title: First live offspring born in superovulated sika deer (Cervus nippon) after embryo vitrification.
abstract: The rapid growth in sika deer (Cervus nippon) farming and interest in their conservation is an impetus for development of embryo transfer (ET) procedures. However, a paucity of research has prevented widespread application of ET in this species. The objective of the present study was to establish a multiple ovulation and ET procedure with both fresh and vitrified embryos in sika deer. Multiparous weaned hinds (N = 18) were used as embryo donors during the reproductive season of 2008 at a local breeding farm in China. Estrus was synchronized in donors and recipients (N = 38) by inserting a controlled internal drug release for 12 days (insertion = Day 0). Superovulation was induced with a total of 320 mg of NIH-FSH-P1 (Folltropin-V; Bioniche, Belleville, ON, Canada) given as 40 mg im every 12 h from the afternoon of Day 9 to the morning of Day 13. After estrus was detected, donors were artificially inseminated using a transcervical technique. The embryo recovery rate was 76.8% (63/82), including 1.6% (1/63), 77.8% (49/63), and 1.6% (1/63) blastocysts, morula, and eight-cell embryos, respectively. After transfer of fresh and vitrified embryos, pregnancy rates were 85.7% and 61.6% and birth rates were 64.3% and 53.9% (P > 0.05). In conclusion, we developed a satisfactory multiple ovulation and ET procedure in farmed sika deer using vitrified embryos.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: W Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: X Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002681:China; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000662:veterinary; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D013480:Superovulation