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The Journal of veterinary medical science2018; 81(2); 241-244; doi: 10.1292/jvms.18-0414

Successful embryo transfer from Hokkaido native pony after artificial insemination with frozen semen.

Abstract: There has been no report of equine embryo transfer in Japan for the last 24 years. Our objective was to establish an effective protocol for embryo transfer in domestic horse. A Hokkaido native pony was bred by deep-horn artificial insemination with frozen semen from a Connemara pony. Embryo collection was performed using a non-surgical method on day 7. Two embryos were obtained from three flushes (67% recovery) and were transferred fresh into crossbred recipient mares. Both recipient mares were diagnosed pregnant (100% pregnancy rate) 5 days after embryo transfer and had normal progesterone levels until the end of the observation on day 35 of gestation. This is the first successful embryo transfer in Japan by artificial insemination using frozen semen. Embryo transfer technology could be extremely useful in improving the productivity of Japanese domestic and special riding horses.
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Publication Date: 2018-12-28 PubMed ID: 30606892PubMed Central: PMC6395199DOI: 10.1292/jvms.18-0414Google 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 study revolves around successfully carrying out the embryo transfer using artificial insemination in horses in Japan, a feat that has been missing for the last 24 years. The process was executed on a Hokkaido native pony using a non-surgical method and resulted in a 100% pregnancy rate.

Setting up an Effective Protocol

  • The research focused on establishing an effective procedure for embryo transfer in domestic horses in Japan. This was significant as there have been no reports of such procedures in Japan for about 24 years.
  • A Hokkaido native pony, a breed indigenous to Japan, was the main subject under this study and the frozen semen utilized for the artificial insemination was from a Connemara pony, a breed of Irish horses.

Performing Non-Surgical Embryo Collection

  • A non-surgical method was adopted for the embryo collection, and it was performed on the seventh day.
  • In total, three flushes were tried, out of which two embryos (yielding a 67% recovery rate) were successfully obtained. This indicates the method’s practical efficiency in collecting embryos.

Transferring the Embryos and Success Rate

  • The obtained embryos were transferred fresh into crossbred recipient mares, indicating the use of different horse breeds to carry out the process.
  • The recipient mares were found to be pregnant 5 days after the embryo transfer, proving a 100% successful pregnancy rate. This significant achievement advocates for the effectiveness of the protocol established.
  • The recipient mares maintained normal progesterone levels until the end of observation on the 35th day of gestation indicating their healthy pregnancy conditions.

Significance of the Study

  • The study places itself as the first successful execution of embryo transfer using artificial insemination with frozen semen in Japan.
  • This technology, hence, could potentially revolutionise and enhance the productivity of Japanese domestic horses and special riding horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Hannan MA, Haneda S, Itami Y, Wachi S, Saitoh T, Cheong SH, Nambo Y. (2018). Successful embryo transfer from Hokkaido native pony after artificial insemination with frozen semen. J Vet Med Sci, 81(2), 241-244. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.18-0414

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 81
Issue: 2
Pages: 241-244

Researcher Affiliations

Hannan, M A
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Haneda, Shingo
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Itami, Yasuyuki
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Wachi, Sohei
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Saitoh, Tomoko
  • Field Center of Animal Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Cheong, Soon Hon
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary

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This article includes 14 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Hannan MA, Watanabe H, Takeyama A, Yoshida S, Wudamu D, Lkhagvasuren N, Claes A, Stout TAE, Cheong SH, Haneda S, Nambo Y. In vitro embryo production via ovum pick-up (OPU) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in pure and crossbred Japanese Hokkaido native ponies. J Reprod Dev 2025 Jun 6;71(3):191-194.
    doi: 10.1262/jrd.2025-011pubmed: 40350303google scholar: lookup
  2. Rajabi-Toustani R, Tsogtgerel M, Gao Y, Li C, Sakato M, Haneda S, Cheong SH, Nambo Y. First Kiso pony foal produced via transfer of long-distance shipped fresh embryo to Hokkaido native pony. J Reprod Dev 2023 Apr 3;69(2):125-128.
    doi: 10.1262/jrd.2022-125pubmed: 36724993google scholar: lookup
  3. Hannan MA, Haneda S, Murata K, Takeuchi S, Cheong SH, Nambo Y. Birth of first foals through embryo transfer after artificial insemination using frozen semen in Japan. J Reprod Dev 2020 Apr 10;66(2):193-197.
    doi: 10.1262/jrd.2019-117pubmed: 31983706google scholar: lookup
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