In vitro and in vivo comparison of Ham’s F-10, Emcare holding solution and ViGro holding plus for the cooled storage of equine embryos.

This research article studied and compared the viability of equine embryos stored in different conditions and media, finding that larger embryos are more likely to survive after being cooled for 24 hours.

Research Purpose

• The goal of this research was to compare the survival rates of equine embryos after being stored in three different media – Ham’s F-10, Emcare embryo holding solution (EHS), and ViGro holding plus (VHP). The embryos were stored under cooled conditions for 6 and 24 hours. The researchers also studied the relationship between the size of the embryo and its viability after 24 hours of cooled storage.

Research Methodology

• The research was performed across two experiments. In the first experiment, the survival of embryos was determined using DAPI-staining after 0, 6, or 24-hour storage in any of the three mediums (n=10/group). Scientists also explored the correlation between the embryo size and its quality after 24-hour cold storage.
• In the second experiment, 40 embryos were stored in either Ham’s F-10 or EHS and then transferred as pairs into recipient mares (n=20 in both groups).

Research Findings

• The average number of dead cells was similar for embryos stored in all three conditions after 24 hours of cooled storage, suggesting all three were equally effective in preserving embryos.
• Bigger embryos seemed to survive better after being cooled for 24 hours compared to smaller ones. Quality of the embryos after 24 hours of storage was found to negatively correlate with size.
• From the second experiment, around 75% (15 of 20) of the recipient mares ended up getting pregnant, indicating the effectiveness of the cooling procedure. In terms of surviving embryos, 53% had been stored in Ham’s F-10 solution, while 47% had been stored in EHS.

Implications of the Research

• The results suggest that EHS and VHP could serve as viable alternatives to Ham’s F-10 for 24-hour cooled storage of equine embryos. Furthermore, it was revealed that larger embryos tend to have better viability after 24 hours of cooled storage compared to smaller embryos.