Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
Biol Reprod. 2011 Feb;84(2):363-8. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.087312. Epub 2010 Oct 6.
The assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, and cryopreservation of gametes have contributed considerably to the development of biomedical sciences in addition to improving infertility treatments in humans as well as the breeding of domestic animals. However, ARTs used in canine species have strictly limited utility when compared with other mammalian species, including humans. Although successful somatic cell cloning has been reported, artificial insemination by frozen semen to date is only available for the improved breeding and reproduction for companion and working dogs as well as guide dogs for the blind. We describe here the successful cryopreservation of embryos and subsequent embryo transfer in dogs. Canine embryos were collected from excised reproductive organs after artificial insemination and subsequently cryopreserved by a vitrification method. When the 4-cell to morula stage of cryopreserved embryos were nonsurgically transferred into the uteri of nine recipient bitches using a cystoscope, five recipients became pregnant and four of them delivered a total of seven pups. The cryopreservation of embryos in canine species will facilitate the transportation and storage of genetic materials and will aid in the elimination of vertically transmitted diseases in dogs. In addition, this technique will contribute to the improved breeding of companion and working dogs such as guide dogs, drug-detecting dogs, and quarantine dogs.
辅助生殖技术（ARTs），如体外受精、胚胎移植和配子的冷冻保存，除了改善人类的不孕治疗以及家畜的繁殖外，还极大地促进了生物医学科学的发展。然而，与包括人类在内的其他哺乳动物相比，犬类的 ARTs 应用具有严格的局限性。虽然已经成功报道了体细胞克隆，但迄今为止，只有通过冷冻精液进行人工授精才能用于改善伴侣犬和工作犬以及导盲犬的繁殖和繁殖。我们在这里描述了犬胚胎的成功冷冻保存和随后的胚胎移植。犬胚胎是从人工授精切除的生殖器官中收集的，然后通过玻璃化方法冷冻保存。当使用膀胱镜将冷冻保存的胚胎从 4 细胞到桑椹胚阶段非手术转移到 9 只受体母犬的子宫中时，5 只受体怀孕，其中 4 只总共产下 7 只幼犬。犬胚胎的冷冻保存将促进遗传物质的运输和储存，并有助于消除犬类垂直传播的疾病。此外，这项技术将有助于改善伴侣犬和工作犬的繁殖，如导盲犬、缉毒犬和检疫犬。
