J Vet Sci.  2023 Jan;24(1):e10. 10.4142/jvs.22168.

In vitro embryo production from ewes at different physiological stages

• Lorenzo-Torres A
• Rangel-Santos R
• Ruíz-Flores A
• Ambríz-García DA

• KMID: 2539427
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.22168

Abstract

Background
The collection of ovaries from slaughterhouses is an important source of oocytes for In vitro embryo production. On the other hand, the physiological stage of slaughtered females varies and influences embryo production.
Objectives
The study examined the In vitro efficiency of embryos and demi-embryos from young, non-pregnant adult, and pregnant adult ewes from a local slaughterhouse.
Methods
One thousand three hundred ovaries were collected from August to October 2020. The recovered oocytes were matured, fertilized, and cultured at 5% CO ₂ , 38.5°C, and 100% humidity. Embryo bisection was performed in 96 blastocysts (n = 32 per treatment). The demiembryo pairs were incubated for their reconstitution for 12 h. SAS was used for data analysis.
Results
The number of oocytes collected from the experimental group of non-pregnant adult ewes was higher (p ≤ 0.007) than those collected from the group of pregnant adult ewes (2.67 ± 0.19 vs. 2.18 ± 0.15 oocytes/group, respectively). The blastocyst rate was higher (p ≤ 0.0001) in the non-pregnant adult group (36.39%) than in the young (17.96%). The ratio of demi-embryos that recovered the blastocoelic cavity was higher (p < 0.05) in the young group (81.25%) than in the pregnant adult group (59.38%). The diameter of the demi-embryos was higher (p < 0.05) in the non-pregnant adult group (186.54 ± 8.70 μm) than those in the young and pregnant adult groups.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the In vitro embryo production efficiency was highest when using oocytes from non-pregnant adult ewes under the conditions of this study.

Keyword

Sheep; In vitro fertilization; embryonic development