[In vitro fertilization and embryo transfers in non human primates (author's transl)].

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfers have been considered recently as a potential therapeutic approach for infertile women having irreparable tubal failure. This procedure includes aspiration of the preovulatory follicle for oocyte recovery, in vitro fertilization using capacitated sperm, embryo development in culture, and ultimately embryo transfer into the uterine lumen. Despite the increasing number of attempts in humans by recently formed medical teams in several countries, the overall results are very limited and the reasons for so many failures are not clearly identified. In the present paper are reviewed the results obtained in the development of an experimental model among non human primates. It is likely that only the detailed analysis of each step of the procedure, using this model, will clarify some of the problems encountered, and allow for improvements of further attempts in humans.