Assisted reproductive technologies/techniques Flashcards
1
Q
what is embryo transfer
A
- in vivo technique for removal of embryos from one female (donor –> recovery) and placing them into another (transfer –> recipient)
- transfer bit is also used for embryos produced in vitro
2
Q
reasons for embryo transfer
A
- increase offspring from valuable/rare animals
- obtain offspring from female who can’t carry/deliver pregnancy
- transport genetics around the world
- conserve genetics of a diseased herd or establish disease-free herds (most pathogens can’t penetrate ZP)
3
Q
the donor
A
- superovulation with FSH or eCG
- results in 5-6 embryos/cow flushed, but 20-25% don’t respond and give no embryos
- start superovulation drugs when no dominant follicles
- horses less responsive
- polytoccus species not superovulated
4
Q
recovery (“the flush)
A
- performed after embryos have entered the uterus (can be done surgically with them in oviduct)
- non-surgical in cattle, horses with catheter through cervix - lavage uterus several times, filter recovered fluid to retrieve embryos
- sheep, goats, pigs: surgically or laparoscopically assisted procedure
5
Q
embryo handling
A
- embryos identified under microscope, transferred to holding media, examined for developmental stage and morphology
- washed, prepared for transfer, cooled, or frozen
- can be sexed through biopsy or PCR
6
Q
recipients
A
- healthy and synched with donor in terms of estrous cycle (day of ovulation)
- uterus needs to be at suitable stage to accept embryo
- ruminants: CL identified, embryo transferred to horn on ipsilateral side
- horses: site of deposition not important
7
Q
embryo splitting
A
- rare –> only commercially in cattle
- split in half at morula or blastocyst stage
- split demi-embryos don’t have to be placed back in ZP prior to transfer
8
Q
what is gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
A
- involves taking oocyte from donor animal and placing it, along with sperm, into the oviduct of a synched recipient
- recipient has her oocyte removed (or hormone-treated anestrus animal used)
- no significant commercial use
9
Q
what is oocyte transfer
A
- subset of GIFT used commercially in horses
- oocyte from donor mare using transvaginal ultrasound guided aspiration, transferred to recipient
- recipient bred by regular AI
10
Q
3 processes performed in IVF (technically called in vitro production - IVP)
A
- in vitro maturation (IVM): immature oocytes to metaphase II
- in vitro fertilization (IVF): mature oocyte incubated with sperm (capacitated in vitro)
- in vitro culture (IVC): resultant zygote cultured through several divisions (up to blastocyst stage)
11
Q
oocyte removal (live animals)
A
- cattle: ultrasound guided transvaginal aspiration of antral follicles (OPU)
- cattle: without superovulation
- mares: only mature follicles aspirated just prior to ovulation
- small ruminants/pigs: surgical/laparoscopic technique
12
Q
oocyte removal (dead/anesthetized animals)
A
- oocytes removed from ovaries at surgery, following euthanasia, at slaughter houses
- oocytes aspirated from follicles using various techniques
13
Q
in vitro maturation
A
- oocytes recovered from immature follicles require IVM to metaphase II prior to attempted fertilization
- species variation: 24-48 hours, culture media with hormones and reduced O2
14
Q
in vitro fertilization info and problems
A
- matured oocytes incubated with in vitro capacitated sperm
- problems with horse (capacitation issues), dogs
- need correct sperm concentration (pigs have issues with polyspermy)
15
Q
techniques to aid in egg fertilization by helping sperm penetrate ZP (3)
A
- zona drilling
- subzonal injection (SUZI)
- intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)