Superovulation and laparoscopic embryo transfer in Mohair and Saanen goats

Results of experiments studying superovulation, laparoscopic and endoscopic embryo recovery, cryopreservation, and laparoscopic embryo transfer in goa t are reviewed and analyzed in this paper. Thirty on-year, 25 two-year-old Mohair goats, and 28 Saanen white short-horned goats (various age) were cho sen for superovulation treatment in reproductive season. Superovulation was stimulated by intravaginal sponges Intervet (40 mg Norgestomet, 14 days) a nd by administration of pFSH (6 doses. 400 I.U. in total). A selected buck was used for hand mating of donors in heat period. Embryos were recovered o n Day 6 post 1st mating by a surgical procedure (one-year Mohair goats) and by the laparoscopic method (the other donors). Routine embryologic procedu res were used for isolation and classification of collected embryos. In one -year Mohair goats, 8.8 ova (4.2 from the right uterine horn, 4.6 from the left one) and 7.5 transferable embryos (3.4 and 4.1 resp., the remaining on es were classified as unfertilized oocytes, P > 0.05) were recovered on ave rage. In two-year Mohair goats, 8.8 ova (93.6%, 4.2 and 4.6 from the right horn and the left horn), 7.5 transferable embryos (3.4 and 4.1 reap., the r emaining ones classified as unfertilized oocytes) were collected on average . Rate of transferable embryos/recovered ova amounted to 85.3%. In Saanen g oats, 17.7 ova (104.1%, 8.5 and 9.2 ova resp.) and 8.3 transferable embryos (4.0 and 4.3 resp., the remaining ones being unfertilized oocytes) were re covered on average. Rate of transferable embryos amounted to 46.0%. Transfe r of embryos; preserved by the routine protocol (0.3 degrees C per min in 1 0% glycerol) was successful in 22.2% (4/18) recipients (ET in season) and i n 28.5% (2/7) recipients (ET out of season); the mentioned rates are signif icantly lower (P < 0.05) than rates found in other experimental groups. Tra nsfer of embryos preserved by the routine procedure in 1.5 M ethylene glyco l was successful in 79.4% (27/34) recipients (ET in season) and in 50.0% (8 /16, P < 0.01) recipients (ET out of season). Transfer of embryos vitrified in medium composed of 30% (v/v) glycerol, 20% PCS, 50% 2 M sucrose solutio n in tridistilled water resulted in 60.0 % (3/5) and 8.3% (1/12, P < 0.05) pregnancy rate.