Effect of oestrous synchrony between embryo donors and recipients,embryo quality and state on the pregnancy rate in beef cattle

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oestrous synchrony between donors and recipients and the embryo quality on the pregnancy rate in beef cow recipients. The experiment was performed over two years at an embryo transfer (ET ) centre in Southern Brazil. Ninety Aberdeen Angus cows were subjected to superovulation (SOV ) protocols, resulting in the recovery of 1,048 transferable embryos. Eleven groups were formed with intervals of 6 hr, from ?30 to +30 hr, with respect to recipient versus donor oestrous detection. Evaluation of embryo quality was according to the IETS guidelines. The overall pregnancy rate was 52%. Effects related to donor and recipient oestrous synchronization on pregnancy rate were observed (p  =  .01), ranging from 36% to 50%. The embryo quality rate affected the pregnancy rate, where Grade I resulted in 57% and Grade III in 43% of pregnancy (p  <  .001). The embryonic state (frozen or fresh) showed no (p  >  .05) effect on pregnancy rate: 53% for fresh embryos and 44% for frozen embryos. The odds ratio for explanatory variables causing pregnancy indicated that Grade III embryos had 31% less chance of conception compared to Grade I. Thus, oestrous synchrony between donor and recipient, considering ±30 hr apart, can affect the pregnancy rate along with embryo quality.     

澳洲波尔山羊胚胎3种冷冻方法对其胚胎移植效果的影响

在25℃室温下,采用细管法(一步法、二步法)和OPS法,以不同浓度的EFS、EDFS为玻璃化冷冻液,对澳洲波尔山羊致密桑椹胚和囊胚进行玻璃化冷冻保存。同时利用1.5mol/LEG为抗冻保护剂对胚胎进行常规法冷冻保存。分别将上述3种方法冷冻解冻后的胚胎移植于同期发情后6~7d的云南黑山羊受体。结果表明,细管法胚胎玻璃化冷冻保存效果均以EFS40组为佳,解冻后胚胎移植产羔率分别为40.54%(15/37;一步法)和51.35%(19/37;二步法)。与新鲜胚胎移植产羔率(52.50%,21/40)和常规法冷冻保存的胚胎移植产羔率(45.16%,14/31)相比无显著性差异(P>0.05)。另外,用EDFS30玻璃化溶液,OPS法冷冻解冻后的胚胎移植产羔率高达51.43%(18/35),为整个玻璃化冷冻试验的最佳值。玻璃化冷冻方法简便、迅速,无论是细管法还是OPS法均获得了比较理想的胚胎移植效果。     

Exogenous eFSH, follicle coasting, and hCG as a novel superovulation regimen in mares

The objective of this study was to evaluate various equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment protocols and the effect of “follicle coasting” on ovulation and embryo recovery rates in mares. Cycling mares (n = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four groups 7 days after ovulation: (1) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; (2) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger; (3) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily for 3.5 days followed by 12.5 mg eFSH enriched with luteinizing hormone (LH) twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; and (4) 25 mg eFSH once daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger. Mares in groups 1 and 3 were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (2500 IU intravenously) at the end of eFSH treatment, whereas mares in groups 2 and 4 were given hCG approximately 42 and 54 hours, respectively, after the last eFSH treatment (“follicle coasting”). Nonsurgical embryo collection was performed 6.5 to 7.5 days after ovulation. Each mare experienced a nontreated estrous cycle before being reassigned to a second treatment. Ovulation rates for mares in treatment groups 1 to 4 were 3.3 ± 0.4, 4.1 ± 0.4, 3.5 ± 0.4, and 2.8 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM; P < .05), respectively. One or more embryos were recovered from more than 80% of mares in each treatment group, and embryo recovery rate per flush was similar among treatment groups (1.9 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; P > .05). The overall embryo recovery rate was 2.1 ± 1.5 embryos per flush. In summary, ovulation rate was higher for mares treated with eFSH (3.4 ± 0.4) compared with non-treated controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Ovulation rate in mares in which hCG was delayed (follicle coasting) was higher (P < .05) when treatments were given twice per day versus once per day. Administration of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) in conjunction with eFSH did not have an advantage over mares treated only with eFSH.     

Impact of trace mineral source on beef replacement heifer growth,reproductive development,and biomarkers of maternal recognition of pregnancy and embryo survival

Trace minerals are known to play important roles in early embryo development. The study objective was to determine effects of trace mineral source on heifer reproductive performance. Beef heifers (n = 129) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. From weaning through breeding, all heifers were individually fed a basal diet supplemented with cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) either from organic sources (COMP; Cu, Mn, and Zn amino acid complexes and Co glucoheptonate; Availa-4, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) or inorganic sources (INORG; Cu, Mn, and Zn hydroxychlorides; Intellibond C, M, and Z, Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN) and Co as CoSO₄. Blood samples and a reproductive tract score (RTS) were collected to determine pubertal status. All animals were synchronized and artificially inseminated. Pregnancy status was determined by lymphocyte gene expression, circulating concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), and by transrectal ultrasonography after artificial insemination. Embryonic loss was defined as when a previously pregnant animal was subsequently diagnosed not pregnant. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS. Puberty (P = 0.44), pelvic area (P = 0.74), RTS (P = 0.49), and estrus expression (P = 0.82) were not influenced by treatment. There was no effect of treatment (P = 0.37) or treatment by time (P = 0.19) on pregnancy, but there was a tendency (P = 0.13) for decreased embryonic loss among COMP heifers (27 ± 6%) compared to INORG heifers (38 ± 6%). There was a treatment by pregnancy status by time interaction (P < 0.01) on circulating PAG concentrations with PAG concentrations tending (P = 0.08) to be greater on day 25 among heifers in the COMP treatment compared to heifers in the INORG group. In summary, source of trace mineral did not affect puberty, RTS, pelvic area, or overall pregnancy success, but feeding complexed trace minerals tended to increase circulating PAG concentrations and embryo survival.     

小鼠胚胎计数方法的研究及应用

胚胎细胞计数是评定胚胎活力,检验胚胎体外操作方案和培养效果的常用方法。实验以昆明小鼠体内发育胚胎和体外聚合囊胚为实验材料,对几种细胞的计数方法及应用进行了详细的研究。结果表明:（1）低渗压片法的实验效果最佳。（2）根据形态学观察,结合细胞计数,可以把小鼠8-细胞以后胚胎划分为:8-细胞晚期[细胞数目为（11.9±0.65）个];同一时间收集的桑椹胚和早期囊胚细胞数目相似;不同时间收集的囊胚细胞有明显差异。（3）细胞计数分析表明:8-细胞聚合胚发育形成聚合囊胚时,其细胞数目未发生调整。     

Achievements and future perspectives of embryo transfer technology in pigs

Commercial embryo transfer (ET) has unprecedented productive and economic implications for the pig sector. However, pig ET has been considered utopian for decades mainly because of the requirements of surgical techniques for embryo collection and embryo deposition into recipients, alongside challenges to preserve embryos. This situation has drastically changed in the last decade since the current technology allows non‐surgical ET and short‐ and long‐term embryo preservation. Here, we provide a brief review of the improvements in porcine ET achieved by our laboratory in the past 20 years. This review includes several aspects of non‐surgical ET technology and different issues affecting ET programmes and embryo preservation systems. The future perspectives of ET technology are also considered. We will refer only to embryos produced in vivo since they are the only type of embryos with possible short‐term use in pig production.     

胚胎冻融技术及其在我国肉羊产业中的应用

胚胎冻融技术可使胚胎移植不受时间、地点的限制，从而达到提高胚胎移植效率的目的，研究和优化胚胎冻融技术对胚胎移植工程的发展具有重要的意义。主要对胚胎冻融技术的原理、特点及其在肉羊产业中的应用情况进行了综述，旨在阐明胚胎冻融技术对我国肉羊产业发展的重要作用。     

Effects of low‐oxygen conditions on embryo growth in the painted turtle,Chrysemys picta

Low‐oxygen conditions (hypoxia; <21% O₂) are considered unfavorable for growth; yet, embryos of many vertebrate taxa develop successfully in hypoxic subterranean environments. Although enhanced tolerance to hypoxia has been demonstrated in adult reptiles, such as in the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), its effects on sensitive embryo life stages warrant attention. We tested the hypothesis that short‐term hypoxia negatively affects growth during day 40 of development in C. picta, when O₂ demands are highest in embryos. A brief, but severe, hypoxic event (5% O₂ for 0.5 h) moderately affected embryo growth, causing a 13% reduction in mass (relative to a normoxic control). The same condition had no effect during day 27; instead, a nearly anoxic event (1% O₂ for 72 h) caused a 5% mass reduction. All embryos survived the egg incubation period. Our study supports the assumption that reptilian embryos are resilient to intermittently low O₂ in subterranean nests. Further work is needed to ascertain responses to suboptimal O₂ levels while undergoing dynamic changes in developmental physiology.     

孵化期间鸡胚、肝脏、卵黄及蛋白组成的变化及其相关关系

将1188枚种蛋随机码放在6个蛋盘内，同机人孵，每盘为1个试验重复。于人孵的第6、9、12、15、18和21天从各盘取出36个胚蛋用于测定蛋清葡萄糖的含量；胚质量及其水分、蛋白质和脂肪含量；肝脏质量、水分和脂肪含量；卵黄囊质量、卵黄脂类及其脂肪酸的含量。结果表明，随着孵化时间的增加，肝脏的脂肪含量不断增加，但胚胎的水分含量、蛋清的葡萄糖含量和卵黄囊质量则不断减少，脂肪在孵化的第12天含量最低，蛋白质在孵化的第6、12和15天含量较高。相对肝质量与胚胎的水分含量正相关，与孵化第15天的卵黄棕榈酸和油酸分别为正相关和负相关。卵黄硬脂酸含量与孵化第6天的亚油酸和孵化第12天的油酸均为负相关，但与孵化第6和15天的花生四烯酸均正相关。     

影响绵羊冻胚移植妊娠率的因素分析

本研究对胚胎质量、胚胎移植数量、胚胎发育阶段、冷冻方法、移植方法及饲养管理水平等因素对移植产羔率的影响进行研究,以提高绵羊胚胎移植效率。结果表明:采用1.5mol/L乙二醇做冷冻保护剂对胚胎进行常规冷冻,冻前A级胚胎冷冻/解冻后可用胚率、存活率、降级率均高于B级,差异极显著(P<0.01)。移植1枚冷冻解冻后A级、B级或2枚(A+B)胚胎的受体移植产羔率分别为44.48%、46.84%和44.81%。经χ2检验分析,三者之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。移植双胚的受体双羔率为22(%53/241),以胚胎为单位计算,产羔率仅为33.40%。A级囊胚和桑椹胚的产羔率之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。1.5 mol/L乙二醇常规冷冻保存的体内胚胎移植产羔率高于EFS40玻璃化冷冻保存,但经统计学分析,二者无显著差异(P>0.05)。子宫手术移植和腹腔内窥镜法子宫移植之间产羔率不具统计学差异(P>0.05)。在牧场条件下大规模移植的平均产羔率为43.95%,范围在20%￣70%之间,受体饲养管理水平对绵羊移植产羔率有较大影响。     

不同病毒在SPF鸡胚与普通鸡胚繁殖性能的比较

利用HI和AGP方法检测普通种蛋中ND和IBD的卵黄抗体水平,利用HA和EID50检测方法比较多种病毒(如NDV、IBV、IBDV及AEV)在SPF鸡胚与普通鸡胚上繁殖性能的差异。研究结果表明:普通种蛋中ND及IBD的卵黄抗体水平普遍较高,在SPF鸡胚上新城疫LaSota病毒繁殖量是普通鸡胚的5～20倍,尿囊液血凝效价平均高2.0～2.5滴度。MA5毒株在SPF胚病毒液EID50为普通鸡胚的10倍以上熏且每次检测的结果比较接近。IBDV、AEV等病毒在普通鸡胚上几乎不能增殖。     

哺乳动物的克隆技术——哺乳动物克隆的原理、方法、影响因素及存在的问题

哺乳动物细胞克隆是20世纪末生命科学领域最引人注目的高新技术,该技术对于优良种畜的复制、减少试验用动物数目、动物遗传多样性保存及濒危动物挽救、转基因动物培育等方面具有重要意义。近年来克隆技术发展迅速,多种哺乳动物相继克隆成功,但也存在克隆效率太低、克隆动物表型正常而实质异常的问题。作者阐述了动物克隆的基本原理、操作方法及其相关影响因素,提出了解决相关问题的关键。     

鸭胚成纤维细胞培养、传代及保存方法的研究

本研究旨在建立鸭胚成纤维细胞离体培养、传代以及冷冻保存体系,为鸭胚胎或生殖干细胞的离体培养奠定基础。利用胰酶-EDTA消化鸭胚胎组织,10% FBS+DEME营养液培养,获得原代和传代成纤维细胞。分别用DMSO、甘油以及乙二醇作为冷冻保护剂对F1代鸭胚成纤维细胞进行冷冻保存,检测复苏后细胞的生长情况。利用此方法可以获得高活性的鸭胚成纤维细胞,并可成功传至第三代。其中F1代与F2代细胞活力最好,达到90%以上。3种冷冻剂保存的细胞复苏后均与F1代细胞的活力存在明显差异,均小于80%,其中用DMSO冷冻保存的细胞复苏后活力最强,生长密度保持较好。     

应用体细胞克隆技术和胚胎移植技术生产克隆水牛

为了解决克隆水牛技术在供核细胞、受体细胞中的选用问题,探索不同条件对移植受孕的影响,完善克隆技术的理论体系。试验以摩拉奶水牛的耳成纤维细胞作为供核细胞,本地水牛卵母细胞为受体胞质进行细胞克隆构建重组胚胎;将发育5～10 d的重组胚胎移植于本地水牛、杂交水牛的子宫内,观察不同发情方式、胚胎类型、胚龄及季节对移植受孕的影响。结果表明:水牛的克隆胚胎妊娠率较低,分别为12.05%、12.04%、13.95%。自然发情和同期发情对克隆胚胎移植受胎率的影响差异不显著;鲜胚胎移植186头,受胎22头,受胎率为11.83%(22/186);冻胚胎移植174头,受胎23头,受胎率为13.22%(23/174)。克隆水牛从出生至12月龄体尺增长明显高于本地水牛;水牛克隆胚胎移植受胎在秋季最好,秋季受胎数占全年的53.33%,显著高于其他季节。     

不同激活条件和培养基对兔卵母细胞孤雌激活和胚胎发育的影响

对新西兰兔成熟卵母细胞在不同方式激活后的发育潜能和孤雌胚胎在不同培养体系中的发育进行了研究。结果发现电击激活和化学激活单独使用不能很好的激活兔卵母细胞,两次电击和化学激活配合使用能够较好的激活兔卵母细胞。通过比较发现B2培养基支持兔孤雌胚胎发育的能力显著高于其他培养基。试验建立了和体内受精时间过程相似的卵母细胞活化和培养系统,为兔的核移植技术优化了条件。     

细胞松弛素B对猪孤雌胚胎和体外克隆胚胎发育能力的影响

为探讨细胞松弛素B（cytochalasin B,CB）对猪孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎发育能力的影响,本研究通过在猪体外胚胎培养基中添加不同浓度CB以及不同孵育时间的处理,筛选出CB对猪早期胚胎发育的最适浓度和最佳孵育时间,同时通过Hoechst33342染色检测猪体外囊胚孵化期的细胞数差异,进一步研究CB对孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎发育的影响。结果显示,培养基中添加CB浓度为7.5 μg/mL时孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎的卵裂率分别为85.00%和90.23%,囊胚率为35.68%和42.58%,均显著高于其他各组（P < 0.05）;采用7.5 μg/mL CB处理电激活后的孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎,孤雌胚胎孵育4 h组的卵裂率（83.80%）和囊胚率最高（35.39%）,与其他各组差异显著（P < 0.05）,而克隆胚胎孵育6 h组的卵裂率（83.98%）和囊胚率最高（55.62%）,与其他各组差异显著（P < 0.05）。此外,Hoechst33342染色结果显示,未添加CB处理的孤雌胚胎在囊胚孵化期的细胞平均数为28个,CB处理组的孤雌胚胎和克隆胚胎细胞平均数分别为36和52个,处理组和未处理组细胞数差异显著（P < 0.05）。结果表明,猪体外孤雌胚胎用7.5 μg/mL CB 处理4 h可获得较高的卵裂率和囊胚率;体外克隆胚胎用7.5 μg/mL CB 处理6 h卵裂率及囊胚率最高,且囊胚期内细胞团细胞总数最多。CB处理有利于体外胚胎早期发育,提高克隆胚胎移植受孕率。     

季节对杜泊羊体内胚胎生产与移植效果的影响

为了研究季节对杜泊羊体内胚胎生产效率及胚胎移植妊娠率的影响,于2016年选取内蒙古赛诺草原羊业有限公司种羊场经产纯种杜泊母羊作为供体,采用同期发情、超数排卵及腹腔镜人工输精等方法对供体羊进行处理后,利用手术冲胚的方法获得纯种杜泊羊胚胎,同时对受体羊进行同期发情处理和胚胎移植。经统计分析,2016年全年该公司共有放栓供体4 241只,超排处理4 180只,配种供体4 131只,冲胚供体3 987只,供体可用率为94.01%;冲出胚胎总数为23 516枚,可用胚胎18 002枚,胚胎可利用率为76.55%,平均每只供体能获得可用胚胎4.52枚。供体在10月、11月、12月冲胚所获得的平均冲胚数和平均可用胚数明显高于4月、5月、6月(P<0.05),其中10月的平均冲胚数和平均可用胚数最高(P<0.01),分别为7.04枚和5.62枚。将获得的部分胚胎用于胚胎移植,移植单胚怀孕受体数为4 446只,妊娠率为53.67%;移植双胚怀孕受体数805只,妊娠率65.02%。此外,受体在1月、3月、6月、12月受胎率较其他月份高(P<0.05)。该研究可为杜泊种羊超数排卵、胚胎移植和肉羊的产业化生产提供一定的数据参考。     

非手术法移植牛体外转基因胚研究初报

本文介绍了牛体外胚移植及转基因胚移植的意义;详细阐述了利用非手术法移植牛体外转基因胚胎的技术过程,并对相关问题进行了探讨;移植的结果和经验为进一步研究转基因胚胎移植提供了重要的实践依据和借鉴作用。     

Relationship of Late Embryo Loss and Anomalies in Broiler Offspring

A previous study of Mississippi broiler complexes indicated a significant increase (0.640 to 1.77%) of embryonic total gross anatomical anomalies (TA) in the hatch residue. A separate field study in a single broiler complex of 8 breeder flocks, each hatching in 2 machines on the same day, illustrated a positive correlation between TA and total late stage embryo loss (TLEL; 16 to 21 d of incubation). The current study examined egg hatch residue from 92 selected breeder flocks that were hatched in each of 2 machines on the same date, with each respective machine being identified during egg residue analysis as having either low or high TLEL. Five makes of multistage incubational units were utilized within 10 different hatcheries in 7 states. The eggs were from breeders that comprised 32 weekly age groups (wk 27 to 61) and 5 separate strain crosses. When the egg residue results from the 92 flocks (hatching in 184 machines) were placed into 1 of 2 groups according to level (low and high) of TLEL, the high TLEL group showed a significantly lower estimated hatching efficiency (EHF) and significantly higher levels of TA and embryo head misorientations toward the small end of the egg than did the low TLEL group. The percentage change in EHF was 1.28% between eggs belonging to low (93.8%) and high (92.6%) TLEL groups. Also, TLEL in both low and high groups was significantly (P ≤ 0.0001) correlated with EHF, TA, total cracked or crushed eggs, and with eggs having embryo heads misoriented toward the small end. These results strongly suggest that TA plays a minor role, if at all, as a cause of lower EHF and that TA incidence may serve as a biomarker for hatching efficiency.     

胚胎质量和发育阶段对奶牛胚胎移植妊娠率的影响

[目的]为了评估胚胎质量和发育阶段对奶牛胚胎移植妊娠率的影响。[方法]使用63头青年奶牛作为供体进行超数排卵,评估回收胚胎质量和发育阶段。选择334头青年奶牛作为受体鲜胚移植不同质量和发育阶段胚胎。对胚胎质量分布、发育阶段分布、不同质量胚胎和不同发育阶段胚胎移植30 d妊娠率进行统计分析。[结果]可用胚胎中A级胚胎比例(60.78%)显著高于B级和C级胚胎比例(36.70%和2.52%)(P<0.05);致密桑椹胚比例(54.36%)显著高于早期囊胚,囊胚和扩张囊胚比例(18.35%,25.0%和2.29%)(P<0.05)。A级和B级胚胎移植30 d妊娠率(63.55%和64.35%)显著高于C级胚胎移植30 d妊娠率(44.44%)(P<0.05);致密桑椹胚、早期囊胚、囊胚和扩张囊胚移植30 d妊娠率差异不显著(P<0.05),早期囊胚、囊胚移植30 d妊娠率高于致密桑椹胚、扩张囊胚移植30 d妊娠率(P<0.05)。[结论]选择不同发育阶段的A级和B级胚胎能够获得较高胚胎移植妊娠率,增加早期囊胚和囊胚阶段胚胎移植数量能够提高胚胎移植妊娠率。