182 LAPAROSCOPIC EMBRYO TRANSFER IN KOREAN BLACK GOATS

Abstract

In this study, laparoscopic embryo transfer (ET) was conducted to overcome the disadvantages of laparotomic ET including invasiveness, adhesions and duration of surgery in Korean black goats (Capra hircus aegagrus). Transferred transgenic embryos were produced by DNA pronuclear microinjection of in vivo derived zygotes. Recipient goats were synchronized in estrus by using an intravaginal progesterone device CIDR^® for 13 days and injection of 400 IU PMSG 48 hrs before CIDR^® removal. Embryos were transferred on day 4 after CIDR^® removal. Recipient goats were starved for 48 hrs and suspended head down in an operating table at an angle of 45° to the horizontal under general anesthesia. A Veress needle (Vomed, Tuttlingen, Germany) was inserted through the abdominal wall to make a pneumoperitoneum. After obtaining sufficient pneumoperitoneum, a 5-mm laparoscope and grasping forceps (MGB, Berlin, Germany) were inserted through the 5-mm trocar sleeves. After investigation of the ovaries, uterine horns and oviducts, embryos in a polyethylene tube (SP 65, Nastume, Tokyo, Japan) were transferred into the oviduct via the infundibulum in 76 recipients. To compare the pregnancy rates, laparotomic ET was also conducted in 21 recipients. In both groups, two microinjected embryos were transferred per recipient. Pregnancy of the recipient goats was examined by ultrasound on day 30 after embryo transfer. Pregnancy rates of laparoscopic ET were significantly higher than those of laparotomic ET (46.1% v. 28.6%; P < 0.05). Our results suggest that laparoscopic ET is a highly efficient method for the transfer of goat embryos.