Assessment of embryo production of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)‎ using two semen sources and two in vitro fertilization techniques

الملخص EN

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of maturation time (30 or 40 hours) on maturation rate (%) and two sources of spermatozoa; epididymal spermatozoa (G1), frozen semen (G2) and two insemination methods IVF (G1 and G2) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (G3) on the cleavage rate and development competence of in vitro produced embryos as a trial to improve the reproductive efficiency of the dromedary camel.

Cumulus oocytes complexes (COCs) were recovered from ovaries by slicing technique.

Based on morphological characteristics (number of cumulus cells enclosed the oocytes and the clearance of the cytoplasm) only grade A and B oocytes were selected to be cultured in TCM-199 medium for maturation at 5% CO2 and 38.5 ᵒC for 30 or 40 hours.

According to maturation results, the mature oocytes were subjected to two sources of spermatozoa.

For G1, a number of 205 oocytes were inseminated with fresh epididymal spermatozoa (1x106 spermatozoa/ml).

In G2, a number of 290 oocytes were inseminated with frozen thawed semen (3x106 spermatozoa/ml).

Whereas in G3, 28 oocytes were denuded and inseminated (individually injected) by ICSI technique.

The results showed a significantly (P≤0.05) higher maturation rate (83%) in oocytes subjected to 30 h compared to 40 h group (64%).

There was no significant (P> 0.05) difference in cleavage rate between the three groups being 21, 20 and 23 % for G1, G2 and G3, respectively.

Blastocyst rate calculated to fertilized oocytes was higher in G1 (8.27%) and G2 (8.33%) compared to G3 (5.5%).

In conclusion, this study validates the first application of the ICSI technique as a successful method for embryo production in dromedary camel.

Moreover, there is no difference between frozen and epididymal spermatozoa on blastocyst rate when applying in vitro fertilization