In vitro production of equine embryos: state of the art

Reprod Domest Anim. 2010 Jun:45 Suppl 2:3-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01624.x.

Abstract

In vitro embryo production is possible in the horse both clinically and for research applications. Oocytes may be collected from excised ovaries post-mortem, or from either immature follicles or stimulated pre-ovulatory follicles in the live mare. In vitro maturation of immature oocytes typically yields approximately 60% mature oocytes. As standard in vitro fertilization is not yet repeatable in the horse, fertilization is performed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Embryo culture requires medium with high glucose, at least during blastocyst development, and rates of blastocyst development similar to those for cattle (25% to 35%) may be obtained. Pregnancy rates after transfer of in vitro-produced blastocysts are similar to those for embryos recovered ex vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animals
  • Blastocyst / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media
  • Embryo Culture Techniques / veterinary*
  • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
  • Embryonic Development
  • Female
  • Glucose
  • Horses / embryology*
  • Oocytes / growth & development
  • Ovarian Follicle / cytology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / methods
  • Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / veterinary*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / veterinary

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Glucose