Laparoscopic Transabdominal Transfer of Blastocysts in Korean Black Goats

Abstract

As a part of the effort to improve post-transfer survival rate of embryos in Korean black goats, a technique for laparoscopic uterine transfer of blastocysts was carried out. A total of 26 transferrable embryos (morula to expanded blastocysts) were transferred to 13 recipient goats via transabdominal laparoscopic method. In consequence of our hormone protocol, 65% of the recipients (13/20) were found to have synchronized estrus. After confirmation of corpus luteum in each recipient goat, a Babcock laparoscopic forceps was inserted into the lower abdominal cavity to hold a uterine horn and fasten it near the peritoneum without causing injury. Then 7.5cm long 16G IV catheter was inserted directly into the uterine lumen through the abdominal wall. After removal of the stylet of the IV catheter, the embryo transfer tube (identical in size to the stylet and loaded with blastocysts) was inserted into the uterine lumen through the catheter to unload the embryos. Of the 13 estrus synchronized recipients, 9 were transferred blastocysts and 4 were transferred molurae (2 embryos in each recipient) in uterine ipsilateral to the ovary with corpus luteum. Four of the 9 recipients which blastocysts were transferred using this method has been confirmed pregnant (44.4% pregnancy rate).

Keywords

• laparoscopic
• transabdominal transfer
• blastocyst
• korean black goat