Factors affecting the efficiency of embryo transfer in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

Embryo transfer (ET) to recipient females is a foundational strategy for a number of assisted reproductive technologies, including cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer. In an attempt to develop efficient ET in domestic ferrets, factors affecting development of transferred embryo were investigated. Unilateral and bilateral transfer of zygotes or blastocysts in the oviduct or uterus was evaluated in recipient nulliparous or primiparous females. Developing fetuses were collected from recipient animals 21 days post-copulation and examined. The percentage of fetal formation was different (P < 0.05) for unilateral and bilateral transfer of zygotes (71%) in nulliparous females with bilateral transfer (56%) in primiparous recipients. The percentage (90%) of fetal formation in nulliparous recipients following unilateral transfer of blastocysts was higher (P < 0.05) than that observed in primiparous recipients with bilateral ET (73%). Notably, the percentage of fetal formation was higher (P < 0.05) when blastocyts were transferred as compared to zygotes (90% versus 71%). Transuterine migration of embryos occurred following all unilateral transfers and also in approximately 50% of bilateral transfers with different number of embryos in each uterine horn. These data will help to facilitate the development of assisted reproductive strategies in the ferret and could lead to the use of this species for modeling human disease and for conservation of the endangered Mustelidae species such as black-footed ferret and European mink.

Aspm knockout ferret reveals an evolutionary mechanism governing cerebral cortical size

“…Zygotes were collected from the mating of sable coat color ferrets (Marshall BioResources) as previously described 31 . TALEN mRNA (50 ng/μl) was injected into the cytoplasm of zygotes using a micromanipulator and injector (Eppendorf) and a phase contrast microscope.…”

“…These studies demonstrated an 87% targeting efficiency (14 insertions/deletions in 16 alleles or 8 blastocysts that were amenable to analysis). Next, we injected 148 zygotes, incubated at 39°C for 24 h, and transferred 116 two-cell-stage embryos into the oviduct of pseudopregnant female sable ferrets as previously described 31 . Twenty-three ferrets were born and 11 survived.…”

Conservation of the European Mink (Mustela lutreola): Focus on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies

“…2000; Lindeberg et al. 2002; Lindeberg 2003; Li et al. 2006a), and in all of these studies pseudopregnant females were used as recipients.…”

“…Ovulation was induced by mating recipients by either surgically (Lindeberg et al. 2002; Lindeberg 2003; Li et al. 2006a) or genetically (Amstislavsky et al.…”

Efficient Term Development of Vitrified Ferret Embryos Using a Novel Pipette Chamber Technique1

“…Indeed, cloning of ferrets from cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene-targeted fibroblasts has recently generated a cystic fibrosis model in the ferret [3]. This species is also considered an excellent model for the recovery and conservation of related endangered species, such as the black-footed ferret and the European mink [4]. …”