奶牛体内胚胎生产效率的影响

旨在研究供体牛超数排卵（简称超排）过程中不同时间外周血AMH浓度与荷斯坦青年奶牛体内胚胎生产效率的相关性,优化供体牛筛选标准,提高荷斯坦青年奶牛体内胚胎生产效率。本试验共选用96头荷斯坦青年奶牛进行超排处理,分别在孕酮阴道栓（CIDR）埋置、人工授精和胚胎回收当天通过尾根采集外周血检测抗缪勒管激素（anti-Müllerian hormone,AMH）浓度,将不同时期的外周血AMH浓度按照高（浓度分布最高的25%）、中等（浓度分布中间的25%~75%）、低（浓度分布最低的25%）分为3组,并检验了这3组之间头均回收胚胎数、头均可用胚胎数、头均退化胚胎数和头均未受精数等指标间的差异。结果表明：1）外周血AMH浓度检测结果显示,从CIDR埋置至胚胎回收的全过程AMH浓度整体呈下降趋势;2）CIDR埋置当天AMH高浓度组头均回收胚胎数（9.38±1.24）显著高于中等浓度组（6.47±0.56）（P<0.05）,说明CIDR埋置当天AMH浓度高的供体牛超排效果更好,回收胚胎数更多;但是,结果也表明,高浓度组头均未受精卵母细胞数显著高于其他两组（P<0.05）,说明部分卵母细胞未能成功受精,这可能是由于高浓度组牛只更多的卵泡优势化,排卵周期延长导致部分卵母细胞未能完成正常受精;3）人工授精和胚胎回收当天的AMH数据分析结果均表明,3组间各项胚胎生产指标均无显著性差异（P>0.05）;4）通过对供体牛体重记录数据分析发现,不同体重牛只间的体内胚胎生产效率差异也不显著（P>0.05）,但是体况适中组牛只的可用胚胎数、回收胚胎数优于其他两组,尤其是优于体重偏胖组。因此,CIDR埋置时,外周血AMH浓度可以作为青年荷斯坦供体牛筛选标准之一,且供体牛选择时宜选用体况适中的牛只。     

Prolonged Duration of Fertility of Dog Ova

The fertile period for natural mating in dogs extends from before ovulation until day 5 post ovulation (PO) and involves a delay in oocyte maturation until 2–3 days PO and viability of secondary oocytes for 48–60 h or more. Spermatozoa do not enter the uterus after vaginal insemination in late oestrus. Cervical closure appears to occur on average 5 days PO, but conception may occur following intrauterine artificial insemination (IUAI) up to 8 days PO. Therefore, the present study was conducted to clarify the duration of fertility of canine ova. Using IUAI at 6, 7, 8 and 9 days PO (n = 5 bitches each) conception rates were 100%, 71.4%, 37.5% and 0%, respectively, with an average litter resorption rate of 30.8%, and with mean litter sizes and times to delivery PO being 4.3 ± 1.6 and 64.3 ± 0.3 days, 4.0 ± 1.4 and 66.3 ± 0.4 days, and 2.5 and 68 days for IUAI at 6, 7 and 8 days, respectively. The high pregnancy rates with IUAI at 6 and 7 days PO confirm that many canine oocytes are fertile at 4–5 days after maturation. The high rate of resorption was presumably because of aging of ova or asynchrony between embryonic development and the intrauterine environment.     

Manipulation of follicle development to ensure optimal oocyte quality and conception rates in cattle

Over the last several decades, a number of therapies have been developed that manipulate ovarian follicle growth to improve oocyte quality and conception rates in cattle. Various strategies have been proposed to improve the responses to reproductive biotechnologies following timed artificial insemination (TAI), superovulation (SOV) or ovum pickup (OPU) programmes. During TAI protocols, final follicular growth and size of the ovulatory follicle are key factors that may significantly influence oocyte quality, ovulation, the uterine environment and consequently pregnancy outcomes. Progesterone concentrations during SOV protocols influence follicular growth, oocyte quality and embryo quality; therefore, several adjustments to SOV protocols have been proposed depending on the animal category and breed. In addition, the success of in vitro embryo production is directly related to the number and quality of cumulus oocyte complexes harvested by OPU. Control of follicle development has a significant impact on the OPU outcome. This article discusses a number of key points related to the manipulation of ovarian follicular growth to maximize oocyte quality and improve conception rates following TAI and embryo transfer of in vivo- and in vitro-derived embryos in cattle.     

Effects of Superovulation with oFSH and Norgestomet/GnRH‐Controlled Release of the LH Surge on Hormone Concentrations,and Yield of Oocytes and Embryos at Specific Developmental Stages

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new superovulation procedure with oFSH after temporary suppression of the endogenous LH surge by norgestomet followed by administration of GnRH, to collect bovine oocytes and embryos at specific developmental stages. Since 1999, our research group applies this superovulation procedure with controlled release of the endogenous LH surge. The objective of this study is to verify if this procedure is reliable for collection of oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development and if it produces a sufficient number of both oocytes and embryos of good quality. This procedure was validated regarding to hormonal characteristics, superovulatory response and both oocyte and embryo yield at different times of in vivo development. The results demonstrate that the procedure used to control the occurrence of the pre‐ovulatory LH surge was effective in 92% of the animals (n = 238) and even in 99% of the animals the oocytes and embryos were collected at the intended stage of development. The superovulatory response and both oocyte, embryo yield and quality were similar to the average yield in Europe reported by Association Européenne de transfert embryonnaire (AETE). In conclusion, this superovulation procedure provides a valid tool to collect oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development.     

Effect of Oocytes in vivo and in vitro on the Developmental Potential of Porcine Somatic Cell Cloned Embryos

To investigate the impact of porcine oocytes in vivo and in vitro maturation (IVM) on the development of porcine somatic cell cloned embryos,the somatic cell cloned embryos cultured in vitro and the sows were treated with hormones to collect mature oocytes in vivo,and the cleavage rate, blastocyst rate and embryo implantation were compared. The results showed that the average number of ovulation in PGC+PMSG+HCG group was significantly higher than that of PGC+HCG,PMSG+HCG and the natural estrus groups (P<0.05). The oocytes collected in vivo could be used for the construction, and the available oocytes rate reached more than 90%,and there was no significant difference among the four groups (P>0.05),which indicated that groups treated by hormone could obtain more available oocytes and the quality of oocytes was not significant different. In vivo and in vitro matured oocytes were used as nuclear transfer embryos of recombinant receptor,the fusion efficiency (80.31% and 79.29%) and cleavage rate (90.40% and 86.51%) were not significant different (P>0.05), but the proportion of in vivo matured oocytes cloned embryos developed into the blastocyst stage was significantly higher (P<0.05). The reconstructed embryos made from in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes were transplanted into surrogate sows (transferred 30 or 60 embryos),10 piglets were born in in vivo maturation of cloned embryo transfer group,while there was no implantation in in vitro maturation of cloned embryo transfer group. The results showed that high quality oocytes obtained by superovulation could significantly increase the blastocyst rate of embryos,reduce the number of embryos transferred and improve the pregnancy rate of surrogate sows.     

不同因素对高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎生产效率和质量的影响

[目的]试验旨在探讨不同种类的促卵泡素(FSH)超数排卵处理、不同精液类型人工输精处理以及不同季节等前处理方式对高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎生产效率的影响,为高产胚胎牛后代的繁育做出贡献。[方法]试验选取208头优质供体牛使用加拿大(Folltropin-v)和比利时进口的促卵泡素(FSH)进行超排,性控冻精和性控鲜精进行人工输精,春(3—5月)、夏(6—8月)、秋(9—11月)、冬(12—2月)四季进行胚胎生产。[结果]结果表明,使用产地为加拿大(Folltropin-v)促卵泡素进行超数排卵头均可用胚胎数和I级胚胎数(包括桑葚胚I级、囊胚I级)均显著高于比利时(P<0.05);通过使用性控冻精和性控鲜精对供体牛进行人工输精头均可用胚胎数分别为和I级胚胎数差异均不显著(P>0.05);春、夏、秋、冬四季进行胚胎生产头均可用胚胎数和I级胚胎数夏季均显著低于其他三季(P<0.05)。[结论]因此,使用加拿大促卵泡素(Folltropin-v)超数排卵、性控冻精进行人工输精避免在夏季进行胚胎生产可获得质量较高的高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎。     

体内、外卵母细胞对猪体细胞克隆胚胎发育潜力的影响

为探讨猪体内、外成熟卵母细胞对核移植重组胚胎发育能力的影响,试验通过激素促排获得体内成熟卵母细胞和收集废弃卵巢获取体外成熟的卵母细胞,分别构建核移植重组胚,比较其卵裂率、囊胚率及胚胎移植受孕情况。结果显示,PGC+PMSG+HCG组的平均排卵数（27.8枚/头）显著高于PGC+HCG （12.5枚/头）、PMSG+HCG （13.7枚/头）及自然发情组（11.5枚/头）（P<0.05）,体内收集到的卵母细胞,可用于构建核移植重组胚的可用卵率均达到90%以上,与其他处理组差异不显著（P>0.05）,说明通过激素处理可获得更多的可用卵母细胞,而且卵母细胞的质量没有显著差异;以体内和体外成熟卵母细胞作为核移植受体构建的克隆胚胎,二者的胚胎融合率（80.31%和79.29%）和卵裂率（90.40%和86.51%）差异均不显著（P>0.05）,但来自体内成熟卵母细胞克隆的胚胎发育至囊胚期的比例显著升高（P<0.05）;将体内、外成熟卵母细胞构建的核移植重组胚分别移植代孕母猪,头平均移植30或60枚时,体内成熟卵母构建的克隆胚胎移植出生仔猪10头,而体外培养卵母细胞构建的克隆胚胎均未着床受孕,表明通过激素促排获得的卵母细胞质量更好,能显著提高克隆胚胎的囊胚率,减少胚胎移植数量,提高代孕母猪的怀孕率。     

From the germinal cells to the newborn animal: the transmission of genes and life through the generations

The technology of reproduction progressed considerably during the last decade, leading to a certain availability of in vitro methods for fertilisation, oocyte maturation and embryo culture. The most spectacular manipulations are cloning and transgenesis. This review focuses on the early appearance of germinal cell precursors and the long-standing fate of gametes in mammals. The evident complexity and long-term programming of events in gametes and early embryos explain part of the difficulties encountered during the development of in vitro and in vivo methods such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), oestrus synchronisation, ovulation induction, superovulation, in vitro maturation and fertilisation, cryopreservation, transgenesis, nuclear transfer and cloning) and the occurrence of unexpected alterations of development, e.g. embryonic or fetal mortality, large-weight newborn syndrome and other dysregulations in imprinting or DNA transmission.     

Ovarian stimulation and ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval in baboon (Papio Cynocephalus Anubis) during pituitary suppression with a GnRH agonist

The objective of this study was to investigate whether baboon females respond to an ovarian stimulation protocol incorporating pituitary suppression with a GnRH agonist (GnRHa) and either highly purified human FSH (hphFSH) or recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) with follicular development and oocyte maturation. A modified human ovulation induction protocol was applied to 5 adult female baboons with a history of regular menstrual cycles (33-34 days). A long-acting GnRHa implant containing goserelin acetate was placed subcutaneously (s.c.) on Days 22-24 of their menstrual cycle. Concentrations of serum oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and human FSH were obtained by ELISA. Menses occurred approximately 10 days after GnRHa implantation. Daily hphFSH or rhFSH (75 IU i.m.) treatments were started approximately 10 days following menses. When the majority of follicles were > or = 5 mm in diameter and the E2 levels had reached a maximum, hCG (2000 IU i.m.) was administered to induce final maturation of oocytes and ovulation. Thirty to 34 h after hCG administration, transabdominal follicular aspiration was performed using a variable frequency transvaginal transducer with ultrasound. A total of 71 oocytes were collected from 4 animals (average: 17). The meiotic maturity of oocytes was evaluated 3 h after retrieval. Ninety-one percent of oocytes were in metaphase 2 and of grades I and II which are appropriate for in vitro insemination.     

用荷斯坦奶牛性控精液生产体内性控胚胎

采用荷斯坦奶牛X性控冻精和超数排卵技术结合生产奶牛性控胚胎,以建立高效、低成本的体内性控胚胎生产方法。研究发现,使用CIDR和Cue-Mate进行奶牛同期发情处理,发情率分别为90.9%和100%(P<0.05),且Cue-Mate的发情时间更加集中;加拿大的FOLLTROPIN-V和中国科学院动物研究所的FSH对奶牛超排效果影响不显著,分别为头均胚胎数10.08枚±8.08枚、头均可用胚胎数2.38枚±3.07枚和头均胚胎数6.57枚±4.31枚、头均可用胚胎数2.00枚±1.88枚,无显著差异(P>0.05);奶牛发情后12h～14h和16h～19h人工授精,分别获得头均胚胎数10.25枚±5.53枚、头均可用胚胎数5.33枚±4.52枚和头均胚胎数10.13枚±6.93枚、头均可用胚胎数5.88枚±6.26枚,无显著差异(P>0.05)。但是未受精胚胎数差异显著(27对7,P<0.05)。     

Evaluation of the relationship between serum paraoxonase-1 activity and superovulation response/embryo yield in Holstein cows

In this study, the effect of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity on superovulation response and embryo yield was evaluated. The study material comprised 50 Holstein cows aged 3–4 years on postpartum day 90–120 with a body condition score of 3–3.25. A progesterone-based estrus synchronization protocol was initially administered to the selected donors. For this purpose, progesterone source was inserted intravaginally (day 0) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection was performed (day 6). Seven days after the insertion of progesterone device, follicle-stimulating hormone injections (total dose of 500 µg in decreasing doses for 4 days) were administered for superovulation. On the morning of the ninth day, prostaglandin (PG) F2α was administered, and the progesterone device was removed from the vagina in the evening on the same day. Two days after PGF2α administration, fixed-time artificial insemination was performed in the morning and in the evening. On the day of artificial insemination, blood samples were taken from the donors to determine the serum PON-1 activity. Uterine flushing was performed seven days after insemination. The results revealed that the serum PON-1 activity (mean ± SD, 562.71 ± 140.23 U/l) of the cows that responded to superovulation (donors with total corpus luteum count of ≥3 in both ovaries) was higher than those (389.91 ± 80.51 U/l) that did not (P<0.05). On the day of insemination, a positive correlation was determined between serum PON-1 activity and the counts of total corpus luteum (r=0.398), total oocyte/embryo (r=0.468), transferable embryo (r=0.453), and Code I embryos (r=0.315, P<0.05). Unlike the Code I embryos, there was no significant correlation between serum PON-1 activity and the number of Code III embryos. Moreover, no significant difference in the number of Code III embryos between the two PON-1 groups was observed. However, embryo yield and quality were found to have increased with increased PON-1 activity. Therefore, it was concluded that serum PON-1 activity may be associated with superovulation response, embryo yield and quality in donor cows.     

公羊生殖保健对供体母羊超数排卵的影响

为探讨肉用种公羊生殖保健技术对胚胎移植供体母羊超数排卵的影响,本研究以纯种萨福克肉用种公羊为实验材料,分别用保健和未保健种公羊对相同超排方法供体母羊实施常规人工输精和内窥镜输精,对比其超排效果。实验结果表明,内窥镜输精获胚率较高（P〈0.01）,经过保健的公羊处理的供体母羊获胚率高（P〈0.05）,各实验组间胚胎移植妊娠率之间无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。     

The Development and Application of the Modern Reproductive Technologies to Horse Breeding

Although the horse was probably the first animal to experience and benefit from artificial insemination, it trailed the field somewhat with regard to the application of embryo transfer and other oocyte and embryo-related modern breeding technologies. But with a late run it is now back in mid-field and gaining fast on the other large domestic species in the application of the many technological advances of the past 20 years to sound breeding practice. Improvements in extenders and cryoprotectants have resulted in a veritable upsurge in the transport and insemination of cooled and frozen stallion semen, and parallel improvements in ovulation induction and synchrony, exogenous gonadotrophic stimulation of multiple fertile ovulations and simplified, more efficient methods for non-surgical transfer of embryos to recipient mares, coupled with relaxation of breed society registration restrictions, have together contributed to a similar upsurge in the application of embryo transfer to all breeds and athletic types of horses worldwide, with the continuing and notable exception of the Thoroughbred. Although conventional in vitro fertilization remains something of an unjumped fence in equids, other modern breeding technologies like hysteroscopic low-dose insemination, fluorescence-activated sex sorting of stallion spermatozoa, between-species embryo transfer, embryo freezing and bisection, transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte collection, intracytoplasmic sperm injection for fertilization (ICSI), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and now nuclear transfer (cloning), have all been applied to equids with encouraging success. Cloning, especially, holds enormous promise for the Sporthorse industry to re-create champion geldings in stallion form for breeding purposes.     

Effect of suckling on embryo production by repeated ovum pick-up before and after timed artificial insemination in early postpartum Japanese black cows

We investigated whether suckling would affect embryo production of cows bred by timed artificial insemination (TAI) following an ovulation synchronization protocol combined with ovum pick-up and progesterone releasing intravaginal device (OPU-PRID-TAI protocol). The number of oocytes and transferable embryos collected by repeated OPU, performed before and after TAI, were recorded. A total of 14 Japanese Black cows were divided into weaned (n=7) and suckled groups (n=7). All 14 cows were treated with OPU on day 0 (the first day of treatment) and then with a PRID for 9 days. Prostaglandin F(2alpha) analog was administered on day 7, GnRH analog was administered on day 10 (36 h after removal of the PRID) and TAI was performed 12 h later. Ovulation was confirmed by palpation per rectum the following day. After TAI, additional OPU sessions were performed on days 18, 25 and 32. The synchronized ovulation rates of the weaned and suckled groups were 100 and 85.7%, and the conception rates were 71.4 and 42.9%, respectively. Immature oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro. The numbers of oocytes collected and blastocysts generated were similar between the individual OPU sessions in both groups. However, the total numbers of oocytes collected, cultured oocytes, cleavage embryos and blastocysts as well as the proportions of cleavage embryos and blastocysts to cultured oocytes were all significantly (P<0.05) greater in the weaned group compared with the suckled group. These results suggest that the OPU-PRID-TAI protocol has the potential to produce a significant number of good-quality embryos in vitro after repeated OPU in early postpartum weaned Japanese Black cows. To collect more oocytes and produce more embryos, we suggest that calves be removed from cows scheduled for treatment using this protocol.     

Studies on factors affecting superovulation and embryo transfer in Hungarian merino ewes

The objectives of this study were (a) to assess the ovulatory response and embryo production of Hungarian Merino ewes after superovulation, (b) to investigate the factors influencing the efficiency of embryo transfer (ET) in Hungarian Merino ewes, (c) to compare the results of two ovarian stimulation protocols (PMSG and PMSG + FSH treatment) in Hungarian Merino ewes, and (d) to study how superovulation, laparoscopic insemination and surgical embryo retrieval (ER) affect the subsequent reproduction of Hungarian Merino donor females after an ET programme. There was no significant difference between the ovarian stimulation protocols in the ratio of donor ewes responding to superovulation nor in the average number of corpora lutea. However, the number of transferable embryos recovered per donor ewe was higher in the PMSG + FSH group. The proportion of transferable embryos, unfertilized oocytes and degenerated embryos did not differ between the treatment protocols. The total pregnancy rate was 53.4% (179/335). Neither the developmental stage of the embryo nor the number of transferred embryos affect the implantation of embryos. However, the increased number of transferred embryos positively influenced the pregnancy rate. No difference was found in the pregnancy rate between synchronised and non-synchronised groups of recipients. Thirty-six out of 45 donor ewes (80%) became pregnant within one year after the ET programme, indicating that ovarian stimulation and surgical ER did not affect adversely their reproduction.     

季节对杜泊羊体内胚胎生产与移植效果的影响

为了研究季节对杜泊羊体内胚胎生产效率及胚胎移植妊娠率的影响,于2016年选取内蒙古赛诺草原羊业有限公司种羊场经产纯种杜泊母羊作为供体,采用同期发情、超数排卵及腹腔镜人工输精等方法对供体羊进行处理后,利用手术冲胚的方法获得纯种杜泊羊胚胎,同时对受体羊进行同期发情处理和胚胎移植。经统计分析,2016年全年该公司共有放栓供体4 241只,超排处理4 180只,配种供体4 131只,冲胚供体3 987只,供体可用率为94.01%;冲出胚胎总数为23 516枚,可用胚胎18 002枚,胚胎可利用率为76.55%,平均每只供体能获得可用胚胎4.52枚。供体在10月、11月、12月冲胚所获得的平均冲胚数和平均可用胚数明显高于4月、5月、6月(P<0.05),其中10月的平均冲胚数和平均可用胚数最高(P<0.01),分别为7.04枚和5.62枚。将获得的部分胚胎用于胚胎移植,移植单胚怀孕受体数为4 446只,妊娠率为53.67%;移植双胚怀孕受体数805只,妊娠率65.02%。此外,受体在1月、3月、6月、12月受胎率较其他月份高(P<0.05)。该研究可为杜泊种羊超数排卵、胚胎移植和肉羊的产业化生产提供一定的数据参考。     

排卵不同阶段氯胺酮麻醉对昆明小鼠卵母细胞和早期胚胎的影响

主要研究排卵不同阶段氯胺酮III期麻醉深度对昆明小鼠卵母细胞和早期胚胎的影响。结果表明:排卵前麻醉(150mg/kg体重)造成卵母细胞和早期胚胎数量的极显著下降(P<0.01),而排卵期间麻醉及排卵后麻醉对排卵及早期胚胎数量影响不显著(P>0.05),排卵不同阶段麻醉均造成一定数量异常卵母细胞和非正常胚胎出现。因此,排卵期间麻醉小鼠相比排卵前及排卵后麻醉小鼠对卵母细胞和早期胚胎的影响最小,但仍有可能造成卵母细胞异常、胚胎畸形的发生。     

重复超排对育成牛繁殖力影响的研究

实验探讨了重复超排对育成牛繁殖力的影响。结果表明:(1)经1～3次重复超排后14～16月龄育成荷斯坦牛自然发情后人工授精(3次以内),超排1次组、超排2次组和超排3次组妊娠率分别为96.25%、91.67%和95.29%,与对照组(未超排组)妊娠率为94.74%均无显著差异(P>0.05)(;2)超排处理后恢复期为5～10d组的妊娠率为50.0%,低于恢复期为30～40d组66.67%和恢复60～80d组60.47%的移植妊娠率,但差异不显著(P>0.05);(3)不同超排次数胚胎移植妊娠率分别为超排1～2次组63.27%、3～4次组61.11%、5～6次组57.14%,差异不显著(P>0.05)。重复超排后奶牛胚胎移植妊娠率随超排次数的增加有下降趋势,但与对照组(未超排组)62.50%的妊娠率无显著差异。     

Relationship between embryo collection results after superovulation treatment of Japanese Black cows and their plasma β-carotene and vitamin concentrations

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentrations of vitamin A (VA), vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (BC) during embryo collection in Japanese Black cows that had undergone superovulation treatment and the embryo collection results. Following superovulation treatment in 116 Japanese Black cows, we collected 1317 embryos by nonsurgical means seven days after artificial insemination. The collected embryos were classified into transferable embryos, unfertilized oocytes and degenerated embryos. After embryo collection, we collected blood samples from the cows and measured the plasma concentrations of VA, VE and BC. The cows were then divided into 2 groups depending on the plasma concentration of VA (L and H: < 80 IU/dl and ≥ 80 IU/dl), VE (L and H: < 150 μg/dl and ≥ 150 μg/dl) and BC (L and H: < 150 μg/dl and ≥ 150 μg/dl). As a result, the number of collected embryos in the H group of VE was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that in L groups. Furthermore, the number of transferable embryos was higher (P<0.05) in all VA, VE and BC H groups than in the L groups. The H group for BC showed a high ratio of transferable embryos compared with the L group (P<0.05). Consequently, the present study suggests that the plasma VE and BC concentrations are positively correlated with the embryo collection results.