Embryo production by in vitro techniques in dairy cattle in Greece
Vergos, E.; Alifakiotis, T.; Konstandidou, M.; Gordon, A.C.
Veterinary Record 133(3): 70
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8212488 Document Number: 409258
The first preliminary work undertaken in Greece to produce transferable quality bovine blastocysts is reported. Cumulus oocyte complexes were recovered from vesicular follicles of ovaries from Holstein cows slaughtered at an abattoir. Following in vitro fertilization presumptive zygotes were transferred to 1 of 3 culture treatments: ampullary epithelial cell monolayer (E-CM; 231), ampullary cell suspension (Cs-CM; 214) or unconditioned TCM-199 culture medium (U-CM; 109), and cultured for 6 days at 39 degrees C. Cleavage beyond the 16-cell stage was not seen in U-CM. Early embryo development was improved in E-CM and Cs-CM, with blastocyst yields of 12.1 and 15.8%, respectively. 10 blastocysts from each treatment were further cultured to hatching stage, and 2 from each treatment were then transferred non-surgically into Holstein heifers, resulting in 2 apparently normal pregnancies.