SIGNIFICANT advances have been made in equine assisted reproductive techniques over the past decade, one of the most notable being the increasingly popular intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) following ovum pick-up (OPU).
WHAT IS OPU/ICSI?
OPU is the first step in the process and is the procedure by which oocytes (eggs) are collected from the ovary of the donor mare. The oocytes are shipped to a specialist lab where ICSI is performed.
ICSI is an advanced form of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), whereby a single sperm is injected into a mature oocyte, which is then cultured over a period of seven to nine days and may go on to develop into an embryo. The resultant embryos can be frozen and then thawed at a later date and transferred into recipient mares.
THE PROCEDURE
DETAILED preparation of the mare is essential to maximise success. The mare is sedated and given multimodal pain relief, antibiotics and an intestinal relaxant. A urinary catheter is placed to ensure that the bladder is empty.
During the OPU procedure, the veterinarian locates the ovary via the rectum and positions it carefully. A specialised vaginal ultrasound probe with a needle guide is inserted into the mare’s vagina. The ovary is retracted carefully and held adjacent to the vaginal probe, separated only from it by the vaginal wall. The ovary can now be fully visualised.
The follicles (containing the oocytes) are then individually punctured, drained, scraped and flushed multiple times with the help of a long needle attached to the vaginal probe.
The retrieved follicular fluid is taken to the in-house laboratory to be filtered and examined under a microscope for the presence of oocytes. The oocytes are then transported to one of several specialist laboratories in mainland Europe.
Further maturation of the oocytes, the ICSI procedure and the development of the embryos all take place there.
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin August 29, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin August 29, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
