In vivo development of vitrified rat embryos: effects of timing and sites of transfer to recipient females

In cryopreserved rat embryos, survival rates obtained in vitro are not always consistent with the rates obtained in vivo. To determine the optimal conditions for in vivo development to term, rat embryos at the 4-cell, 8-cell, and morula stages were vitrified in EFS40 by a one-step method and transferred into oviducts or uterine horns of recipients at various times during pseudopregnancy. Vitrified and fresh 4-cell embryos only developed after transfer into oviducts of asynchronous recipients on Days -1 to -2 of synchrony (i.e., at a point in pseudopregnancy 1-2 days earlier than the embryos). Approximately half the vitrified embryos transferred into oviducts on Day -1 developed to term, but only a minority of embryos, whether vitrified (10%-34%) or fresh (24%-33%), transferred at later times did so, suggesting that this may not be the most suitable stage for cryopreservation. Very few 8-cell embryos, either vitrified or fresh, developed when transferred into oviducts on Day 0 to -0.5. However, when transferred into uterine horns, high proportions of vitrified 8-cell embryos ( approximately 63%) developed to term in reasonably synchronous recipients (Day 0 to -0.5) but not in more asynchronous ones (6%; Day -1). A majority of vitrified morulae also developed to term (52%-68%) in a wider range of recipients (Days 0 to -1), the greatest success occurring in recipients on Day -0.5. Similar proportions of vitrified and fresh 4-cell embryos, 8-cell embryos, and morulae developed to term when appropriate synchronization existed between embryo and recipient. Thus, vitrification of preimplantation-stage rat embryos does not appear to impair their developmental potential in vivo.     

The ovine uterus as a host for in vitro-produced bovine embryos

A series of experiments were conducted to determine whether bovine blastocysts would develop beyond the blastocyst stage in the ovine uterine environment. In Experiment 1, in vitro matured, fertilized and cultured (IVM/IVF/IVC) expanded bovine blastocysts were transferred into uteri of ewes on Day 7 or 9 of the estrous cycle and collected on Day 14 or 15 to determine if the bovine blastocysts would elongate and form an embryonic disk. Springtime trials with ewes that were synchronized with a medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponge resulted in a 78% blastocyst recovery rate, and 68% of the recovered spherical or elongated embryos had embryonic disks. In Experiment 2, transfer of 4-cell bovine embryos to the oviducts of ewes at Day 3 resulted in a lower recovery (47 vs 80%) than the transfer of blastocysts at Day 7 when embryos were recovered at Day 14. However, the percentage of embryos containing embryonic disks was higher for embryos transferred at the 4-cell stage (71%) than for embryos transferred as blastocysts (50%). In Experiment 3, IVF embryos from super-ovulated cows or Day 8 in vitro produced embryos transferred to cows were collected at Day 14 and were found to be similar in size to those produced by transfer to ewes in Experiment 2. In Experiment 4, the transfer of bovine blastocysts to ewes did not prolong the ovine estrous cycle. In Experiment 5, extension of the ovine estrous cycle by administration of a MAP releasing intravaginal device allowed bovine embryos to elongate extensively and to become filamentous. In Experiment 6, uterine flushings on Day 14 or Day 16 contained elevated levels of interferon-tau when bovine blastocyst were transferred on Day 7. Transfer of bovine embryos to the reproductive tract of a ewe allows some embryos to develop normally to advanced perimplantation stages and may be a useful tool for studying critical stages of embryo development and the developmental capacity of experimental embryos.     

The effects of cryopreservation and transfer on embryonic development in the common marmoset monkey, Callithrix jacchus

Embryos were collected at the 4-10-cell stage from the oviducts (Day 4; Day 1 = ovulation) or as morulae (Day 7) from the uterus of marmosets and frozen in 1.5 M-DMSO (Days 4 and 7) or 1.0 M-glycerol (Day 4 only), using a slow freezing and thawing technique. Of 22 Day-4 embryos frozen in DMSO, 18 were recovered and 16 of these were transferred to 10 synchronized recipients; 7 recipients became pregnant compared with all 7 control recipients receiving 10 unfrozen embryos. Fifteen frozen-thawed morulae were transferred to 9 Day-6 recipients; the pregnancy rate (55.6%) was lower than for control embryos (85.7%). Embryos frozen in glycerol suffered severe osmotic stress during glycerol addition and removal. Of 8 recipients, 3 (37.5%) became pregnant but only one fetus was carried to term. These results on embryo collection, freezing and transfer in the marmoset have important implications for developing improved methods for freezing human embryos and the breeding of endangered primates.     

Effect of various procedures on the viability of mouse embryos containing half the normal number of blastomeres

Half embryos produced from 8-cell or compacted stages were cultured in vitro for 1-2 days and transferred to oviducts or uteri of recipients at different stages of pseudopregnancy. The proportion of live fetuses was low (8-12%), except for one group (27%) in which half embryos were cultured in vitro for 1 day and transferred into oviducts on the 1st day of pregnancy. Monozygotic twin production rate, however, was low (1 out of 10) even in this group. Fetal weight on the 18th day of gestation was significantly lower after transfer of half embryos than after transfer of similarly treated but undivided embryos. Half embryos produced from the 2-cell stage were inserted into empty zonae, embedded in agar, cultured in ligated mouse oviducts for 2-4 days and transferred to oviducts of recipient females on the 1st day of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. When twin embryos cultured for 2-3 days were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients together with control embryos, 4 sets of monozygotic twins and 5 singletons out of 10 sets of twin embryos were obtained on Days 18-19 of gestation, giving a survival rate of 65%.     

Endoscopic embryo collection and embryo transfer into the oviduct and the uterus of pigs

We describe the first complete embryo transfer program, including flushing of embryos from the oviducts via the uterine horns, transfer of embryos into the Fallopian tubes or the uterine horns and recording of the number of piglets born live. The described procedure is minimally invasive and allows the use of pigs simultaneously for embryo collection and production of normal pregnancies. A 30 degrees forward oblique endoscope provided optimal visualization of the reproductive organs and free access to the organs for embryo flushing and transfer. In contrast to surgical and nonsurgical methods, endoscopy allows to pre-examine the genital tract for reproductive abnormalities and successful ovulation. A total of 95 prepuberal gilts or cyclic sows were used in this trial. Embryos or oocytes were collected from hormonally treated pigs via endoscopy(n = 17) on Day 3 and via laparotomy or post mortem after slaughter (control group, n = 38) on Day 3 and 6 after insemination. One (unilateral collection, n = 7) or both oviducts (bilateral collection, n = 10) were flushed endoscopically. We recovered 114 (average 16/pig) and 279 (average 28/pig) oocytes or embryos with fertilization rates of 89% and 72%, respectively. In the control group 834 oocytes or embryos were collected at Day 3 and 6 after insemination (fertilization rate 64%, total 534 embryos, 33 at 2-, 367 at 4-, 2 at 8-cell stage, 24 morulae and 108 blastocysts). Of 836 embryos recovered by endoscopy, surgery or slaughter 528 Day 3 embryos at 2- to 4-cell stage were transferred into (one) oviducts (n = 27 pigs, about 20/pig) resulting in 9 pregnant pigs diagnosed at Day 28 by sonography. Of the 9, 8 carried a total of 49 piglets to term. A total of 195 Day 6 embryos were transferred into uterine horns (n = 12 pigs, about 16/pig), resulting in 5 pregnant pigs carrying a total of 38 offspring to term. The use of endoscopy in assisted reproduction of pigs has the advantages of allowing easy access to the ovary, oviduct and uterus, clear view of the organ manipulation without exposure and exteriorization of viscera during surgery.     

Effect of centchroman on tubal transport and preimplantation embryonic development in rats

A single oral administration of centchroman (1.25 mg/kg) to adult female rats within 24 h of mating induced slight acceleration in the rate of transport of embryos through the oviducts. The compound did not seem to produce any deleterious effect on preimplantation embryonic development since well organized and apparently normal embryos were collected from the genital tract up to Day 12 of pregnancy. The recovery rate of embryos from centchroman-treated rats was, however, significantly reduced after Day 4 of pregnancy. There was some stimulation in the rate of cleavage of embryos and morula to blastocyst transformation, but retardation in the shedding of the zona pellucida. The rate of blastocyst formation was not altered when 6-8-cell embryos collected from the oviducts of control rats were transferred to the uteri of control or centchroman-treated females. A delay in zona shedding was observed in the centchroman-treated recipients.     

Increased mortality during early embryonic development after in-vitro fertilization of rat oocytes

Immature female rats (60-65 g) were injected with 4 i.u. PMSG on Day -2, and allocated to 3 groups. For Groups I and II, unmated donors were killed 67-69 h after PMSG injection, shortly after the expected time of ovulation. Oocytes were recovered from the oviducts and transferred immediately into the oviduct of mated recipients (Group I) whose ipsilateral ovary had been exposed by peeling back the bursa, preventing endogenous oocytes from entering the oviduct, or were fertilized in vitro (Group II) and were transferred 16-18 h later. Rats in Group III were allowed to mate and half were killed 6 h after mating. The fertilized oocytes were then incubated for 10-12 h until transfer. The remaining rats in Group III were killed 16-18 h after mating and fertilized oocytes were collected and transferred immediately. Recipient rats were killed on Days 2, 5, 8 and 20. Zygotes resulting from in-vitro fertilization (Group II) were as able as those fertilized in donors (Group III) or recipients (Group I) to develop to the 2-cell stage, but underwent significantly greater embryonic loss beyond this stage of development. There was a slower rate of development of such oocytes to the blastocyst stage (Day 5) and a lower mean weight of implantation sites (Day 8). Transfer of zygotes after in-vitro fertilization resulted in a loss of 35% of the embryos at the time of implantation. These results suggest that in-vitro fertilization of rat oocytes leads to defects in the embryos causing a delay in early embryo development and a large number of implantation losses.     

Splitting of porcine embryos at the four-cell or morula stage

Porcine embryos obtained from estrus-induced prepuberal gilts were split at the 4-cell and morula stage. The in vitro development of the demi-embryos was compared with that of intact control embryos. The intact control embryos developed according to expectation. The in vitro survival of the demi-embryos was inferior to that of the respective controls. The splitting of 4-cell embryos was easier to accomplish and more efficient than the splitting of morulae. The in vitro development of the 4-cell embryos was also slightly better, although this difference was not significant. In vitro development of demi-embryos originating from morulae split at room temperature was slightly although nonsignificantly inferior to that of demi-embryos from morulae split on a warming stage at 37 degrees C. Between 14 and 18 demi-embryos were transferred to synchronous recipient gilts after 24 to 48 h of culture. Of 3 gilts receiving split 4-cell embryos, 1 gilt aborted 2 normal fetuses on Day 90 of pregnancy and 1 carried a single piglet to term. Of the 4 gilts receiving split morulae, 1 gilt had 4 normal and 3 degenerated fetuses upon slaughter on Day 35 of pregnancy.     

Effects of conditioned media on porcine embryos at different stages of development

The objective of our study was to determine the effect of conditioning media with homologous porcine uterine cells on the developmental rate of porcine embryos. Cell monolayers were prepared by selective dissection and digestion of sections from the uterus of prepuberal gilts that were primed with PMSG and hCG. Conditioned media were used with 2 type of embryos: 4-cell stage (Experiment 1) or blastocyst stage (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, embryos were collected surgically by flushing the oviducts, 36 to 48 h following the first of 2 inseminations. Embryos were cultured in Whitten's medium containing 1.5% BSA as a protein source until they attained the 4-cell stage. Embryos at the 4-cell stage were cultured randomly in either Whitten's medium with 1.5% BSA or Whitten's medium with 1.5% BSA that was previously conditioned for 24 h with an endometrial epithelial cell monolayer. Embryos were cultured in 50-microl drops covered with oil in a 38.5 degrees C, 5% CO(2) in air incubator. There was no advantage to using the conditioned media with the 4-cell stage embryos. The embryos were less developed than those cultured in nonconditioned Whitten's medium (P <0.001). In Experiment 2, embryos were cultured at the blastocyst stage. They were recovered the same way as in Experiment 1 and then cultured in Whitten's medium containing 1.5% BSA until they reached the blastocyst stage. At the blastocyst stage (Day 6), embryos were randomly assigned to 1 of the 6 following treatments: Whitten's with 1.5% BSA or Whitten's plus 1.5% BSA that was previously conditioned with endometrial epithelial cell monolayer, TCM-199 containing 0.4% BSA or TCM-199 plus 0.4% BSA that was previously conditioned with endometrial epithelial cell monolayer, finally, TCM-199 containing 10% serum or TCM-199 plus 10% serum that was previously conditioned with endometrial epithelial cell monolayer. Results show that initiation of hatching was significantly enhanced by conditioning the Whitten's media.     

Decreased embryonic survival of in-vitro fertilized oocytes in rats is due to retardation of preimplantation development

Immature female rats (60-65 g) were injected with 4 i.u. PMSG on Day -2 and allocated to 3 groups. On the evening of Day 0, rats in Groups I and II were allowed to mate. Embryos were collected on Day 4 (Group I, control morulae) or Day 5 (Group II, control blastocysts) and were transferred into the oviduct or uterine horn of Day-4 pregnant recipient rats. On the transfer side of the recipients, the bursa had been peeled from around the ovary to prevent endogenous oocytes from entering the oviduct. For Group III, unmated donors were killed 65-67 h after PMSG injection. Ovulated oocytes recovered from the oviducts were fertilized in vitro and transferred 16-18 h later. Embryos developing from in-vitro fertilized (IVF) oocytes were recovered on Day 5, separated into morulae (Group IIIm) and blastocysts (Group IIIb) and transferred into Day-4 pregnant recipients similar to control embryos. Some embryos from each group were used to determine the mean number of cells/embryo. Embryo recipients were killed on Day 20. After transfer, the development of IVF oocytes was retarded compared to control embryos. IVF morulae contained significantly fewer cells/embryo than did control morulae but were able to implant and grow to fetuses, in proportions similar to controls, if transferred into the oviduct of the recipients. These results suggest that the developmental potential of rat oocytes fertilized in vitro is limited due to asynchrony between the embryo and the uterine environment at the time of implantation, rather than possible defects incurred by the oocyte during the fertilization procedure.     

Effects of transferring in vitro-cultured rabbit embryos to recipient oviducts on mucin coat deposition, implantation and development

A mucin coat is deposited on rabbit embryos during passage through the oviduct; rabbit blastocysts cultured from the 1-cell stage in vitro have no mucin coat. When cultured blastocysts are transferred to recipients, the lack of mucin coat might account in part for subsequent failure of pregnancy. We have investigated the possibility that mucin coat deposition is induced following transfer of in vitro 72 h-cultured blastocysts to oviducts of asynchronous or synchronous recipients. One-cell embryos were collected by flushing oviducts 19-20 h post-coitus and were cultured in vitro for 72 h until they reached the blastocyst stage. The blastocysts were transferred to the oviducts of recipients that were synchronized either with the donors (synchronous) or 1 day later than the donors (asynchronous). They were recovered after 24-48 h and the mucin coat thickness and embryo degeneration rate were measured. The degeneration rate of blastocysts recovered from uteri of synchronous recipients was higher than that from asynchronous recipients (72.2% vs 40.0%). The mucin coats around embryos recovered from oviducts of asynchronous recipients after 48 h were thicker than those from synchronous recipients. More asynchronous recipients were pregnant and gave birth to more pups than synchronous recipients. These results indicate that the oviducts of asynchronous recipients secreted more mucin around the transferred embryos, causing higher rates of implantation of the in vitro-cultured blastocysts.     

Production of identical twins by separating two-cell rat embryos

Rat identical twins were produced from two-cell embryos. In the presence of cytochalasin B, rat two-cell embryos could be separated efficiently into two blastomeres by micromanipulation. Isolated blastomeres, embedded in agar cylinders and cultivated in ligated rat oviducts for 3 days, developed to the morula or blastocyst stage. After removing the agar, pairs of developed one-half embryos were transferred into Day 1 oviducts or Day 4 uteri of pseudopregnant rats. The percentage of embryos, separated either in the presence or absence of cytochalasin B, that developed into live fetuses was higher in cases of uterine transfer than in cases of oviduct transfer (38% vs. 18%, 31% vs. 15%, respectively). Throughout the present experiment, nine pairs of identical twins were successfully produced. This is the first report of the production of identical rat twins by separating two-cell embryos.     

Characterization of developmental arrest in early bovine embryos cultured in vitro

The susceptibility of early bovine embryos to developmental arrest ("blocking") in vitro was examined. Embryos, obtained from superovulated donors, were cultured in vitro in Ham's F10 culture medium or in vivo in sheep oviducts. Treatments were terminated on Day 7 post-donor estrus (estrus = day 0), and the embryos were evaluated for development. Experiment 1 tested whether the 8- to 16-cell block was reversible. One- to two-cell embryos were cultured in vitro to the 8-cell stage (2 d), then in vivo for 3 d; controls were cultured in vitro or in vivo for 5 d. Forty-two percent (19 45 ) of in vivo controls developed normally; none (0 55 ; 0%) of the in vitro controls cleaved past the 9- to 16-cell stage. Only 4% (2 48 ) of the embryos cultured to eight cells in vitro developed normally after culture in sheep oviducts, indicating that the block was irreversible. Irreversibility was not caused by overt cell death, since 33 33 (100%) of blocked embryos responded positively to fluorescien diacetate vital staining. Experiment 2 tested the effect of in vitro exposure at specific cell stages on subsequent in vivo development. Embryos at the 1- to 2-, 3- to 4-, 5- to 8- and 9- to 16-cell stages were assigned randomly to one of the following treatments: in vivo culture; in vitro culture; or 24 h in vitro culture, followed by in vivo culture. Subsequent in vivo development was affected by 24 h of in vitro culture (P<0.05) only in 3- to 4-cell embryos (11 41 , 27% vs 22 41 , 54% for in vivo controls). We conclude that 1) the block is a manifestation of in vitro exposure during the four- to eight-cell stage, and 2) the block, while irreversible, is not the result of overt embryonic death.     

Development of centrifuged cow zygotes cultured in rabbit oviducts

Zygotes from superovulated cows were centrifuged and pronuclei were detected by differential interference-contrast microscopy in 73% of 106 zygotes. Zygotes were then transferred to ligated oviducts of follicular-phase, 1-day pseudopregnant or 7-day pseudopregnant rabbits and recovered 5 days later. Their development did not differ from that of uncentrifuged zygotes transferred to the opposite oviduct: 41% of the embryos recovered from rabbit oviducts contained 17-32 nuclei and an additional 5% contained greater than 32 nuclei. In another experiment, 399 ova from unmated cows were transferred to rabbit oviducts to determine whether centrifugation induced parthenogenetic development. After 7 days, 257 ova were recovered; 16% of the recovered ova had developed parthenogenetically and contained 2-30 nuclei. Neither centrifugation of the ova nor reproductive status of the rabbits influenced the proportion of parthenogenotes found. Parthenogenetic development was also observed in 14 of 71 ova (20%) recovered on Day 7 from uninseminated superovulated cows. In an attempt to increase the probability of detecting treatment differences, centrifuged and control cow zygotes were incubated for 7 (rather than 5) days in opposite oviducts of fourteen 1-day pseudopregnant rabbits. Development was unaffected by centrifugation: 61% of the zygotes recovered had developed beyond the 16-cell stage, with 23, 24 and 15% containing 17-32, 33-64, and greater than 64 nuclei, respectively. Taking into account the percentage of zygotes in which pronuclei can be seen, the recovery rate from rabbit oviducts, and the proportion of embryos that develop to the morula stage or beyond, 26% of the original group of zygotes would be candidates for transfer into recipient cows.     

Cleavage rates of diploid and tetraploid mouse embryos during the preimplantation period

Despite the fact that spontaneous tetraploidy is a rare phenomenon in mice, such embryos may be produced experimentally by a variety of means, though only a very limited degree of postimplantation development has been achieved. Despite this apparent limitation, much data on the rate of development of preimplantation tetraploid embryos has been published. However, the findings from these studies has often been conflicting. In the light of the recent successful achievement of advanced postimplantation tetraploid development in our laboratory, we decided it was an opportune time to re-evaluate the preimplantation development of these embryos in as near to optimal conditions as we could achieve. Three groups were studied, namely 1) control (diploid) embryos developing in vivo, 2) control (diploid) embryos that had been isolated at the 2-cell stage, briefly retained in culture, then transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant recipients, and 3) tetraploid embryos produced by electrofusion of blastomeres at the 2-cell stage, then transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant recipients. Embryos were isolated from females from each group at specific times after the HCG injection to induce ovulation. The total cell number of each embryo was established and the log mean values were plotted against time. From the gradients of the lines it was possible to establish that there was a significant difference between the cell doubling time of the transferred controls (group 2) compared to the in vivo controls (group 1) with cell doubling times of 15.86 +/- 1.45 h and 10.27 +/- 0.24 h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization of cow follicular oocytes, their incubation in rabbit oviduct and their transfer to the cow uterus

Cow embryos fertilized in vitro (1-8-cell) (n = 113) were transferred surgically to the ligated oviduct of pseudopregnant female rabbits (31 +/- 4 h after 75 i.u. hCG). Rabbits were killed 99 +/- 5 h later and 67 embryos were recovered: 45 (67%) had cleaved at least once, 15 had reached the morula stage and 2 blastocysts were obtained. Transfer of cleaved embryos (2-8-cell) led to a high recovery rate (84%) compared to 39% for one-cell embryos. Of the embryos incubated for more than 99 h in the rabbit oviduct, 41% were at the morula stage. Embryos incubated in vivo (n = 21) (8-cell to blastocyst) were transferred to the uterus of 14 synchronized recipient heifers by a surgical (N = 5) or a non-surgical (N = 9) procedure: 6 pregnancies resulted (4 from the non-surgical procedures). In addition, 27 (2-8-cell) cow embryos developed in vitro were transferred to the oviduct of synchronized heifers by a paralumbar surgical approach on a standing animal, but no pregnancies resulted. It is therefore concluded that (1) the rabbit oviduct can be used to obtain cow eggs at an embryonic stage sufficiently advanced to permit transfer to the uterus of a synchronized recipient; and (2) the pregnancy rate after in-vitro fertilization and incubation in the rabbit oviduct are similar to results with fertilization in vivo.     

Early embryonic development and in vitro culture of in vivo produced embryos in the farmed European polecat (Mustela putorius)

Early embryonic development and in vitro culture of in vivo produced embryos in the farmed European polecat (Mustela putorius) was investigated as a part of an ex situ conservation program of the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola), using the European polecat as a model species. The oestrus cycles of 34 yearling polecat females were monitored by visual examination of the vulval swelling and, to induce ovulation, the females were mated once daily on two consecutive days. Sixteen yearling males were used for mating. The females were humanely killed 3-14 days after the first mating and the uteri and oviducts were collected for embryo recovery. Uterine and oviductal flushings yielded a total number of 295 embryos, representing developmental stages from the 1-cell stage to large expanded and hatched blastocysts. On Day 3 after the first mating, only 1-16-cell stage embryos were recovered. Between Days 4 and 6 after the first mating, 1-16-cell stage embryos and morulae were found. The first blastocysts were recovered on Day 7 after the first mating. The first implanted blastocysts were detected on Day 11 after the first mating. A total number of 85 embryos were in vitro cultured after recovery. Blastocyst production rates for in vitro cultured 1-16-cell stage embryos and for morulae/compact morulae were 68 and 84%, respectively. For all cultured embryos, the hatching rate was 15%. The in vitro culture requirements for the preimplantation embryos of the farmed European polecat remain to be determined before further utilization of the technique.     

Synthetic microspheres transferred to the rat oviduct on day 1 of pregnancy mimic the transport of native ova

Microspheres of various materials and diameters were transferred microsurgically to the rat oviduct on Day 1 of pregnancy and autopsies were done at various times thereafter up to Day 10 to assess the recovery and segmental distribution of microspheres and eggs in the genital tract or the viability of embryos. The number and distribution of eggs in the treated and control sides after unilateral transfers were not different on Day 4 and 5 and the number of embryos implanted on Day 10 was not significantly affected after bilateral transfers. The segmental distribution of eggs and starch microspheres within the oviduct on Days 2, 3 or 4 showed that both are transported partly intermingled from ampulla to uterus. When microspheres of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), starch, dextran or dextran blue were transferred, their distribution in the genital tract in the morning of Day 5 showed that poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) and dextran microspheres stayed longer in the oviduct while starch and dextran blue microspheres were transported to the uterus at the same time as the eggs. Transfer of starch microspheres of 40-60 microns to one oviduct and 180-200 microns in diameter to the opposite oviduct showed that distribution on one side was nearly identical to that of the other side from Days 2 to 5. We conclude that the behaviour of synthetic surrogate ova in rats differs from that in rabbits. The rat oviduct does not change the rate of transport of native eggs following transfer of synthetic surrogate ova.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Possible expansion of "Window of Implantation" in pseudopregnant mice: time of implantation of embryos at different stages of development transferred into the same recipient

Blastocyst implantation and successful establishment of pregnancy require delicate interactions between the embryo and maternal environment. It is believed that the growth of transferred embryos of different ages is synchronized during preimplantation development and that such embryos are implanted in the uterus at the same time. To define the time of synchronization for developing embryos of different ages, embryos at two different stages of development were transferred separately into the oviducts of the same recipient. We then examined the subsequent development of the embryos at various time intervals after transfer. Pronucleus (PN) stage eggs were transferred separately to the right or left oviduct of recipients on Day 0, while eight-cell embryos (8C) were transferred to the other oviduct. For 8C, 5%, 63%, and 74% of transferred embryos were implanted in the uterus at 42, 66, and 90 h posttransfer, respectively. In contrast, none of the transferred PN was implanted until 90 h posttransfer. At 90 h posttransfer, 59% of the PN had successfully implanted. Histological examination revealed that developmental stage of the embryos in both groups synchronized around 162 h posttransfer, even though the implantation was accelerated in 8C compared with PN. Our results indicate that embryos of advanced stage transferred to the oviduct implant in the uterus in advance of younger embryos and that the uterine development is synchronized at the neural plate, presomite stage. Our results strongly suggest that uterine receptivity for implantation is expandable in pseudopregnant mice.     

Development of porcine embryos from the one-cell stage to blastocyst in mouse oviducts maintained in organ culture

Successful development of porcine embryos from the one-cell stage to the blastocyst stage has been accomplished using mouse oviducts in organ culture. One-cell embryos were transferred to mouse oviducts maintained in organ culture and were cultured for 6 days. Control embryos from each donor pig were cultured in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium. Thus control and experimental embryos obtained from the same individual pig could be directly compared. At the end of the culture period, all embryos were scored for the stage of development attained and stained to allow the cell number of each embryo to be counted. In medium alone, only 35.7% of the one-cell embryos reached the morula or blastocyst stage, whereas 78.1% of the one-cell embryos transferred to mouse oviducts reached the morula or blastocyst stage. Of those embryos reaching the morula or blastocyst stage, cell numbers were similar for the two treatments (medium alone vs. oviduct culture). The procedure described for mouse oviduct organ culture provides a simple method for culturing early-stage pig embryos to the morula or blastocyst stage prior to embryo transfer.