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a Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269
b Genzyme Transgenic Corporation, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701-9322
Juvenile calf oocytes represent an untapped source of germ plasm for reproduction. Reports on the developmental competence of calf oocytes have been controversial. In this research, oocytes were recovered after gonadotropin stimulation from Holstein calves (N = 10) at 2–3 mo of age (2-mo cycle) and again at 4–5 mo of age (4-mo cycle). The in vitro developmental competence was measured, and prestimulation follicle numbers (for 2-mo cycle) and poststimulation follicle numbers (both cycles) were obtained. The number of antral follicles doubled after stimulation (23.4 ± 6.1 vs. 55.1 ± 16.1) for the 2-mo cycle and for the 4-mo cycle (47.4 ± 12.4). The number of follicles observed prior to stimulation in the 2-mo cycle was found to be highly correlated with the poststimulation oocyte recovery for both collection cycles (r = 0.95, 2-mo cycle; r = 0.81, 4-mo cycle). The majority (90–96%) of recovered oocytes were found to be usable for in vitro maturation and fertilization; of these, 41–42% cleaved and 10–11% developed to morulae or blastocysts. Eighty-four in vitro-produced embryos were transferred to synchronized recipients and resulted in 11 pregnancies, leading to 7 live (4 males, 3 females) and 2 dead (one male, one female) calves at full term. No significant differences were observed between the 2-mo and 4-mo collection cycles; however, 73% of the total pregnancies resulted from the 2-mo cycle. All pregnancies resulted from embryos of high-responding donors. The high correlation between the number of follicles prior to stimulation and the poststimulation response suggests the possibility of screening calves prior to stimulation for routine embryo production.
1 This research was supported in part by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 96-35203-3268. This is a scientific contribution No. 1911 of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Connecticut. This research was also supported in part by the Genzyme Transgenic Corporation.
2 Correspondence: Xiangzhong (Jerry) Yang, Department of Animal Science, 3636 Horsebarn Road Extension U-40, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4040. FAX: 860 486 4375; xiangzhong.yang{at}uconn.edu
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