PREGNANCY IN CATTLE AFTER TRANSFER OF BISECTED BLASTOCYSTS OBTAINED FROM IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION OF OOCYTES MATURED IN-VITRO

Bovine blastocysts were obtained by in-vitro culture of embryos derived from in-vitro fertilization of oocytes matured in-vitro. These blastocysts and blastocysts from inseminated donors were bisected by a simple method (without a holding pipette) using a microblade operated by a micromanipulator. A pair of demi-embryos was transferred nonsurgically into each uterine horn of a recipient cow 6 or 8 days after estrus. Pregnancy resulted from the third transfer. Ultrasound examination done 52 days after estrus (46 days after transfer) confirmed the presence of at least one fetus in the each uterine horn. This is the first report to show the viability of bisected bovine blastocysts obtained from in-vitro culture of embryos derived from in-vitro fertilization of oocytes matured in-vitro. In addition, a simple method to bisect bovine embryos is described.