Development of the first equine blastocyst produced by conventional IVF and in vitro culture in Europe resulting in the birth of a foal
- M. Papas
- J. Govaere
- S. Peere
- I. Gerits
- E. Van den Branden
- A. Frenández-Montoro
- T. De Coster
- M. Hedia
- D. Angel-Velez
- A. Van Soom
- K. Smits
Abstract
In this case report, the production of the first equine blastocyst using conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro embryo culture methods in Europe is described. A healthy foal was born after transfer of a blastocyst using a complete in vitro production process, including in vitro oocyte maturation, in vitro sperm capacitation, fertilization in vitro and culture to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Oocytes were recovered from ovaries of slaughtered mares. After in vitro maturation, the oocytes were fertilized by conventional IVF and cultured for nine days. One embryo reached the blastocyst stage and was vitrified. After the selection of a suitable recipient mare that had ovulated four days earlier, the blastocyst was thawed and transferred. Five days after embryo transfer, a single embryonic vesicle was detected by transrectal ultrasonography. After a normal pregnancy of 323 days, a healthy colt was born. Parentage testing via microsatellite genotyping confirmed that the recipient was excluded as the foal’s dam and that the stallion whose semen was used, qualified as the sire.
How to Cite:
Papas, M., Govaere, J., Peere, S., Gerits, I., Van den Branden, E., Frenández-Montoro, A., De Coster, T., Hedia, M., Angel-Velez, D., Van Soom, A. & Smits, K., (2024) “Development of the first equine blastocyst produced by conventional IVF and in vitro culture in Europe resulting in the birth of a foal”, Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift 93(3), 131–135. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/vdt.91527
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