Abstract
Embryos and offspring of a pre-determined sex have been produced in pigs using AI and IVF with unfrozen sperm, and after surgical insemination with sex-sorted frozen–thawed sperm. The aims of this study were to demonstrate that sex-sorted frozen–thawed boar sperm could be incorporated into pig IVF for the production of embryos of a pre-determined sex and that these embryos could be successfully non-surgically transferred. Oocytes were matured in vitro, fertilised with either unsorted or sex-sorted frozen–thawed sperm and cultured until the eight-cell stage. These embryos were then transferred to recipients ( n = 7) non-surgically ( n = 70 embryos per sow). Oocyte cleavage was similar between sex-sorted (1538/5044; 30.5%) and unsorted (216/756; 28.6%) frozen–thawed sperm, and PCR sex-determination of the embryos confirmed that they were of the predicted sex ( n = 16). Delayed return to oestrus (>23 days) was observed in five recipient sows (71.4%). Fetal sacs were observed by transcutaneous ultrasound on Day 18 in one of these sows. Pre-sexed porcine IVP embryos can be successfully produced using sex-sorted frozen–thawed boar sperm, and these embryos are capable of initiating pregnancies when transferred to recipients. However, further refinement of porcine ET protocols are required to enable development to term.
Published Version
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