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The development of in vitro embryo production in the horse
Author(s) -
Morris L. H. A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12839
Subject(s) - intracytoplasmic sperm injection , blastocyst , embryo , horse , in vitro fertilisation , andrology , limiting , oocyte , embryo transfer , in vitro maturation , biology , zygote , embryogenesis , pregnancy rate , pregnancy , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , engineering , paleontology , mechanical engineering
Summary The development of techniques to produce equine embryos in vitro is reviewed with specific reference to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Unexplored 50 years ago, this technology has progressed rapidly in the last 20 years to become a commercial reality for the equine breeding industry. Improvements in our understanding of oocyte and embryo competence in the horse have been key factors in overcoming some of the initial problems associated with ICSI. It is now possible to obtain high nuclear maturation and cleavage rates in vitro and the most limiting factor, presently, is the low rate of development to the blastocyst stage. However, in spite of this, once obtained, these in vitro‐derived blastocysts can result in pregnancy rates in excess of 60% following transfer.