鸡X期胚盘细胞体外培养

为证实经遗传修饰的鸡X期胚盘细胞具有参与受体胚胎发育和形成嵌合体的能力,本研究将由鸡X期胚盘制成的细胞悬液与经脂质体包埋的抗鸡传染性支气管炎病毒基因重组质粒PGS1共孵育后,直接显微注入同期受体胚盘（140枚）;或对转染后供体细胞进行G418抗性筛选性后显微注入同期受体鸡胚盘（140枚）;或将供体细胞体外培养48h,再与脂质体-P^GSI复合物共孵育后显微注入同期受体鸡胚盘（190枚）,制备转基因嵌合体鸡,并应用PCR和RAPD方法,对鸡胚和雏鸡不同组织或血液中的DNA进行检测。结果表明：直接注射组孵化率（5.7%)显著（P＜0.01)高于G418筛选处理组（1.4%)和培养48h处理组（2.1%);G418筛选处理组不同胚龄鸡胚组织、器官中外源DNA的PCR检测阳性率均高于其它二个组。实验结果证明,体外培养48h并经遗传修饰的胚盘细胞仍然具有形成嵌合体的能力,利用早期胚盘细胞途径制备转基因鸡是可行的。     

鸡Ⅹ期胚盘细胞体外培养

为证实经遗传修饰的鸡X期胚盘细胞具有参与受体胚胎发育和形成嵌合体的能力 ,本研究将由鸡X期胚盘制成的细胞悬液与经脂质体包埋的抗鸡传染性支气管炎病毒基因重组质粒PGS1共孵育后 ,直接显微注入同期受体胚盘 (14 0枚 ) ;或对转染后供体细胞进行G418抗性筛选后显微注入同期受体鸡胚盘 (14 0枚 ) ;或将供体细胞体外培养 4 8h ,再与脂质体 PGS1复合物共孵育后显微注入同期受体鸡胚盘 (190枚 ) ,制备转基因嵌合体鸡 ,并应用PCR和RAPD方法 ,对鸡胚和雏鸡不同组织或血液中的DNA进行检测。结果表明 :直接注射组孵化率(5 7% )显著 (P <0 0 1)高于G418筛选处理组 (1 4 % )和培养 4 8h处理组 (2 1% ) ;G418筛选处理组不同胚龄鸡胚组织、器官中外源DNA的PCR检测阳性率均高于其它二个组。实验结果证明 ,体外培养 4 8h并经遗传修饰的胚盘细胞仍然具有形成嵌合体的能力 ,利用早期胚盘细胞途径制备转基因鸡是可行的。     

吗啡对鸡胚胎发育的影响

目的：研究吗啡对胎动、心率、孵化率、孵化时间、雏鸡体重等的影响。方法：以气室给药的方式给鸡胚注射吗啡,记录胎动、心率、孵化率、孵化时间、雏鸡体重。结果：吗啡可以缩短雏鸡的孵化时间,降低雏鸡的孵化率,并导致雏鸡出现运动障碍;20mg／kg吗啡剂量和12—16胚龄的给药时间,鸡胚孵化率最高,残疾率最低;吗啡导致胚胎心率加快,胎动减少（P〈0．05）。结论：吗啡对胚胎发育有损伤作用,损伤程度与吗啡剂量和给药时间有关。     

鱼类体细胞移核胚胎发育影响因素的探讨

将脱膜后的泥鳅 (Misgurnusanguillicaudatus)受精卵置于不同孵化液中孵化 ,结果表明 ,孵化液 1×Holtfreter中正常鱼苗和总鱼苗的孵化率最高 ,分别为 5 4 8%和 5 9 2 %。 1/ 2×Holtfreter、 1/ 10×Holtfreter、曝气冷开水和改变孵化液处理 ,正常鱼苗的孵化率差别不大 ,分别为 48 0 %、 49 6 %、 5 0 0 %和 48 8%。曝气冷开水畸形率最高 ,为 8 8%。PBS不适合用作孵化液。机械损伤对胚胎的孵化率无明显影响 (73 39%vs 75 70 % ) ,但对胚胎发育有明显的致畸作用 (8 0 6 %vs 0 )。以雌核发育鳙 (Aristichthysnobilis)尾鳍培养细胞作供体 ,泥鳅未受精卵作受体 ,微卫星标记分析表明 ,移核胚胎的核来源于供体核 ,受体卵中未除去的核被排斥。供体细胞培养代数严重影响移核胚胎的发育率。随着培养代数的增加 ,移核胚胎的发育率逐渐降低。继代核移植可提高移核胚胎的发育率 ,尤其是第 1次体细胞继代核移植 ,晚期囊胚的发育率急剧上升 (4 3 84%vs 7 6 9% ) ,说明继代核移植可促进受体卵对供体核的再程序化。泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅 (Paramisgurnusdabryanus)未受精卵作受体 ,其移核胚胎发育率无明显区别 (7 6 9%vs 7 0 2 % )。     

影响猪体细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的若干因素

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚达11．7％、孵化囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞组成的重构胚（P＜0．05）。我们研究了卵母细胞的采集方法,激活方法和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导至G0或G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33或44h,将卵丘细胞置于去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电泳冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6天,结果表明,卵 母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松弛素（CB）并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,能在体外发育至囊胚。     

慢病毒载体导入种蛋内鸡胚技术研究

种蛋内鸡胚含有潜在的胚胎干细胞(BCs)或原生殖细胞(PGCs),是目前主要的转基因鸡研究方法。采用绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因的pLenti6/v5-DEST-GFP慢病毒表达载体,白来航鸡与伊萨鸡种蛋,结合种蛋赤道面开窗专利技术,对含这两种细胞胚的转基因技术进行了比较研究:转染白来航鸡囊胚,孵化13天时,GFP基因的PCR检出率为64.7%,孵化率极低;转染孵化72h伊萨鸡胚血液循环中PGCs,实验蛋孵化率为35.0%,在出壳后死亡的3只小鸡肝脏中,GFP基因的PCR检出率为100%,存活的4只鸡中有3只在12月龄的血液样品中,经PCR扩增出了GFP基因;转染孵化72～79h白来航鸡胚PGCs,7批次实验的平均孵化率为21.1%,能在赤道面窗口注射胚的种蛋比率,以73～77h胚龄的最高,为75.0%～92.9%,注射病毒组出壳雏鸡血液DNA中,GFP基因PCR检出率为44.4%。两种方法比较,PGCs方法在实验蛋孵化率、胚定位在赤道面窗口率等方面有较强优势。因此为种蛋内胚细胞的转基因鸡技术研究提供了系统、可操作性强的方法。     

猪体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚率达到11．7％,囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞重构胚（P＜0．05）。本文还研究了卵母细胞的采集方法、激活程序和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导G0/G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33－44h,将卵丘细胞放至去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6d。研究表明,卵母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松驰素（CB）、激活程度并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,体外能发育至囊胚。     

供体细胞在鸡—麻鸭嵌合体胚胎中的发育

用微注射法将鸡的PGCs注入到麻鸭的胚盘下腔中,用鸡W染色体DNA探针通过原位杂交对供体细胞在嵌合体胚胎中的发育作了研究,54个胚胎各器官都有不同程度的嵌合,其中肝脏的嵌合率最高,性腺最低,胚盘细胞移植可制备鸡－麻鸭的体细胞和种系嵌合体。     

转基因DT40细胞导入早期鸡胚后的分布及绿色荧光蛋白表达的研究

目的为了研究经过基因修饰的体细胞导入到禽类胚胎以后,供体细胞及外源基因是否能在受体胚胎中成活并且外源基因是否可以长期表达。方法筛选得到稳定整合绿色荧光蛋白基因的鸡DT40细胞作为外源蛋白的运载工具,通过血管微注射的方法将其导入到于38.5℃温度条件下孵化65～70 h的鸡胚中,并将操作后的鸡胚在原孵化条件下继续孵化。在孵化的不同时期取移植了DT40细胞的嵌合体胚胎在荧光显微镜下观察荧光细胞的存活与分布情况。并通过PCR以及免疫组织化学方法检测供体细胞在受体中的位置以及绿色荧光蛋白的表达情况。结果荧光标记的DT40细胞可以存活于受体不同的组织器官中,包括：脑、心脏、肝脏等。导入胚胎的整合外源基因的DT40细胞可以存活到胚胎出雏之前,并且外源基因能够正常表达。结论可以通过此方法将外源基因导入到受体中,并使目的蛋白在受体胚胎中持续表达,为胚胎期导入外源蛋白诱导免疫耐受的研究以及将转基因细胞移植到动物体内生产目的蛋白的研究提供科学依据和技术平台。     

PGE2、PGF2α和Iloprost对小鼠2-细胞胚胎体外发育的影响

目的研究PGE2、PGF2。以及Hoprost（PGl2的稳定类似物）对小鼠2-细胞胚胎体外发育的影响。方法在含0．5％BSA的mCZB液中分别添加0、10^-4、10^-5和10^-6mol／L的PGE2,0、10^-4、10^-5和10^-6mol／L PGF2α以及0、1×10^-6、2×10^-6和4×10^-6mol/L Iloprost,观察小鼠2-细胞胚胎的体外发育,同时利用H33342染色进行囊胚和孵化囊胚的细胞核计数。结果添加PGE2、PGF2α以及Iloprost的各处理组2-细胞胚胎体外培养的囊胚率和孵化率均显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,但各处理组与对照组之间在囊胚或孵化胚胎的细胞数上差异不显著（P〉0．05）。结论培养液中添加这三种前列腺素均不利于小鼠2-细胞胚胎的体外发育,但不影响囊胚或孵化胚胎的细胞数。     

种蛋开窗技术及其对鸡胚发育影响的研究

种蛋开窗对禽胚实施操作的技术在转基因禽类、利用多能细胞保存禽类种质资源以及禽胚实验模型等领域的研究具有重要价值。以家鸡新产蛋(含有禽胚胎干细胞)为材料,研究出了种蛋开窗切块自动复位技术,并在此基础上以接近禽胚实施操作为目的,进行了不同封口方法、不同开窗位置和添加液体排除因开窗形成的空气泡等对种蛋孵化率影响的实验。结果表明:种蛋赤道面开窗不同封口方式对孵化率影响的差异不显著,最高孵化率可达到65%;赤道面开窗,通过添加液体排除空气泡的影响不会提高孵化率,空气泡的大小与孵化率没有明显相关性;种蛋气室端开窗(针刺透内壳膜操作胚胎)方式,比赤道面开窗方式的孵化率明显提高,两种方法能见胚率均在90%以上;采用以上技术对种蛋开窗、找胚和封口,制作效率在每人每小时30个以上。本文系统地研究和报道了种蛋开窗操作禽胚简单而实用的技术,有助于解决目前种蛋开窗技术复杂且孵化率低的困境。     

Rapid and improved method for windowing eggs accessing the stage X chicken embryo

The chick stage X blastoderm is routinely accessed through a small window in a freshly laid egg. However, windowing severely compromises embryo survival with hatch rates as low as a few percent. We previously reported a simple modification to the standard method that reduced introduction of air into the sealed egg and improved the hatchability to 32%. Here, we describe an even simpler and more rapid method for sealing a windowed egg using hot glue or paraffin in which the hatch rate increased to an average of 63% of the unwindowed control eggs. The primary reason for low hatchability can be attributed to air trapped within the egg during windowing and/or leakage during incubation, as shown by increased lethality by artificially introducing air into windowed and sealed eggs. Although the hatch rate was considerably improved, air can still enter the egg during incubation and is likely to account for less than 100% hatchability of the sealed eggs. The success of this new windowing method will facilitate high throughput for the production of transgenic birds and find use in developmental biology, toxicity testing, and avian disease research.     

鸡囊胚细胞嵌合体制作技术研究及其应用前景

家鸡X期囊胚细胞(BCs)嵌合体技术,既是利用转基因技术进行家鸡品种改良和凭借转基因家鸡生物反应器生产医用蛋白等研究领域的关键技术,也是利用BCs冻存家鸡和珍稀鸟类双亲种质资源实现鸟类品种资源多样性保护、利用和挽救珍稀濒危鸟类的重要途径。从家鸡BCs嵌合体制作技术的基本过程：(1) 羽色嵌合体家鸡模型的建立;(2) 囊胚的分离与消化;(3) 受体种蛋的致弱处理;(4) 受体种蛋的开窗（包括部位、方法及封口技术等）;(5) 供体细胞导入受体胚（显微注射或简易操作）;(6) 孵化（常规方法或换壳培养）等几个方面的研究进展、目前存在的问题以及研究方向等进行了系统阐述。Abstract: The technology of producing chicken chimeras using blastodermal cells is very important not only in the field of transgenic chicken bioreactor but also in searching for efficient ways to conserve avian genetic resource. The basic processes for producing chicken chimeras consist of: (1) Setting up the color model; (2) Separating and dissociating of donor embryos; (3) Compromising of the recipient embryos; (4) Windowing and recovering the recipient eggs; (5) Cells injecting; (6) Method of hatching. The progress, obstacles and prospects of producing chicken chimeras via BCs were discussed in this paper.     

Nonsurgical embryo transfer in the common marmoset monkey

Abstract: A technique for nonsurgical embryo transfer in common marmosets was developed. Transfers were either synchronous (ST) or asynchronous (AT). Synchronous transfers (embryo donor and the embryo recipient ovulated on the same day) were performed 5 to 8 days post-ovulation. Asynchronous transfers (embryo donor had ovulated at least 2 days before the embryo recipient) were performed when the recipient was 2 to 4 days post-ovulation (donor was 6 to 8 days post-ovulation). Four pregnancies from nine transfers (44%) were established by AT, and three pregnancies were carried to term. Only 1 of 11 transfers (9%) from ST resulted in a pregnancy, which was lost by Day 40 of gestation. Significantly more infants were born from AT (6 infants from 17 embryos; 35%) than from ST (0 infants from 22 embryos; 0%; p<0.005). This technique allows experimental analysis of primate postimplantation development and provides a tool for conservation of endangered Callithrichid species.     

Expression of exogenous genes in blastodermal cells of chicken in vitro

Chicken blastodermal cells (BCs) from stage X embryos produce both somatic and germline chimeras when injected into the subgerminal cavity of recipient embryos. Transfection of the donor cells in vitro could lead to the production of chimeras capable of transmitting the transgene to their offspring. The aim of this study was to transfer and express foreign genes under control of the ovalbumin promoter in the BCs. The results showed that luciferase activity in the BCs reached a plateau value with a 2.0:1.0 or 5.0:1.0 liposome-DNA ratio and using 1 microg of DNA. Under this same condition, no difference was found in relative activity between the pGL-control and pOVALUC plasmid. The expression of other exogenous genes (green fluorescent protein and interferon alpha2a) driven by the chicken ovalbumin promoter in cultured chicken blastodermal cells in vitro is possible by this assay. Hatchability of recipient embryos after injection of 1,500 or 800 transfected BCs was compared. The advantage of using a smaller number (800) of injected transfected BCs was that early embryonic mortality was reduced and resulted in higher (P<0.01) hatchability (24.5%) than in the case of 1,500 BCs injected.     

Germ-line chimera by lower-part blastoderm transplantation between diploid goldfish and triploid crucian carp

Germ-line chimerism was successfully induced by blastoderm transplantation from donor triploid crucian carp, which reproduces gynogenetically, to recipient diploid goldfish, which reproduces bisexually. Lower part of donor blastoderm including primordial germ cells (PGCs) was sandwiched between recipient blastoderm at the mid- to late-blastula stage. When donor grafts were prepared from intact embryos or ventralized ones by removing vegetal yolk hemisphere at the 1- to 2-cell stage, malformations including double axes were observed in the resultant chimeras transplanted with grafts from intact embryos at the hatching stage, while a few malformations in those from ventralized embryos. PGCs originated from donor grafts were observed around the gonadal anlage at 10 days post-fertilization in chimeras. When ploidy of erythrocytes and epidermal cells in chimeric fish was examined by flow-cytometry, no triploid cells were detected at 1- and 5-year-old chimeras. Three-year-old chimeric fish (n=5) laid eggs originated from the donor together with those from the recipient. The frequency of eggs from the donor crucian carp blastoderm varied from 3.1 to 89.3% between chimeras.     

Effect of embryo age and recipient asynchrony on pregnancy rates in a commercial equine embryo transfer program

In the present study, 809 uterine flushes and 454 embryo transfers performed in mares over a 4-yr interval were examined to evaluate the effects of: (1) the day of embryo collection on recovery rates; (2) the degree of synchrony between donor and recipient mares on pregnancy rates; (3) the recipient day post ovulation on pregnancy rates; and (4) the age of the embryo at recovery on pregnancy rates at 60 days. Uterine flushes were performed on Days 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 (Day 0 = ovulation) and embryos were transferred to recipients with degrees of synchrony varying between +1 to −6 (recipient ovulated 1 day before through 6 days after the donor). Recipient mares ranged from 2 to 8 days post ovulation. Embryo recovery rates were similar for flushes performed on Day 7 (61%), Day 8 (66%), Day 9 (59%), and Day 10 (56%), but the embryo recovery rate was lower (P < 0.03) for flushes performed on Day 6 (42%) compared with all other days. Pregnancy rates for various degrees of synchrony were as follows: +1 (71%), 0 (77%), −1 (68%), −2 (63%), −3 (66%), −4 (76%), −5 (61%), and −6 (27%). The −6 day of degree of synchrony had the lowest (P < 0.05) pregnancy rate compared with all other days, but there was no significant difference among +1 to −5 days. There was a lower (P < 0.05) pregnancy rate for embryos transferred to recipient mares on Day 2 (33%) compared with mares on Day 3 (66%), Day 4 (66%), Day 5 (62%), Day 6 (55%), Day 7 (58%), and Day 8 (56%). Pregnancy rate was higher (P < 0.05) for Day 7 (76%) embryos compared with Day 6 (50%), Day 8 (64%), and Day 9 (44%) embryos; Day 9 embryos resulted in lower (P < 0.05) pregnancy rates than Days 7 or 8 embryos. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that: (1) embryo recovery rates between Days 7 and 10 were similar and acceptable (e.g., 63% 488/771); (2) the degree of synchrony between donor and recipient mares does not need to be as restricted as previously reported in horses. Acceptable pregnancy rates (e.g., 70%, 99/142) were obtained even when recipient mares ovulated 4 to 5 days after the donors; (3) similar pregnancy rates were obtained when recipient mares received embryos within a large range of days post ovulation (Days 3 to 8); and (4) Day 7 embryos produced higher pregnancy rates when compared with Days 8 and 9 embryos. In clinical terms, the application of these new findings will be beneficial to large equine embryo transfer operations in producing more pregnancies per season.     

Factors affecting the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transplantation in the fish embryo

Procedures to improve somatic cell nuclear transplantation in fish were evaluated. We reported effects of nonirradiated recipient eggs, inactivated recipient eggs, different combinations between recipient eggs and donor cells, duration of serum starvation, generation number, and passage number of donor cells on developmental rates of nuclear transplant (NT) embryos. Exposure to 25,000 R of gamma-rays inactivated recipient eggs. Single nucleus of cultured, synchronized somatic cell from gynogenetic bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) was transplanted into nonirradiated or genetically inactivated unfertilized egg of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). There was no significant difference in developmental rate between nonirradiated and inactivated recipient eggs (27.27% vs. 25.71%, respectively). Chromosome count showed that 70.59% of NT embryos contained 48 chromosomes. It showed that most NT embryos came from donor nuclei of bighead carp, which was supported by microsatellite analysis of NT embryos. But 23.53% of NT embryos contained more than 48 chromosomes. It was presumed that those superfluous chromosomes came from nonirradiated recipient eggs. Besides, 5.88% of NT embryos were chimeras. Eggs of blunt-snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) and gibel carp were better recipient eggs than those of loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) (25% and 18.03% vs. 8.43%). Among different duration of serum starvation, developmental rate of NT embryos from somatic nuclei of three-day serum starvation was the highest, reaching 25.71% compared to 14.14% (control), 20% (five-day), and 21.95% (seven-day). Cultured donor cells of less passage facilitated reprogramming of NT embryos than those of more passage. Recloning might improve the developmental rate of NT embryos from the differentiated donor nuclei. Developmental rate of fourth generation was the highest (54.83%) and the lowest for first generation (14.14%) compared to second generation (38.96%) and third generation (53.01%).     

Non-surgical embryo transfer in cattle embryo-recipient interactions

Results from 2286 non-surgical embryo transfers were analyzed to find relationships between embryo factors and recipient factors that affect pregnancy. Pregnancy rates from morulae (44%) and advanced morulae (53%) were reduced (P < .05) when compared to early blastocysts (65%), blastocysts (65%), blastocysts (66%) and advanced blastocysts (64%). Pregnancy rates from good quality Grade 1 embryos (64%) were higher (P < .05) than from Grade 2 (45%) or Grade 3 (33%) embryos. Pregnancy rates related to synchronization of estrus between donor and recipients are: -36 hrs. (before donor) (59%), -24 hrs. (61%), -12 hrs. (68%), 0 hr. (59%), +12 hrs. (61%), +24 hrs. (58%) and +36 hrs. (41%). Differences in pregnancy rate were significant for -12 hrs. (P < .01) and +36 hrs. (P < .01) recipients. Overall pregnancy rates in recipients on day 5 (48%), 5 1/2 (50%) and 6 (53%) were reduced (P < .02) when compared to day 6 1/2 (62%), 7 (63%), and 7 1/2 (66%) and 8 (62%). Pregnancy rates within each embryo stage of development were not related to synchronization with the donor cow (-36 hrs. to +36 hrs.) or the day of the recipient cycle (day 5 to 8).     

Conditions of embryonic development in the ewe after modification of the hormone balance of the dam

Embryos were recovered in vivo from donor ewes at day 4 and transferred into superovulated unmated recipient ewes given an injection of PMSG (1600 IU) at day 13.5 of the preceding cycle. The recipient ewes were slaughtered at either 5 (group 1) or 8 (group 2) days after transfer. The recovered blastocysts were transferred back into the original donor ewes and pregnancy was allowed to continue until term. In order to observe the effect of the two transfers on blastocyst viability, the recipient ewes were not superovulated in group 3. Only one transfer was carried out at day 4 in group 4, and then pregnancy was allowed to continue in the superovulated recipient ewes.From day 3 to day 8, 12 or 20 (groups 1, 2 + 3 and 4, respectively), the peripheral blood of recipient ewes was sampled once a day for progesterone assay and four times a day for estradiol-17β assay.At 9 or 12 days, 50, 62 and 68% of the transferred embryos were recovered in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These rates were not statistically different from the pregnancy rate in group 4 (64%). After the second transfer, 43, 54 and 40% of the blastocysts developed into lambs (groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively). There was no statistical difference between these results. However, as we noted in previous studies, in spite of the changes in the uterine medium caused by superovulation and which accelerated blastocyst development, the uterus of superovulated ewes could assume pregnancy.The first transfer decreased the number of pregnant ewes to 65% and the second transfer lowered the number of blastocysts giving lambs to 50%. The level of progesterone varied considerably in recipient ewes giving lambs. When the level of progesterone was low at D4, one embryonic mortality was recorded. The level of estradiol-17β showed large variations and seemed to have no relation to blastocyst survival.