Abstract
Simple SummaryIn vitro embryo production using oocytes from prepubertal cattle and buffalo collected by laparoscopy can be used to produce embryos from genetically superior females. Following transfer of these embryos into adult recipient animals, multiple offspring can be produced from these elite animals in a very short timeframe, long before they reach sexual maturity, thereby reducing the generation interval and accelerating genetic gain. This review article summarizes recent advances in this technology, outlines the current limitations, and suggests possible avenues to further improve this emerging biotechnology.Laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in prepubertal cattle and buffalo accelerates genetic gain. This article reviews LOPU-IVEP technology in prepubertal Holstein Cattle and Mediterranean Water Buffalo. The recent expansion of genomic-assisted selection has renewed interest and demand for prepubertal LOPU-IVEP schemes; however, low blastocyst development rates has constrained its widespread implementation. Here, we present an overview of the current state of the technology, limitations that persist and suggest possible solutions to improve its efficiency, with a focus on gonadotropin stimulations strategies to prime oocytes prior to follicular aspiration, and IVEP procedures promoting growth factor metabolism and limiting oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Highlights
In vitro embryo production (IVEP) and embryo transfer (ET) technologies have had a momentous impact on livestock production, with their use growing substantially in recent years
No single factor can be attributed as the sole cause of this major milestone, improved media composition, the introduction of sexed semen, faster turnover compared to conventional multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET), and the ability to use semen from multiple bulls on oocytes from a single donor at the same time are all believed to be contributing factors [9]
A similar pattern was observed in adult buffalo, with oocytes originating from follicles < 3 mm in size resulting in a blastocyst rate of 2.4 ± 1.5% while oocytes originating from follicles > 8 mm in diameter resulted in a blastocyst rate of 16.9 ± 1.7% [99]
Summary
In vitro embryo production (IVEP) and embryo transfer (ET) technologies have had a momentous impact on livestock production, with their use growing substantially in recent years. In species that are too small for oocyte collection procedure was developed in the early 90s [10] Since it has been refined and adapted via OPU (e.g., sheep, goat, deer), a laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) procedure was for use in a wide range of both domestic and wild species [10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. Multiple studies have consistently shown that, large number of COCs can be recovered, poor embryo development rates result in few blastocysts from prepubertal-derived oocytes in many domestic livestock species including cattle [25,26], buffalo [27] goat [28,29], sheep [30,31], and pig [32,33]. The goals of this review are to outline the current state of the technology, identify research gaps and suggest possible future avenues of research
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