Production Of Embryos From Prepuberal Buffaloes Using Ultrasound-Guided Ovum Pick Up And In-Vitro Embryo Production (OPU-IVEP) Techniques

Eufrocina  P. Atabay,; Edwin  C. Atabay,; Peregrino  G. Duran,; R.v.  De Vera,; A.f.  Abesamis Jr.,; E.b.  Flores,

Production Of Embryos From Prepuberal Buffaloes Using Ultrasound-Guided Ovum Pick Up And In-Vitro Embryo Production (OPU-IVEP) Techniques

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

Abstract:

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up (OPU) was performed to compare oocyte recovery and embryo production between unstimulated and hormonally stimulated prepuberal buffaloes. Four prepuberal calves were injected twice with 250 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) given 7 days apart, inserted intravaginally with control internal drug release (CIDR) on the second injection of eCG, and injected with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 7 days after for three consecutive days in decreasing doses. Four prepuberal calves were used as control. An intra-vaginal transducer of 5/7.5MHz attached to an ultrasound machine was used for OPU. Oocytes were recovered using 18G needle attached to the collecting tube anchored to the vacuum pump which was set to produce a negative pressure of 40-80 mmHg. Usable cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured and fertilized in vitro and examined for developmental competence during culture in vitro. A total of 54 COCs were recovered from the treated prepuberal calves and 48 (88%) were matured and fertilized in vitro. Untreated calves yielded only a total of 10 oocytes, 60% of which were usable. Following IVF, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of 52% and 10%, respectively were achieved in treated calves, whereas a cleavage rate of only 33% was obtained in the untreated calves, and majority of the oocytes degenerated during culture without any reaching the blastocyst stage.