Effect of ovarian cystic or haemorrhagic follicles on embryo recovery and survival after transfer in hCG-ovulated rabbits.
The relationship between the presence of cystic and/or haemorrhagic follicles in both donor and recipient does and survival at birth of frozen-thawed embryos (778 embryos transferred) from 3 selected rabbit strains (NZ: New Zealand white; SY and SB: synthetic breeds) were studied. Donor does (SY:108; NZ:99; SB:96) were mated and treated with 25 IU of hCG. Only morphologically normal oviductal morulae (64-66 h) were frozen. Frozen-thawed embryos from each of the 90 donor does were transferred into the oviducts of synchronized recipient does of the same strain 48 h after injection of 25 IU of hCG (SY:31; NZ:28; SB:31). The frequency of follicular anomalies (36 and 43%) was high in both donor and recipient does, respectively, and it was not affected by strain or parity. The follicular anomalies had a negative effect on the percentage of embryos recovered in the oviduct (70 vs 77%) but not on the percentage of recovered embryos catalogued as morphologically normal (97%). The absence of follicular anomalies in recipient does had a significantly favourable effect on the pregnancy rate (63 vs 18%; P less than 0.05) and consequently on embryo survival rate at birth (26 vs 7%; P less than 0.01).
García-Ximénez
F
F
Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Spain.
Vicente
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005328:Fetal Viability; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011817:Rabbits
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin