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Viability of Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Biopsied Bovine Embryos

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 35, pages 217–222 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Bovine embryos were biopsied using a simplified splitting technique and frozen-thawed according to a standard method with glycerol as cryoprotectant. The viability of fresh and frozen-thawed biopsied and intact embryos were evaluated after in vitro culture, by means of fluorescence test or following transfer to recipients. The survival rates after in vitro culture of fresh intact and biopsied embryos and of frozen-thawed intact and zona free embryos were not significantly different (70%, 60%, 68% and 52%, respectively), but significantly reduced for bipsied frozen-thawed embryos (16%) (p≤0.05). The pregnancy results after transfer of biopsied frozen-thawed embryos were also significantly lower (8%) compared to fresh biopsied embryos (39%) (p≤0.05). Both intact and biopsied embryos fluoresced after incubation with diacetylfluorescin but with higher intensity for the intact embryos. It is suggested that the reduced survivability for the frozen-thawed biopsied embryos might be caused by combined effects of the loss of the zona pellucida and the reduction of cells as a result of the simplified biopsy technique. It is concluded that improved biopsy and/or freezing techniques must be used if biopsied embryos have to be frozen.

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Acknowledgments

This work received financial support from the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and from the Swedish Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swedish Association for Livestock Breeding and Production, Eskilstuna, Sweden

    H. Gustafsson

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ü. Jaakma & M. Shamsuddin

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  1. H. Gustafsson
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  2. Ü. Jaakma
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  3. M. Shamsuddin
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Gustafsson, H., Jaakma, Ü. & Shamsuddin, M. Viability of Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Biopsied Bovine Embryos. Acta Vet Scand 35, 217–222 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548326

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548326

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147