title: Survival of equine embryos transferred to normal and subfertile mares.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that an abnormal uterine environment was a cause of early embryonic loss in subfertile mares, morphologically normal embryos were transferred to normal mares (n = 20) and subfertile mares (n = 20), and embryo survival rates were compared. Embryos were recovered nonsurgically at Days 7 to 8 postovulation and transferred surgically to normal and subfertile mares that had ovulated on the same day or within 2 d after a donor. Survival of transferred embryos was monitored by ultrasonography of the recipient mare's uterus from Day 9 through Day 28 postovulation. There were no significant differences (P > 0.5) in the embryo survival rates at Day 12 (11 20 vs 9 20 ) or Day 28 (10 20 vs 8 20 ) for normal or subfertile mares, respectively. The uterine environment of subfertile mares was apparently adequate to support the development of transferred embryos from Days 7 or 8 through Day 28 postovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hillman
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Woods