1
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Strohmeyer A, Strohmeyer C, Reischl J, Wallenhorst S, Holtz W. Is the corpus uteri a suitable site for embryo transfer in the pig? Theriogenology 2023; 212:37-40. [PMID: 37689029 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Numerous attempts to establish a practicable means of non-surgical embryo transfer in pigs were unsuccessful until instruments were developed to permit deposition of embryos deep inside a uterine horn. Recently, however, successful non-surgical transfer of embryos to the uterine body in non-sedated recipients has been reported. These reports have prompted us to present data from a study that addresses the question of whether the commonly experienced low pregnancy rates following transfers to the corpus uteri results from the inability of endometrial receptors to recognize the presence of embryos or to the prevailing unfavorable local conditions. Blastocysts were transferred to the corpus uteri of recipients in which maintenance of pregnancy was assured by the transfer of additional embryos to the tip of a uterine horn. Embryos from pigmented and unpigmented donors were used to be able to differentiate between fetuses from embryos transferred to different sites. Fewer fetuses developed from embryos transferred to the corpus uteri than from embryos transferred to the uterine horn. This leads to the conclusion that prolonged retention of blastcysts in the uterine body under conditions inappropriate for their stage of development is responsible for an unsatisfactory pregnancy rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Strohmeyer
- Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Strohmeyer
- Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Judith Reischl
- Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Wallenhorst
- Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Holtz
- Department of Animal Science, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Goettingen, Germany.
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2
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Haug LM, Jochems R, Gaustad AH, Kommisrud E, Myromslien FD, Grindflek E, Alm-Kristiansen AH. Liquid storage of porcine in vitro-produced blastocysts; a practical approach for short storage. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:441-450. [PMID: 37288532 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Commercial application of embryo transfer in pig breeding is dependent on the storage of embryos. The aim of this study was to assess the embryo quality of in vitro-produced blastocysts after 3 h liquid storage at 37°C in CO2-free medium by evaluating morphology, in vitro developmental capacity and apoptosis. Blastocysts at days 5 and 6 post-fertilization were randomly allocated to the storage group (HEPES-buffered NCSU-23 medium including bovine serum albumin in a portable embryo transport incubator at 37°C) or a control group (porcine blastocyst medium in a conventional culture incubator). Thereafter, blastocysts were evaluated for morphology and stained to assess apoptosis straight after the 3 h storage period or after a further 24 h conventional incubation. There was no significant difference between the storage and control group after 3 h storage and the further 24 h conventional incubation for any of the parameters, nor for apoptosis straight after the 3 h storage. Embryos that reached the blastocyst stage at day 5 showed less apoptosis (6.6% vs 10.9%, P = 0.01) and a trend for a higher rate of developmental capacity (70.6% vs 51.5%, P = 0.089) than embryos reaching the blastocyst stage on day 6. In conclusion, in vitro-produced porcine blastocysts can be stored for 3 h at physiological temperature in transportable incubators using a CO2-independent medium without compromising quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Marijke Haug
- Department of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | | | | | - Elisabeth Kommisrud
- Department of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
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3
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Jochems R, Canedo-Ribeiro C, Silvestri G, Derks MFL, Hamland H, Zak LJ, Knol EF, Handyside AH, Grindflek E, Griffin DK. Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) Reveals High Levels of Chromosomal Errors in In Vivo-Derived Pig Embryos, with an Increased Incidence When Produced In Vitro. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050790. [PMID: 36899925 PMCID: PMC10000658 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is widespread, but controversial, in humans and improves pregnancy and live birth rates in cattle. In pigs, it presents a possible solution to improve in vitro embryo production (IVP), however, the incidence and origin of chromosomal errors remains under-explored. To address this, we used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based PGT-A algorithms in 101 in vivo-derived (IVD) and 64 IVP porcine embryos. More errors were observed in IVP vs. IVD blastocysts (79.7% vs. 13.6% p < 0.001). In IVD embryos, fewer errors were found at blastocyst stage compared to cleavage (4-cell) stage (13.6% vs. 40%, p = 0.056). One androgenetic and two parthenogenetic embryos were also identified. Triploidy was the most common error in IVD embryos (15.8%), but only observed at cleavage, not blastocyst stage, followed by whole chromosome aneuploidy (9.9%). In IVP blastocysts, 32.8% were parthenogenetic, 25.0% (hypo-)triploid, 12.5% aneuploid, and 9.4% haploid. Parthenogenetic blastocysts arose from just three out of ten sows, suggesting a possible donor effect. The high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in general, but in IVP embryos in particular, suggests an explanation for the low success of porcine IVP. The approaches described provide a means of monitoring technical improvements and suggest future application of PGT-A might improve embryo transfer success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martijn F. L. Derks
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center, 6641 SZ Beuningen, The Netherlands
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Louisa J. Zak
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center, 6641 SZ Beuningen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert F. Knol
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center, 6641 SZ Beuningen, The Netherlands
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4
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Xingzhu D, Qingrui Z, Keren C, Yuxi L, Yunpeng H, Shien Z, Xiangwei F. Cryopreservation of Porcine Embryos: Recent Updates and Progress. Biopreserv Biobank 2021; 19:210-218. [PMID: 33625892 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2020.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation of embryos is important for long-distance embryo transfer and conservation of genetic resources. Porcine research is important for animal husbandry and biomedical research. However, porcine embryos are difficult to cryopreserve because of their high cytoplasmic lipid content and sensitivity to chilling stress. Vitrification is more efficient than slow freezing, and vitrification is mostly used in embryo cryopreservation. So far, the vitrification process of porcine embryos has been continuously improved, resulting in improved survival rates of warmed embryos and farrowing rates after the transplant procedure. It is worth noting that automatic vitrification has made great progress, which is expected to promote the standardization and application of vitrification. In this article, the vitrification process of porcine embryos at the blastula stage and early development stages is reviewed in detail. In addition, the efficiency of different vitrification systems was compared. In addition, we summarize technology that can improve the survival rate of cryopreserved porcine embryos, such as delipidation methods (including physical delipidation and chemical delipidation) and medium improvements (including chemically defined media and adding antioxidants). Meanwhile, gene expression changes during cryopreservation are also elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Du Xingzhu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuan Qingrui
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Keren
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Luo Yuxi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hou Yunpeng
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Shien
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fu Xiangwei
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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5
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Martinez EA, Martinez CA, Cambra JM, Maside C, Lucas X, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Gil MA, Parrilla I, Cuello C. Achievements and future perspectives of embryo transfer technology in pigs. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 54 Suppl 4:4-13. [PMID: 31625238 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Commercial embryo transfer (ET) has unprecedented productive and economic implications for the pig sector. However, pig ET has been considered utopian for decades mainly because of the requirements of surgical techniques for embryo collection and embryo deposition into recipients, alongside challenges to preserve embryos. This situation has drastically changed in the last decade since the current technology allows non-surgical ET and short- and long-term embryo preservation. Here, we provide a brief review of the improvements in porcine ET achieved by our laboratory in the past 20 years. This review includes several aspects of non-surgical ET technology and different issues affecting ET programmes and embryo preservation systems. The future perspectives of ET technology are also considered. We will refer only to embryos produced in vivo since they are the only type of embryos with possible short-term use in pig production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Josep M Cambra
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carolina Maside
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Xiomara Lucas
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan Maria Vazquez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Maria Antonia Gil
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
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6
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Surgical embryo collection but not nonsurgical embryo transfer compromises postintervention prolificacy in sows. Theriogenology 2016; 87:316-320. [PMID: 27707545 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in nonsurgical deep uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) technology allow the noninvasive transfer of porcine embryos into recipients, overcoming the most important impediment for commercial ET in this species. Although many factors in the porcine ET-field have been recently evaluated, many others remain to be explored. We investigated here the future reproductive performance of donors and recipients after artificial insemination subsequent to the default surgical embryo recovery approach and to the NsDU-ET procedure, respectively. Although surgical embryo collection did not influence subsequent farrowing rates (90.5%), litter size decreased severely (8.9 ± 0.8 piglets) compared to presurgery (10.8 ± 0.3 piglets) and control group (10.7 ± 0.3 piglets). In contrast, NsDU-ETs did neither affect fertility nor prolificacy of recipients in the cycle subsequent to ET, regardless of whether they were pregnant after NsDU-ET or not. These results indicate that while the surgical embryo collection procedure compromises the reproductive future of donor sows, the NsDU-ET approach does not affect the reproductive potential of the recipients after reintroduction to the breeding stock of the farm. Further research is thus needed to improve surgical embryo collection.
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7
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Martinez EA, Nohalez A, Martinez CA, Parrilla I, Vila J, Colina I, Diaz M, Reixach J, Vazquez JL, Roca J, Cuello C, Gil MA. The Recipients' Parity Does Not Influence Their Reproductive Performance Following Non-Surgical Deep Uterine Porcine Embryo Transfer. Reprod Domest Anim 2015; 51:123-9. [PMID: 26661993 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
With the development of the non-surgical deep uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) technology, the commercial applicability of ET in pigs is now possible. There are, nevertheless, many factors that influence NsDU-ET effectiveness that need to be addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the weaned recipients' parity on fertility and prolificacy following NsDU-ET. The recipients (n = 120) were selected based on their reproductive history and body condition and grouped into three categories according to their parity: primiparous sows, sows of parity 2 and sows of parities from 3 to 5. Thirty fresh embryos (morulae and unhatched blastocysts) were non-surgically transferred into one uterine horn of each recipient. It was possible to insert the NsDU-ET catheter through the cervix along a uterine horn in 98.3% of the recipients. The parity had no influence on the difficulty grade of the insertions or on the percentage of correct insertions. The cervix and uterine wall were not perforated during the insertions, and vaginal discharge was not observed after transfer in any of the recipients. There were no differences in the pregnancy rates (74.8%), farrowing rates (71.2%) or litter sizes (9.6 ± 3.3) between groups. Also, there were no differences between groups regarding to the piglets' birthweights or piglet production efficiency. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that weaned sows from parity 1 to 5 are appropriate to be used as recipients in NsDU-ET programs, which increase the possibilities for the utilization of ET in the recipient farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - A Nohalez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - C A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Vila
- Department of Research and Development, Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - I Colina
- Department of Research and Development, Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - M Diaz
- Department of Research and Development, Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J Reixach
- Department of Research and Development, Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J L Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - C Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M A Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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8
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Martinez EA, Cuello C, Parrilla I, Martinez CA, Nohalez A, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Gil MA. Recent advances toward the practical application of embryo transfer in pigs. Theriogenology 2015; 85:152-61. [PMID: 26164803 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Porcine embryo transfer (ET) technology has been in demand for decades because of its potential to provide considerable improvements in pig production with important sanitary, economic, and animal welfare benefits. Despite these advantages, the commercial use of ET is practically nonexistent. However, the two main obstacles hindering the commercial use of ET in pigs in the past several decades (i.e., surgical transfer and embryo preservation) have recently been overcome. A technique for nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) ET of nonsedated gilts and sows, which was seemingly an impossible challenge just a few years ago, is a reality today. The improvements in embryo preservation that have been achieved in recent years and the excellent reproductive performance of the recipients after the NsDU-ET technique coupled with short-term and long-term-stored embryos represent essential progress for the international trade of porcine embryos and the practical use of ET by the pig industry. This review focuses, with an emphasis on our own findings, on the recent advances in embryo preservation and NsDU-ET technologies, which are starting to show potential for application under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Cristina Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alicia Nohalez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose L Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria A Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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9
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Nonsurgical deep uterine transfer of vitrified, in vivo-derived, porcine embryos is as effective as the default surgical approach. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10587. [PMID: 26030839 PMCID: PMC4450750 DOI: 10.1038/srep10587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical procedures are prevalent in porcine embryo transfer (ET) programs, where the use of vitrified embryos is quasi non-existent. This study compared the effectiveness of surgical vs nonsurgical deep uterine (NsDU) ET using vitrified, in vivo-derived embryos (morulae and blastocysts) on the reproductive performance and welfare of the recipients. The recipient sows (n=122) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: surgical ET with 30 vitrified-warmed embryos (S-30 group, control); NsDU-ET with 30 vitrified-warmed embryos (NsDU-30 group) and NsDU-ET with 40 vitrified-warmed embryos (NsDU-40 group). Regardless of embryo stage, the NsDU-ET with 40 embryos presented similar rates of farrowing (72.7%) and litter size (9.9 ± 2.1 piglets) as the customary surgical procedure (75.0% and 9.6 ± 2.7 piglets). Numbers of ET-embryos appeared relevant, since the NsDU-ET with 30 embryos resulted in a decrease (P<0.05) in farrowing rates (38.9%) and litter sizes (5.7 ± 2.4 piglets). In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that farrowing rate and litter size following a NsDU-ET procedure increase in function of a larger number of transferred vitrified embryos, with fertility equalizing that obtained with the invasive surgical approach. The results open new possibilities for the widespread use of non-invasive ET in pigs.
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10
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Angel MA, Gil MA, Cuello C, Sanchez-Osorio J, Gomis J, Parrilla I, Vila J, Colina I, Diaz M, Reixach J, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. An earlier uterine environment favors the in vivo development of fresh pig morulae and blastocysts transferred by a nonsurgical deep-uterine method. J Reprod Dev 2014; 60:371-6. [PMID: 25030061 PMCID: PMC4219994 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2014-022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of recipient-donor estrous cycle synchrony on recipient reproductive performance
after nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET). The transfers (N=132) were conducted in recipients sows that
started estrus 24 h before (–24 h; N=9) or 0 h (synchronous; N=31), 24 h (+24 h; N=74) or 48 h (+48 h; N=18) after the
donors. A total of 30 day 5 morulae or day 6 blastocysts (day 0=onset of estrus) were transferred per recipient. The highest
farrowing rates (FRs) were achieved when estrus appeared in recipients 24 h later than that in the donors (81.1%), regardless
of the embryonic stage used for the transfers. The FR notably decreased (P<0.05) when recipients were –24 h asynchronous
(0%), synchronous (61.3%) or +48 h asynchronous (50%) relative to the donors. No differences in litter size (LS) and piglet
birth weights were observed among the synchronous and +24 h or +48 h asynchronous groups. While a +24 h asynchronous
recipient was suitable for transfers performed with either morulae (FR, 74.3%; LS, 9.2 ± 0.6 piglets) or blastocysts (FR,
84.6%; LS, 9.8 ± 0.6 piglets), a + 48 h asynchronous recipient was adequate for blastocysts (FR, 87.5%; LS, 10.4 ± 0.7
piglets) but not for morulae (FR, 30.0%; LS, 7.3 ± 2.3 piglets). In conclusion, this study confirms the effectiveness of the
NsDU-ET technology and shows that porcine embryos tolerate better a less advanced uterine environment if they are
nonsurgically transferred deep into the uterine horn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Angel
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Espinardo 30100, Spain
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11
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Angel MA, Gil MA, Cuello C, Sanchez-Osorio J, Gomis J, Parrilla I, Vila J, Colina I, Diaz M, Reixach J, Vazquez JL, Vazquez JM, Roca J, Martinez EA. The effects of superovulation of donor sows on ovarian response and embryo development after nonsurgical deep-uterine embryo transfer. Theriogenology 2013; 81:832-9. [PMID: 24462299 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of superovulation protocols in improving the efficiency of embryo donors for porcine nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) programs. After weaning (24 hours), purebred Duroc sows (2-6 parity) were treated with 1000 IU (n = 27) or 1500 IU (n = 27) of eCG. Only sows with clear signs of estrus 4 to 72 hours after eCG administration were treated with 750 IU hCG at the onset of estrus. Nonhormonally treated postweaning estrus sows (n = 36) were used as a control. Sows were inseminated and subjected to laparotomy on Days 5 to 6 (Day 0 = onset of estrus). Three sows (11.1%) treated with the highest dosage of eCG presented with polycystic ovaries without signs of ovulation. The remaining sows from nonsuperovulated and superovulated groups were all pregnant, with no differences in fertilization rates among groups. The number of CLs and viable embryos was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups compared with the controls and increased (P < 0.05) with increasing doses of eCG. There were no differences among groups in the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos. The number of transferable embryos (morulae and unhatched blastocysts) obtained in pregnant sows was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups than in the control group. In all groups, there was a significant correlation between the number of CLs and the number of viable and transferable embryos, but the number of CLs and the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos were not correlated. A total of 46 NsDU ETs were performed in nonhormonally treated recipient sows, with embryos (30 embryos per transfer) recovered from the 1000-IU eCG, 1500-IU eCG, and control groups. In total, pregnancy and farrowing rates were 75.1% and 73.2%, respectively, with a litter size of 9.4 ± 0.6 piglets born, of which 8.8 ± 0.5 were born alive. There were no differences for any of the reproductive parameters evaluated among groups. In conclusion, our results demonstrated the efficiency of eCG superovulation treatments in decreasing the donor-to-recipient ratio. Compared with nonsuperovulated sows, the number of transferable embryos was increased in superovulated sows without affecting their quality and in vivo capacity to develop to term after transfer. The results from this study also demonstrate the effectiveness of the NsDU ET procedure used, making possible the commercial use of ET technology by the pig industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Angel
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M A Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - C Cuello
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Sanchez-Osorio
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Gomis
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - I Parrilla
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Vila
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - I Colina
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - M Diaz
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J Reixach
- Department of Research and Development Selección Batallé S.A., Girona, Spain
| | - J L Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J M Vazquez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Roca
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - E A Martinez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Flowers WL. Animal Frontiers fertility issue: Sex education that everyone needs to understand. Anim Front 2013. [DOI: 10.2527/af.2013-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- William L. Flowers
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7621, USA
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