Scientists produce equine embryos through frozen sperm IVF
No foal has yet been born using the technique.
Researchers have successfully used frozen-thawed sperm to produce equine embryos through in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Further research is needed into pregnancy outcomes, but the development could eventually lead to clinical applications as well as aiding the study of fertilisation and embryo development.
Although there have been recent advances using high-quality fresh sperm, the use of IVF in horses has been less successful than in other species and there is currently a limited amount known about embryo development in IVF equine reproduction.
In their study, the research team at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, California, fertilised equine oocytes with frozen-thawed sperm from five different stallions to create embryos.
They then compared the development of the embryos with those created through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Development proceeded faster in the IVF cycles and the IVF embryos were larger, although overall rates of development were similar.
No foal has yet been born using the technique, but it could potentially allow the use of geographically distant stallions for breeding, sperm to be used from stallions that are busy competing, and the rescue of genetic material from deceased stallions.
Pouya Dini, an assistant professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “The ability to use frozen-thawed sperm for IVF would be a valuable addition to current equine assisted reproductive technologies and would benefit both stallion and mare owners.
“This collaborative effort is the first step in evaluating the expansion of future equine IVF applications in the clinic.”
The study has been published in the journal Theriogenology.
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With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
