Comparation of Foetal Growth in Natural Mated and Vitrified/Warmed Ovine Embryos by Ultrasonographic Measurements

Abstract

Ultrasonography has become the method of choice for monitoring gestation in veterinary obstetric. We provided a chronological description of the development of the ovine conceptus between day 30 and 100 , based on 3 different ultrasonographic morphometric foetal parameters: CRL (Crown-rump length), th th BPD (Biparietal diameter) and TL (Tibia length) and compared these data with ones registered during foetal growth of vitrified/warmed IVP embryos transferred into recipients ewes. Our results showed a regular increasing of the CRL and BPD whereas TL showed a regular increasing trend from day 54 to 89 , when it th th starts a faster raise until 100 day. No significant differences were observed between the parameters of NM th (natural mating) group and V/W (Vitrified/Warmed embryos) group. On the other hand we could highlight an increase of the gestation period in the vitrified/warmed group and the absence of spontaneous lambing in 35%. Newborns derived after transfer of IVP vitrified embryos did not show any macroscopical alterations as well as the control group.