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Journal of equine veterinary science2020; 89; 103097; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103097

Laboratory Production of Equine Embryos.

Abstract: Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are well developed in humans and cattle and are gaining momentum also in the equine industry because of the fact that the mare does not respond to superovulation but can donate large numbers of oocytes through ovum pick up (OPU). After collection, the oocytes can be fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using a variety of stallion semen samples, even of poor quality, and the resulting embryos can establish high pregnancy rates after cryopreservation and transfer. The discoveries that equine oocytes can be held at room temperature without loss of viability and that an increase in vitro maturation time can double the number of embryos produced are fueling the uptake of the OPU technique by several clinics that are shipping oocytes of their client's mares to specialized ICSI laboratories for embryo production and freezing. In this article, we present a retrospective analysis of 10 years of work at Avantea with a special focus on the last 3 years. Based on our data, an average production of 1.7 to 2 embryos per OPU-ICSI procedure can be obtained from warmblood donor mares with a pregnancy rate of 70% and a foaling rate in excess of 50%. OPU-ICSI offers the added value of freezing embryos that allows the development of embryo commercialization worldwide to the benefit of top horse breeders who are endorsing this technology as never before.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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Publication Date: 2020-04-21 PubMed ID: 32563445DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103097Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article discusses the enhancement of equine reproduction using Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART). The researchers focus on the successful techniques they’ve developed in their lab over the past decade, which include obtaining large numbers of oocytes from mares and fertilizing them in vitro, leading to high pregnancy and foaling rates.

Context of the Research

  • The research work is banked upon the development and application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) in the equine industry. The technologies are already well developed and widely used in human and cattle reproduction.
  • The research centers on the collection of oocytes via Ovum Pick Up (OPU) from mares who traditionally do not respond well to superovulation methods.
  • The research focuses on the use of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a technique which allows even poor-quality stallion semen to effectively fertilize the collected oocytes.

Key Findings

  • Equine oocytes can remain viable even when held at room temperature. This feature makes equine oocyte suitable for shipment to specialized laboratories for ICSI and embryo production.
  • Extending the time frame for in-vitro maturation (IVM) can potentially double the production of embryos.
  • The research reflected an average production of 1.7 to 2 embryos per OPU-ICSI procedure from warmblood donor mares.
  • The study reported high success rates, with a 70% pregnancy rate and a foaling rate exceeding 50% in their methods.

Implication of Findings

  • The demonstrated effectiveness of OPU-ICSI technique allows the collection, fertilization, and freezing of horse embryos, paving a way for their worldwide commercialization.
  • This method is beneficial to top horse breeders as it provides an efficient and reliable means to produce offspring from specific genetic combinations, even in cases where traditional breeding methods are unfeasible or unsuccessful.

Cite This Article

APA
Lazzari G, Colleoni S, Crotti G, Turini P, Fiorini G, Barandalla M, Landriscina L, Dolci G, Benedetti M, Duchi R, Galli C. (2020). Laboratory Production of Equine Embryos. J Equine Vet Sci, 89, 103097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103097

Publication

Journal of equine veterinary science
ISSN: 0737-0806
NlmUniqueID: 8216840
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 89
Pages: 103097

Researcher Affiliations

Lazzari, Giovanna
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy; Fondazione Avantea Onlus, Cremona, Italy; Equigea, Ocala, FL. Electronic address: giovannalazzari@avantea.it.
Colleoni, Silvia
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Crotti, Gabriella
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Turini, Paola
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Fiorini, Gaia
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Barandalla, Maria
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Landriscina, Lorenza
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Dolci, Giovanni
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Benedetti, Massimo
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Duchi, Roberto
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy.
Galli, Cesare
  • Avantea, Cremona, Italy; Fondazione Avantea Onlus, Cremona, Italy; Equigea, Ocala, FL.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Laboratories
  • Male
  • Oocytes
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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