LAPAROSCOPIC TRANSFER OF OVINE AND CERVINE EMBRYOS USING THE TRANSPICTECHNIQUE

A transpic technique was developed to transfer embryos to 352 sheep an d 4 deer recipients using a laparoscope, a modified pair of Allis forc eps and a modified Cassou aspic normally used for laparoscopic uterine insemination. The overall proportion of uncomplicated transfers in Ex periment 1 in 216 recipient ewes was 90.7% (range between groups 80 to 100%), 3.7% of the transfers were presumed to be loss of embryos duri ng expulsion from the transpic, and 5.6% were apparent transfers into the uterine wall. In Experiment 2, 83% of transfers into 136 ewe recip ients were uncomplicated, 5% were presumed to be loss of embryos durin g expulsion, 1% was apparent transfer into the uterine wall, and 11% i nvolved 2 attempts at transfer. Only 34% of 116 recipients receiving l ow-quality frozen-thawed embryos were pregnant and 24% of the 226 embr yos survived to term. In contrast, high pregnancy rates (>80%) and emb ryo survival rates (>70%) were achieved following uncomplicated and tw ice attempted transfers of fresh embryos. Pregnancy rates and embryo s urvival fates were low (<2%) following the presumed loss of embryos du ring expulsion and apparent transfers into the uterine wall. All 4 dee r transfers were uncomplicated and 2/2 good-quality embryos survived t o term compared with 0/2 low-medium quality embryos. The transpic tech nique is a moderately invasive technique which permits fast (15 to 20/ h) and reliable transfer of embryos in small ruminants. With appropria te care, nearly all of the embryos can be correctly placed in the uter us, and high pregnancy rates and embryo survival rates can be achieved using this technique.