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New approaches to increasing oocyte yield from ruminants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

E. E. Telfer ,
R. Webb ,
R. M. Moor  and
R. G. Gosden
E. E. Telfer
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, School of Agriculture, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
R. Webb
Affiliation:
Division of Agriculture and Horticulture, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD
R. M. Moor
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Protein Function, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT
R. G. Gosden
Affiliation:
Centre for Reproduction, Growth and Development, Research School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9NS
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Abstract

Artificial insemination, superovulation and embryo transfer have had beneficial impacts on animal production but a limiting factor to realizing the full potential of these techniques and of other reproductive technologies is the availability of fertile oocytes. To overcome this problem, methods for maturing oocytes in vitro (IVM) have been developed. The production of bovine embryos by IVM is in commercial use but the rate of success and quality of embryos is low. The lack of success may be due to the quality of oocytes that are being matured and it would be preferable to utilize the abundant source of immature oocytes from preantral and primordial follicles by developing systems for in vitro growth (IVG). Several culture systems that utilize early growing follicles as a source of oocytes have been developed for laboratory species and these have been successful in producing live young. IVG in association with IVM and cryopreservation have the potential to maximize the genetic potential of high genetic merit females and shorten generation intervals. This paper presents the current status of technology for the in vitro growth and development of immature oocytes, in vitro maturation and cryopreservation of germ cells in domestic ruminants.

Keywords

cryopreservationfolliclesoocytesin vitro culture
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 2 , March 1999 , pp. 285 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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