Ovum Pick-up in Sheep: a Comparison between Different Aspiration Devices for Optimal Oocyte Retrieval

In vivo ovum pick-up (OPU) in sheep may be improved with a proper choice of aspiration elements (needle and tubing) and aspiration vacuum pressure. In the present study, two experiments were carried out. In Expt 1, visible follicles in ovaries of slaughtered ewes (treated separately according to their diameters: small<3 mm, medium 3-5 mm and large>5 mm) were aspirated using different combinations of the three studied factors such as aspiration flow rate (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ml water/min), needle gauge (18 and 20 G) and tubing inner diameter (1, 2 or 3 mm internal diameter). In Expt 2, a study with two 18 G needles of different lengths (18 G: 82 mm; 18 GL: 600 mm) was carried out, using ovaries obtained post-mortem, and performing in vivo laparoscopic follicular aspiration on ewes. We considered good quality oocytes as those with both complete compact cumulus and a homogeneous cytoplasm. Recovery rate, proportion of good quality oocytes (good quality oocytes/100 oocytes recovered) and overall efficiency (good quality oocytes/100 follicles aspirated) were noted. In Expt 1, aspiration flow rate affect remarkable proportion of good quality oocytes (69.5%, 50.5%, 44.8%, 36.5% and 28.3% for flows from 10 to 50 ml/min respectively, p<0.05). Needle gauge did not affect aspiration device efficiency. Thin and intermediate tubings were more effective (overall efficiency rates: 34.9%, 32.3% and 28.1% for 1, 2 and 3 mm respectively, p<0.05). Follicle size did not affect recovery rate, but proportion of good quality oocytes was higher for large (77.9%) and medium (64.4%) follicles (p<0.05). Finally, some combinations of the aspiration device showed greater effectiveness. In Expt 2, needle length did not influence recovery rate, but good quality oocytes rate was significantly modified both post-mortem and in vivo (good quality rate for 18 G vs 18 GL needles: 69.5% vs 47.7% and 58.1% vs 25.4%, post-mortem and in vivo respectively, p<0.05). We conclude that low-aspiration flow rates (10 and 20 ml/min) with thin or intermediate tubings (1 and 2 mm), and any short needle (18 G or 20 G) are the most adequate aspiration factors for OPU in sheep.     

水牛分离精子与不同来源卵母细胞体外受精的效果研究

本研究的目的是探讨水牛分离精子与不同来源(活体采卵或屠宰场卵巢采卵)卵母细胞体外受精的效果。活体采卵是选用20头空怀河流型母水牛(其中摩拉母牛12头,尼里-拉菲母水牛8头)每间隔3 d采卵1次,连续采卵5~6周,活体采集卵母细胞;屠宰场卵巢采卵是收集屠宰场水牛卵巢,用10 mL注射器连接18 G针头吸取水牛卵巢上可视的卵泡来收集卵母细胞。将收集的AB级水牛卵母细胞在相同的条件下进行体外成熟、然后用分离或未分离精子进行体外受精以及体外培养至囊胚。结果发现:活体采卵组和屠宰场收集的水牛卵母细胞组用分离精子受精分裂率和囊胚率没有差异(P>0.05);分离精子和未分离精子的体外受精分裂率和囊胚率也没有差异(P>0.05)。由此说明,水牛分离精子可以用于体外生产性控胚胎。     

绵羊卵母细胞采集、体外成熟和胚胎体外培养对体外受精技术效率的影响

利用屠宰场采集的绵羊卵巢作为试验材料,研究了不同卵母细胞采集方法(卵泡冲洗法、剖切法、注射器抽吸法和真空泵抽吸法)、成熟液中添加不同来源激素(BIONICHE或宁波激素厂生产 FSH/LH)和血清(发情绵羊血清或胎牛血清),以及mSOF和mCR胚胎培养体系对绵羊体外受精各环节效率的影响。结果表明,卵泡冲洗法获得A、B两级卵母细胞比例为77.1%,显著高于其他3种方法(P＜0.05),添加BIONICHE FSH/LH+ESS成熟液中,卵母细胞成熟率显著高于其他添加方式(P＜0.05),mSOF和mCR胚胎培养体系在卵裂率上无显著差异(P＞0.05),但mSOF组中囊胚率和孵化率均显著高于mCR组(P＜0.05)。综上所述,本研究中卵泡冲洗法更适合绵羊卵母细胞采集,成熟液中添加BIONICHE FSH/LH和ESS可显著促进绵羊卵母细胞成熟;与mCR培养体系相比,mSOF培养体系更适合绵羊体外受精胚胎的发育。     

Differences in development of bovine oocytes recovered by aspiration or by mincing.

This experiment was performed to clarify relationships between conditions of bovine ovaries and developmental capacity of the follicular oocytes recovered from them and to compare two methods of oocyte collection, aspiration and mincing. Follicular oocytes with surrounding intact, unexpanded cumulus recovered by follicular aspiration or by mincing of tissue from 24 pairs of ovaries were matured and fertilized in vitro. The number of follicular oocytes recovered from pairs of ovaries averaged 32.1 +/- 3.2, but the number recovered varied greatly among the 24 pairs of ovaries (range, 7 to 71). The overall rate of development to the blastocyst stage was 18% (137/771), and the average number of blastocysts produced from a pair of ovaries was 5.7 +/- 1.1 (range, 0 to 17). No relationships were found between the presence of corpora lutea or large follicles and the proportion of oocytes capable of reaching the blastocyst stage in vitro. However, a positive correlation was observed between the number of oocytes obtained from each pair of ovaries and subsequent in vitro development; the correlation was especially high for oocytes obtained by aspiration. These data suggest that the developmental capacity of bovine follicular oocytes after in vitro maturation and fertilization is correlated to the number of antral follicles aspirated from the pair of ovaries.     

Follicular and oocyte development in gilts of different age

The aim of the present study was to estimate follicular and oocyte development of the same gilts in three phases of their reproductive life--prepuberal gilt (6 months old), cycling gilt (9.5 months old) and primiparous sow. Follicular development was induced by injections of 1000 IU PMSG followed by 500 IU hCG 72 h later. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were recovered from preovulatory follicles of the left ovary, and follicular fluid (FF) from the right ovary always 34 h after hCG by endoscopy. Altogether, 19 gilts were used in the prepuberal (P) and cycling (C) trials and 12 of them in the primiparous trial (S). Altogether 168, 190 and 82 follicles were aspirated from the left ovary and 106, 125 and 42 COCs recovered (recovery rate 60.5 +/- 26.9, 62.7 +/- 20.9 and 52.9 +/- 21.8%). The average number of follicles was higher in C compared to P (19.7 +/- 6.8 vs. 15.7 +/- 6.8, p = 0.06) and to S (14.2 +/- 4.0, p < 0.05), respectively. More uniform expanded COCs were aspirated from prepuberal and cycling gilts as compared to sows (89.7 and 78.4% vs. 46.3%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the meiotic configuration in oocytes differed (p < 0.05) between these groups (55.5 and 61.7% vs. 0% Telo 1/Meta 2). Concentrations of progesterone in FF decreased (p < 0.05) from 590.0 +/- 333.6 (P) to 249.1 +/- 72.6 (C) and 161.4 +/- 75.2 ng/ml (S). FF concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta were different between gilts and sows (9.3 +/- 2.9, 21.9 +/- 10.6 and 94.0 +/- 15.9 pg/ml, p < 0.05). The progesterone/oestradiol ratio was 72.1, 15.2 and 4.7. Results indicate a different follicular and oocyte development during the investigated lifetime periods. Cycling gilts should preferably be used in IVF and breeding programs. The lower reproductive potential of primiparous sows is taken into consideration at breeding. Prediction of lifetime performance based on individual ovarian reaction of prepuberal gilts is unsuitable.     

Ovum Pick-up in Cycling and Lactating Postpartum Swamp Buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Ovum Pick Up (OPU) in cycling (n = 5) and lactating, postpartum, swamp buffaloes (n = 6) with and without gonadotropin stimulation. The OPU was performed every two weeks in all groups of animals, for a total of six sessions. Thirty collections were performed in five cycling buffaloes and 36 collections in six lactating postpartum buffaloes. Buffaloes that received hormonal stimulation were given a total of 400 mg, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), administered twice daily over 3 days in decreasing doses, together with 100 microg of GnRH, 24 h after the last FSH injection. Following a resting period of 1 month, the two groups of buffaloes, were subjected to the same OPU regimen, but without any hormonal treatment for an additional six OPU sessions. The number of aspirated follicles recorded from the hormonal stimulated, cycling animals and lactating, postpartum buffaloes was not significantly different, 7.2 +/- 3.7 and 9.0 +/- 3.2, respectively (p > 0.05). Recovered oocytes collected from the two groups of hormonally stimulated animals were also not statistically different: 3.7 +/- 2.7 in the cycling and 5.9 +/- 3.5 in the lactating postpartum group (p > 0.05). In the two groups of buffaloes not receiving hormonal stimulation, the number of aspirated follicles was not significantly different: 2.1 +/- 1.4 and 1.4 +/- 0.7 in cycling and lactating postpartum buffaloes respectively (p > 0.05). Recovered oocytes in the non-treated groups were also similar: 1.4 +/- 1.3 vs 0.7 +/- 0.8 in cycling and lactating buffaloes (p > 0.05). Among stimulated buffaloes, most aspirated follicles were small in size (< or =5 mm), whereas they were mostly medium and large sizes in the non-treated buffaloes. The oocyte recovery rate in both the groups, cycling and lactating postpartum, were 51.6% and 69.5% in stimulated groups and 55.0% and 53.1% in non-stimulated groups (p > 0.05). The majority of recovered oocytes were single- and multi-layered, and the number was greater in the cycling than in the lactating, postpartum buffaloes. The number and quality of recovered oocytes was similar in all groups of buffaloes whether they were received or did not receive hormonal stimulation. Moreover no difference was found in multi- and single-layered oocytes between cycling and lactating, postpartum buffaloes. In conclusion, OPU can be performed successfully in swamp buffalo in different reproductive status and FSH administration was shown to increase the number of aspirated oocytes in both cycling and lactating, postpartum buffaloes.     

Ovarian activity and oocyte development during follicular development in pigs at different reproductive phases estimated by the repeated endoscopic method

The aim of the present study was to assess follicular and oocyte development in the same gilts during three phases of their reproductive life [prepuberal gilts (PP; 6.0 months of age), puberal gilts (P; 9.5 months of age) and primiparous sows (S)]. Follicular development was stimulated by the injection of 1,000 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) followed by 500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 72 h later. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were recovered by endoscopic ovum pick up/aspiration from preovulatory follicles of the left ovary, and the follicular fluid (FF) from the right ovary was collected 34 h after the hCG treatment by endoscopy. Altogether, 19 pigs were used in the PP and P trials and 12 in the S trial. From the left ovaries, 168, 190 and 82 follicles were aspirated and 106, 125 and 42 COCs, respectively, were recovered (recovery rate 61 +/- 27, 63 +/- 21 and 53 +/- 22%, respectively). The mean number of follicles was greater in the P phase than in the PP phase (19.7 +/- 6.8 vs. 15.7 +/- 6.8; p=0.06) and S phases (14.2 +/- 4.0; p<0.05). More uniform oocytes with an expanded cumulus were aspirated in the P and PP phases than in the S phase (90 and 78 vs. 46%; p<0.05). Furthermore, the meiotic configuration in oocytes (T I/M II stage) differed between the three phases (56 and 62 vs. 0%; p<0.05). Progesterone (P4) levels in FF decreased from 590.0 +/- 333.6 (PP) to 249.1 +/- 72.6 (P) and 161.4 +/- 75.2 ng/ml (S) (p<0.05). Estradiol-17beta (E2) levels differed between PP and P gilts and S sows (9.3 +/- 2.9, 21.9 +/- 10.6 and 94.0 +/- 15.9 pg/ml, respectively; p<0.05), and the P4/E2 ratio was 72, 15 and 5, respectively. These results indicate differences in follicular and oocyte development between the reproductive phases investigated. Puberal gilts should preferably be used in IVF and breeding programs. The lower reproductive potential of primiparous sows must be taken into consideration in breeding. Any prediction of lifetime performance based on individual ovarian reactions of prepuberal gilts is unreliable.     

Effect of estrus synchronization with norgestomet on the integrity of oocytes from persistent follicles in beef cattle.

Our objective was to determine whether oocyte integrity is compromised when oocytes are recovered from progestogen-induced persistent follicles. Beef cows were presynchronized using PGF2alpha (PGF). Cows detected in estrus after PGF were assigned to either NOR (one 6-mg norgestomet implant for 10 d starting on d 16 of cycle; day 0 = estrus; n = 112) or CON (control, no implant [n = 128] and presynchronized 8 d later than NOR). All cows received 25 mg of PGF at the end of treatment (NOR, d 26; CON, d 18). Treatments produced persistent preovulatory follicles (NOR) or normal preovulatory-size follicles (CON), which were measured via ultrasonography 1 d before slaughter. Ovaries were collected from all animals (NOR, d 27; CON, d 19) along with random (RAN) ovaries from cattle slaughtered on the same days. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) were aspirated from the preovulatory follicles with recovery rates of 63% across treatments. Small follicles (2 to 7 mm diameter) from NOR, CON, and RAN cows were also aspirated to recover COC. Preovulatory follicles were larger (19.5+/-.9 vs. 13.6+/-.4 mm, P<.05), serum P4 was lower (.4+/-.1 vs. 3.9+/-.2 ng/mL, P<.05), and serum E2 was higher (28.7+/-1.6 vs. 7.6+/-.8 pg/mL, P<.05) in NOR than in CON cows. Cumulus oocyte complexes recovered from preovulatory follicles (62 NOR, 64 CON) were matured, fertilized, and cultured in vitro for comparison of embryonic development. A subset (24 NOR, 34 CON) of COC were assigned morphological quality grades. A separate set of recovered COC (10 NOR, 15 CON) was fixed within 1 h after recovery for assessment of the stage of meiosis. Treatments did not differ for oocyte quality grade or stage of meiosis. However, COC from NOR cows had more layers of cumulus cells (P<.05), and more of those COC had undergone cumulus expansion (29.2 vs. 5.9%, P<.05 for NOR vs. CON, respectively). Development of cleaved embryos to the morula and blastocyst stages from preovulatory follicles (22.6% NOR, 18.9% CON) or small follicles (42% NOR, 40% CON, 42% RAN) did not differ with treatment. Oocyte quality and in vitro developmental competence were not compromised for oocytes from induced persistent follicles compared with oocytes from normal preovulatory follicles. Increased expansion of cumulus cells associated with oocytes from progestogen-induced persistent follicles may be relevant to the reduction of in vivo fertility associated with such follicles.     

Equine oocyte maturation with epidermal growth factor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to have a positive effect during oocyte in vitro maturation in several species. This study was performed to establish the capacity of equine oocytes to undergo nuclear maturation in the presence of EGF and to localise its receptor in the equine ovary by immunohistochemical methods. Oocytes were obtained by aspiration and subsequent scraping from equine follicles (15-25 mm diameter) and cultured in 3 different treatment groups for 36 h: control Group (modified TCM 199 with 0.003% BSA), EGF Group (TCM-199 supplemented with 50 ng/ml EGF) and EMS Group (TCM 199 supplemented with 10% v/v oestrous mare serum). Each group was divided further into 3 treatments with tyrphostin A-47, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, at 0, 10(-4) and 10(-6) mmol/l. Maturation was determined as the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II stage at the end of the culture period. Immunohistochemical detection of EGF-receptor (EGFR) was performed using a streptoavidin-biotin method. The recovery rate and oocyte retrieval were 84.6% (recovered oocytes/follicles aspirated) and 6.55 (oocytes/mare), respectively. Treatment with EGF significantly (P<0.05) increased the incidence of metaphase II stage compared with the control group (69.4 vs. 26.9% in controls, respectively). The specific-tyrosine kinase inhibitor A-47 was effective in suppressing EGF-effect on EGF-cultured oocytes; no significant differences were observed in EMS-supplemented oocytes when cultured with A-47. EGF-receptor was localised in follicles, with localisation being more prominent in the cumulus than in mural granulosa cells. This finding, together with the increase of oocyte nuclear maturation rate when using EGF in culture media and the inhibition of maturation by tyrphostin A-47, suggests a physiological role for EGF in the regulation of equine oocyte maturation. The results should help successful development of assisted reproductive technology in the horse.     

Technical note: development of a transcervical oocyte recovery procedure for sheep.

An oocyte recovery procedure was developed and evaluated to determine whether a transcervical embryo recovery procedure is feasible with our method, which includes estradiol-17beta (E2) and oxytocin (OT) treatments, for dilating the cervix in ewes. On d 6 of an estrous cycle, oocytes were recovered either transcervically or with a laparotomy procedure. In the laparotomy group, ovulation rate was determined during the procedure and was used to calculate the percentage ofoocytes recovered. The laparotomy procedure was a standard uterine flush, and 12 mL of PBS was used to flush each uterine horn. In the transcervical group, the ovaries in each ewe were evaluated ultrasonically to determine ovulation rate. For transcervical recovery, 100 microg of E2 were injected i.v. on d 5 to increase cervical OT receptors, and 100 USP units of OT were injected i.v. 10 to 12 h later to dilate the cervix. Approximately 25 min after OT, ewes were placed in dorsal recumbency in a Commodore cradle, and a modified Foley catheter was passed through the cervix and into the uterus for injection (80 to 210 mL) and aspiration of PBS. The PBS was aspirated with a vacuum pump. The percentage of PBS recovered was greater (P<.01) at laparotomy than with the transcervical procedure (85.8 vs. 36.2%). Despite that difference, oocyte recovery did not differ significantly between the two groups (67% for laparotomy vs. 50% for transcervical; [oocytes recovered/number of corpora lutea] x 100), and there was no evidence that the transcervical procedure damaged the oocytes; the zona pellucida remained intact around all of the oocytes. In conclusion, a procedure that includes E2-OT-induced cervical dilation, passage of a modified Foley catheter into the uterus, and incremental infusion and aspiration of media through the catheter can be used to recover oocytes transcervically from ewes. This procedure may make transcervical embryo recovery feasible for sheep.     

Collection and in Vitro Maturation of Equine Oocytes from Estrus,Diestrus and Pregnant Mares

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate oocyte collection rates and in vitro nuclear maturation rates of equine oocytes obtained during diestrus and pregnancy, and to compare these rates with maturation rates in oocytes derived from preovulatory follicles. In Experiment I, transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of follicle was performed during estrus and diestrus in 14 mares over four consecutive cycles. Follicular aspirations during estrus were performed 24 to 27 hours after injection of 2500 IU of hCG given when the largest follicle reached 35 mm in diameter. Oocyte recovery rate from preovulatory follicles was 51% (33/65) in 49 aspiration sessions. Cumulus-oocyte complexes from preovulatory follicles were cultured for 12-15 hours in TCM199 + 10% (NCS) at 38.5°C in 5% CO₂ in air, and 22/33 (67%) were in metaphase II. During diestrus, mares were treated (Group I) or not treated (Group II) daily with equine pituitary extract (EPE) during alternate cycles from days 1 to 14 after the preovulatory aspiration. Diestrous follicles were aspirated when four or more follicles greater than 12 mm in diameter were present. EPE had no effect on the number of follicles that developed during estrus or diestrus (p>0.05). Oocytes were recovered from 119 of 383 diestrous follicles (31 %)in 75 sessions. There was no difference in recovery rates between Groups I and II (p>0.05). Maturation rates for oocytes collected during diestrus, after 42 hours of culture in TCM 199 + 1 μg/ml of Estradiol and lnl/ml of EPE, were not significantly different (p>0.05) between Groups I and II (49% vs. 53%). In Experiment II, mares between 50 and 85 days of pregnancy were used as oocyte donors. The oocyte recovery rate was 53% (66/125). After in vitro maturation for 40 hours (compact COC) or 15 hours (expanded COC), 22% (7/32) and 22% (7/32), respectively, of the oocytes were in metaphase II. It was concluded that: 1) Preovulatory follicles yield a higher percentage of oocytes with a higher rate of maturation to metaphase II than follicles of diestrus and pregnant mares. 2) Diestrous follicles yielded fewer oocytes than follicles of pregnant mares but with a higher percentage of oocyte maturation. Further studies are necessary to determine if oocytes recovered from diestrous follicles and matured in vitro can be fertilized successfully.     

高产奶牛连续活体采卵及卵母细胞体外受精

在超声波扫描仪的指导下,用双孔型采卵针以 １４．７ ｋ Ｐａ 抽吸压经阴道对 ５ 头高产奶牛分别连续实施 ７ 次活体采卵,每 ７ ｄ １ 次,共采集卵子 ２１４ 个,占可见卵泡数的 ５３．９％ ,每次头均采集卵子 ６．１ 个。卵子经过体外培养、体外受精、体外受精胚体外发育培养,于体外受精后 ４８ ｈ 、１６８ ｈ 统计的卵裂率、囊胚发育率分别为 ７５．２％ 和 ２９．７％ 。研究结果表明,在超声波扫描仪指导下对奶牛连续进行活体采卵是可行的,所得卵子应用体外成熟、体外受精、体外培养技术,可生产用于冷冻或移植的胚胎。     

Influence of follicle size,methods of retrieval on oocytes yield and morphology in Egyptian Jennies ovaries with special reference to maturation rate in vitro

This work was designed to evaluate the ovarian follicular development, oocytes morphology, methods of oocytes reterival, and the effect of different in vitro maturation (IVM) media on cumulus cell expansion and nuclear maturation of Jennies oocytes. Experiment 1, the number of small (<6 mm), medium (6 to 9 mm) and large size (>10 mm) ovarian follicles was recorded. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were reterived and classified into 4 Grades based on their cumulus-cells investment and the homogenous of the ooplasm. In Experiment 2, COCs were recovered by using 18-G, 20-G needle or slicing and scraping of ovarian follicles to determine the number and morphology of the recovered COCs. In Experiment 3, Grade A and B COCs were IVM in DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG, DMEM-F12, TCM199, TCM199-F12 or CR1aa media supplemented with 10 % FCS?+?10 μg FSH/mL?+?10 IU hCG/mL?+?50 μg/mL gentamicin. Maturation was performed for 36 h at 38.5 °C under 5 % CO₂ in humidified air. After IVM, cumulus cell expansion and oocytes nuclear canfiguration were determined. An average of 6.40?±?0.26 follicles was recorded per Jenny ovary, representing 3.37?±?0.46, 1.89?±?0.14 and 1.14?±?0.16, for the small, medium and large size follicles, respectively. Oocyte recovery was higher (P?P?P?P?P?P?P?P?Conclusion: Slicing and scraping or aspiration of follicles using 18-G needle increased the number and percentage of Grade A Jennies oocytes. TCM199-F12, CR1aa and TCM199 medi are more suitable for IVM of Jenny oocytes by promoting cumulus cells expansion and nuclear maturation to M II stage.     

Production of Lambs After the Transfer of Fresh and Cryopreserved in vitro Produced Embryos from Prepubertal Lamb Oocytes and Unsorted and Sex-sorted Frozen-thawed Spermatozoa

Cumulus-oocyte complexes from hormone-stimulated 3-4-week-old (n=43) and 6-7-week-old (n=12) prepubertal lambs were matured in vitro and incubated with unsorted, or X- or Y-spermatozoa separated with a high-speed cell sorter (SX MoFlo)frozen-thawed. Presumptive zygotes were then cultured to the blastocyst stage, and transferred to recipients fresh or after cryopreservation (frozen). Oocyte cleavage was higher (p <0.05) with unsorted (515/926, 55.6%) than X- or Y-spermatozoa (261/672, 38.8% and 229/651, 35.2%, respectively) and blastocyst formation (% zygotes) by Day 9 of in vitro culture was lower (p <0.05) for X- (102/261, 39.1%) than unsorted spermatozoa (249/515, 48.3%), but did not differ between Y-spermatozoa (103/229, 45.0%) and unsorted spermatozoa, or between X- and Y-spermatozoa (p >0.05). For fresh embryos, survival to term was 50.0% (3/6) for unsorted, 0.0% (0/6) for X- and 16.7% (1/6) for Y-spermatozoa-derived embryos (p >0.05), and for frozen embryos was 4.0% (2/50) for unsorted, 9.1% (2/22) for X- and 2.9% (1/34) Y-spermatozoa-derived embryos (p >0.05). Of the two lambs born from X-spermatozoa-derived embryos, one was female (50%), and from the two Y-spermatozoa-derived lambs, both were male (100%), demonstrating that lambs can be produced after the transfer of fresh and cryopreserved IVP embryos derived from prepubertal lamb oocytes and frozen-thawed sex-sorted sperm.     

Oocyte transfer in the mare: Preliminary observations

Six oocytes were aspirated from preovulatory follicles of 18 mares via surgical exposure of the ovary (5/13) or percutaneous needle aspiration (1/5). Surgical transfer of the oocytes into the oviduct of mares previously inseminated with 500 × 10⁶ progressively motile spermatozoa resulted in no embryos recovered by uterine lavage 8 days afteroocyte transfer. Corpora luteal function and formation from aspirated follicles appeared normal, based on progesterone analysis, ultrasound morphological assessment and cyclic behavioral changes.     

Nitrogen metabolism and fertility in cattle: II. Development of oocytes recovered from heifers offered diets differing in their rate of nitrogen release in the rumen

In vitro blastocyst production was determined for oocytes recovered postmortem from 48 beef x dairy heifers offered low (Low NH3) or high (High NH3) plasma ammonia-generating diets during the period of late antral follicle development. Following the establishment of a reference estrus (d 0), the experimental diets were offered for an 18-d period starting on d 3 and during which a second estrus was induced (d 16) 4 d before the animals were slaughtered. Blood samples collected at varying intervals were analyzed for ammonia, urea, progesterone, and LH. Ovarian folliculogenesis was monitored daily by transrectal ultrasonography. Ovaries were collected at slaughter and cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from small (1 to 4 mm) and medium-sized (> 4 to 8 mm) sized follicles. In vitro-matured and -fertilized putative d-1 zygotes were cultured for a further 7 d in vitro and embryo development and metabolism were assessed. Relative to the low-NH3-generating diet, the high-NH3-generating diet increased peak postprandial levels of plasma ammonia (326.1 +/- 43.3 vs 52.1 +/- 7.4 micromol/L; P < .001), mean levels of plasma urea (7.0 vs 5.7 mmol/L; SED = .2; P < .001), peak levels of plasma progesterone prior to induced luteolysis (8.9 +/- .4 vs 6.8 +/- .3 microg/L; P < .001), and follicular fluid levels of ammonia (267 +/- 18 vs 205 +/- 20 nmol/mL; P < .05) and progesterone (351 +/- 69 vs 199 +/- 26 ng/mL; P < .05). The timing and level of the preovulatory LH surge was not affected by dietary treatment. Of oocytes cultured, cleavage (47.4 vs 62.4%; P = .02) and blastocyst production (10.9 vs 20.6%; P = .06) rates were reduced when the oocytes were derived from heifers offered the high- rather than the low-NH3-generating diets. There were interactions between dietary treatment and follicle size class, which indicated that fewer blastocysts were produced from cleaved oocytes derived from medium-sized follicles of heifers offered the high-NH3 treatment but that de novo protein synthesis was increased in such embryos. In conclusion, exposure to high levels of ammonia and(or) urea in vivo can significantly compromise the subsequent capacity of oocytes to develop to blastocysts in vitro, and oocytes recovered from medium-sized follicles are particularly sensitive to this effect.     

不同品种绵羔羊超数排卵及胚胎体外生产技术研究

探讨品种对羔羊超数排卵效果和卵母细胞发育能力的影响,并将体外受精胚胎进行了移植,为研究利用绵羊羔羊卵母细胞生产后代提供理论和技术方法。对4～8周龄不同品种羔羊用FSH+PSMG处理后获得的平均卵母细胞数量和体外胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率进行了比较,并比较成熟液中有无β-巯基乙醇对胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率的影响。结果:各品种获得的平均卵母细胞数分别为:哈萨克为210.22枚,湖羊为0枚,美利奴为135.80枚,湖羊与哈萨克的杂交后代为37.80枚,湖羊羔羊和湖羊与哈萨克羊的杂交羔羊获得的平均卵母细胞数显著低于哈萨克羔羊(P<0.01,P<0.05)。哈萨克羔羊卵裂率(69.0%)显著高于湖羊与哈萨克羊杂交羔羊(66.4%,P<0.05);哈萨克羔羊囊胚率(17.5%)和美利奴羔羊囊胚率(16.2%)显著高于湖羊×哈萨克羔羊(13.8%)(P<0.01,P<0.05)。β-巯基乙醇对羔羊胚胎卵裂率影响不显著,对囊胚率影响极显著(P<0.01)。哈萨克羔羊卵子体外受精获得的2-8细胞胚胎进行输卵管移植,14只受体羊中7只妊娠,妊娠率为50.0%;共产羔9只,其中8只存活。     

Effect of culture medium and prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) analogue on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated cat oocytes

A method of reliably producing developmentally competent cat embryos in vitro is a prerequisite for study of the physiology of early development and application of assisted reproductive techniques. Oocytes were collected and then cultured in TCM-199 + 10% FBS for 4 h. The matured oocytes were activated with a 20 microsec electric pulse at 1.2 kV/mm. The activated oocytes were incubated in 2 mM of 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 4 h and were then divided randomly among the treatment groups. In experiment 1, we compared the effects of three culture systems (TCM-199, CR1-aa and Tyrode's) on the in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated cat oocytes. In experiment 2, we investigated the effect of addition of Iloprost (a stable prostaglandin I(2) analogue) to Tyrode's medium on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated oocytes. As a control, we recovered in vivo produced blastocysts and determined their average cell number. In experiment 1, the cleavage frequency of the oocytes cultured in TCM199, CR1-aa and Tyrode's media were similar (74, 72 and 83%, respectively). However, the incidence of in vitro development to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher in Tyrode's medium (20.4%) than in TCM-199 (2.4%) or CR1-aa (11.1%). Likewise, the average cell number of in vitro activated blastocysts was higher in Tyrode's than in CR1-aa or TCM-199 (106.5 +/- 45.2 vs. 68.3 +/- 25.4 and 35.0 +/- 7.7, respectively; P<0.05). In experiment 2, the percentage of parthenogenetically activated oocytes that underwent in vitro blastocyst development was significantly improved by addition of Iloprost to the culture medium (33.6 vs. 19.1%; P<0.05). The average cell number of in vivo blastocysts (909.0 +/- 226.4) was significantly higher than those of in vitro blastocysts cultured in Tyrode's medium supplemented with or without Iloprost (103.2 +/- 31.3 and 112.2 +/- 39.3, respectively; P<0.05). This result indicated that the current culture method for cat pathogenetically activated oocytes requires further improvement.     

Modification of maturation condition improves oocyte maturation and in vitro development of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos

This study examined effects on the developmental competence of pig oocytes after somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or parthenogenetic activation (PA) of : 1) co-culturing of oocytes with follicular shell pieces (FSP) during in vitro maturation (IVM); 2) different durations of maturation; and 3) defined maturation medium supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA; control), pig follicular fluid (pFF), cysteamine (CYS), or β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME). The proportion of metaphase II oocytes was increased (p < 0.05) by co-culturing with FSP compared to control oocytes (98% vs. 94%). However, blastocyst formation after SCNT was not improved by FSP coculture (9% vs. 12%). Nuclear maturation of oocytes matured for 39 or 42 h was higher (p < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured for 36 h (95-96% vs. 79%). Cleavage (83%) and blastocyst formation (26%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in oocytes matured for 42 h than in other groups. Supplementation of a defined maturation medium with 100 µM CYS or 100 µM β-ME showed no stimulatory effect on oocyte maturation, embryo cleavage, or blastocyst formation after PA. β-ME treatment during IVM decreased embryo cleavage after SCNT compared to pFF or PVA treatments, but no significant difference was found in blastocyst formation (7-16%) among the four treatment groups. The results indicated that maturation of oocytes for 42 h was beneficial for the development of SCNT embryos. Furthermore, the defined maturation system used in this study could support in vitro development of PA or SCNT embryos.     

Repeat Ovum Pick-up and In Vitro Embryo Production from Adult Ewes with and without FSH Treatment

Ovum pick-up (OPU) was performed three times on adult ewes after synchronization with (n = 4) or without (n = 4) FSH treatment to investigate the effects of FSH treatment on the number of ovarian follicles, oocytes recovered, oocyte quality and development in vitro. FSH treatment increased the number of ovarian follicles (85 vs 162) and oocytes recovered (33 vs 91), although recovery rate was similar for ewes with and without FSH (91/162, 56.2% and 33/85, 38.8% respectively). Of the oocytes recovered, those classified as grades I and II were similar between ewes with (78/91, 85.7%) and without FSH treatment (27/33, 81.8%). The number of ovarian follicles was similar after repeated OPU for ewes treated with FSH, but for ewes not treated with FSH the number of ovarian follicles decreased with repeated OPU. The number of oocytes recovered decreased for FSH-treated ewes only, while the oocyte recovery rate and proportion of oocytes classified as grades I and II were not affected by repeated OPU. Oocyte cleavage (46/78, 58.9% and 19/24, 79.2%) and blastocyst formation (35/46, 76.1% and 12/19, 63.2% respectively) were similar for ewes with and without FSH treatment. The number of ovarian follicles varied between ewes (p < 0.05) although the number of oocytes recovered and oocyte development in vitro were similar between ewes.