Embryo Transfer as an Assisted Reproductive Technology in Farm Animals

Authors: Diah Tri Widayati

Abstract:

Various assisted reproductive techniques have been developed and refined to obtain a large number of offspring from genetically superior animals or obtain offspring from infertile (or subfertile) animals. The embryo transfer is one assisted reproductive technique developed well, aimed at increased productivity of selected females, disease control, importation and exportation of livestock, rapid screening of AI sires for genetically recessive characteristics, treatment or circumvention of certain types of infertility. Embryo transfer also is a useful research tool for evaluating fetal and maternal interactions. This technique has been applied to nearly every species of domestic animal and many species of wildlife and exotic animals, including humans and non-human primates. The successful of embryo transfers have been limited to within-animal, homologous replacement of the embryos. There are several examples of interspecific and intergeneric embryo transfers in which embryos implanted but did not develop to term: sheep and goat, mouse and rat. An immunological rejections and placental incompatibility between the embryo and the surrogate mother appear to restrict interspecific embryo transfer/interspecific pregnancy. Recently, preimplantation embryo manipulation procedures have been applied, such as technique of inner cell mass transfer. This technique will possible to overcome the reproductive barrier interspecific embryo transfer/interspecific pregnancy, if there is a protective mechanism which prevents recognition of the foreign fetus by the mother of the other species

Keywords: Embryo Transfer, Assisted Reproductive Techology, Intraspesific-Interspesific Pregnancy, Inner cell mass.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1061796

References:

[1] I. Gordon, "Laboratory Production of Cattle Embryos," Biotechnology in Agriculture Series II. Wallingford: CAB International, 1994, pp. 17- 18.
[2] J.F. Hasler, "Current status an potential of reproductive technology," J. Dairy Science 74 (Suppl. 1) pp. 197, 1991.
[3] J. Ruane and C. Smith, "The genetic response possible in dairy cattle improvement by setting up a multipleovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) nucleus scheme," Genet. Selec. Evol., 21: pp. 169-183, 1989..
[4] M. Thibier, "More than half a million bovine embryos transferred in 2002: a report of the International Embryo Transfer Society Data Retrieval Committee," IETS Newsletter, 21(4): p. 12-19, 2003.
[5] G.B. Anderson, "Interspecific pregnancy: barriers and prospects," Biol Reprod, 38(1): p. 1-15., 1988.
[6] C.E. Adams, "Egg transfer in carnivores and rodent, between species, and to ectopic sites," Mammalian Egg Transfer, ed. C.E. Adams. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1982, pp. 49-61.
[7] A. Fernández-Arias, J.L. Alabart, J. Folch, and J.F. Beckers, "Interspecies pregnancy of Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) fetus in domestic goat (Capra hircus) recipients induces abnormally high plasmatic levels of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein," Theriogenology, 51(8): p. 1419-1430, 1999.
[8] B.A. Croy, J. Rossant, and D.A. Clark, "Histological and immunological studies of post implantation death of Mus caroli embryos in the Mus musculus uterus," J Reprod Immunol, 4(5): p. 277-293, 1982.
[9] W.I. Frels, J. Rossant, and V.M. Chapman, "Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the viability of Mus caroli x M. musculus hybrid embryos," J Reprod Fertil, 59(2): p. 387-392, 1980.
[10] S. Tachi and C. Tachi, "Ultrastructural studies on maternal-embryonic cell interaction during experimentally induced implantation of rat blastocysts to the endometrium of the mouse," Dev Biol, 68(1): p. 203- 223, 1979.
[11] W.R. Allen, "Embryo transfer in the Horse, in Mammalian Egg Transfer," A. C.E., Editor. CRC Press: Boca Raton, Florida, 1982, pp. 135-154.
[12] W.R. Allen, J. Kydd, M.S. Boyle, and D.F. Antczak, "Between-species transfer of horse and donkey embryos: a valuable research tool," Equine Vet J (Suppl.), 3: p. 53-62, 1985.
[13] B.C. Buckrell, C.J Gartley, K.G. Mehren, G.J. Crawshaw, W.H. Johnson, I.K. Barker, J. Balke, C. Coghill, J.R. Challis, and K.L. Goodrowe, "Failure to maintain interspecific pregnancy after transfer of Dall's sheep embryos to domestic ewes," J Reprod Fertil, 90(2): p. 387- 394, 1990.
[14] D.T. Widayati, Y. Ohmori, T. Wakita, and K. Fukuta, "Development of transferred xenogeneic vole embryos in mouse uteri," J Animal Science, 74(4): p. 261-267, 2003.
[15] D.T. Widayati, Y. Ohmori, and K. Fukuta, "Distribution patterns of immunocompetent cells in the pregnant mouse uteri carrying allogeneic mouse and xenogeneic vole embryos," J Anat, 205(1): p. 45-55, 2004.
[16] C.E. Pope, "Embryo technology in conservation efforts for endangered felids," Theriogenology, 53(1): p. 163-74, 2000.
[17] B.A. Croy, P. Gambel, J. Rossant, and T.G Wegmann, "Characterization of murine decidual natural killer (NK) cells and their relevance to the success of pregnancy," Cell Immunol, 93(2): p. 315-326, 1985.
[18] J. Rossant, B.A. Croy, D.A. Clark, and V.M. Chapman, "Interspecific hybrids and chimeras in mice," J Exp Zool, 228(2): p. 223-233, 1983.
[19] J. Rossant, V.M. Mauro, and B.A. Croy, "Importance of trophoblast genotype for survival of interspecific murine chimaeras," J Embryol Exp Morphol, 69: p. 141-149, 1982.
[20] D.A. Clark, B.A. Croy, J. Rossant, and G.I. Chaouat, "Immune presensitization and local intrauterine defences as determinants of success or failure of murine interspecies pregnancies," J Reprod Fertil, 77(2): p. 633-643, 1986.
[21] P.M. Summers, A. M. Shephard, J.K. Hodges, J. Kydd, M.S. Boyle, and W.R. Allen, "Horses (Equus przewalskii) and Grant's zebra (E. burchelli) to domestic mares (E. caballus)," J Reprod Fertil, 80(1): p. 13- 20, 1987.
[22] W.R. Allen, and R.V. Short, "Interspecific and extraspecific pregnancies in equids: anything goes," J Hered, 88(5): p. 384-392, 1997.
[23] D.F. Antczak, and W.R. Allen, "Invasive trophoblast in the genus Equus," Ann Immunol, 135D(3): p. 325-31, 1984.
[24] B.L. Dresser, "Birth of bongo antelope (Tragelaphus euryceros) to eland antelope (Tragelaphus oryx) and cryopreservation of bongo embryos," Theriogenology, 23(1): p. 190, 1985.
[25] J.L. Hancock, P.T. McGovern , and J.T. Stamp, "Failure of gestation of goat x sheep hybrids in goats and sheep," J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 3: p. 29- 36, 1968.
[26] J. Dent, P.T. McGovern, and J.L. Hancock, "Immunological implications of ultrastructural studies of goat X sheep hybrid placentae," Nature, 231(5298): p. 116-117, 1971.
[27] C.B. Fehilly, S.M. Willadsen, and E.M. Tucker, "Interspecific chimaerism between sheep and goat," Nature, 307(5952): p. 634-636, 1984.
[28] S. Meinecke-Tillmann, and B. Meinecke, "Experimental chimaeras-- removal of reproductive barrier between sheep and goat," Nature, 307(5952): p. 637-638, 1984.
[29] J. Rossant, and W.I. Frels, "Interspecific chimeras in mammals: successful production of live chimeras between Mus musculus and Mus caroli," Science, 208(4442): p. 419-421, 1980.
[30] Widayati, D.T., N Inoue, Y Ohmori, K Fukuta, A "Study of Changes in Uterine Leucocytes During Early Pregnancy in the Mouse-vole Interspesific pregnancies," Chinese Comparative Medicine, 18(9): p. 1- 6, 2008.