ET Embryo Transfer

Embryo Transfer

5 Major Hormones FSH LH Estrogen Progesterone Prostaglandin

FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone injected into the cow 40 hours before the cow reaches estrus. The hormone induces production of a large quantity (#) of embryos, which will be FLUSHED out of the cow. 

LH The second hormone is known as the luteinizing hormone or LH. LH is also released by the pituitary gland. LH causes the release of the egg contained in the Graafian follicle (ovulation) and initiates the formation of the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum is a yellowish colored body located on the wall of the ovary.

Estrogen When the Graafian follicle breaks open and releases the ovum, it also releases the hormone estrogen. Estrogen promotes the onset of heat, the physical signs of estrus.

Estrogen Estrogen also stimulates the vascular tissue lining the walls of the uterus causing the "fold curtain" affect. The fold curtain affect increases the tissue size and creates wrinkles in the tissue to catch the fertilized zygote after conception. The vascular tissue is also the immediate nutritional source for the fertilized zygote.

Progesterone The corpus luteum releases the fourth hormone progesterone. It is responsible for the maintenance of pregnancy. The corpus luteum releases this hormone 10-15 days after its formation.

Prostaglandin If a zygote is not present by the 10-15 day after the heat period the uterus will secrete the estrus ending hormone - prostaglandin. The final hormone prostaglandin will cause the corpus luteum to regress and begin the estrus cycle all over again.

Flushing the superior donor Cow. French Foley catheter (two-way flow catheter).

Heat Detection

Electronic Heat Detection

Bovine Embryo

Processing Embryo’s Embryos should be recovered from the donor cows in the morula or early blastocyst stage of development.

Synchronization is the procedure of getting the recipient cows into the same stage of estrus as the donor cows. Synchronization of recipient cows should be done while superovulating the donor cows. The way to accomplish this is while administering the first injection of FSH on the third day to the donor cows, inject the recipient cows with 25 mg of prostaglandin.

Synchronization The recipient cows should come into estrus about 36 to 72 hours later, approximately the same time as the donor cows come into estrus. Prostaglandin should only be administered to females that are between day 5 and day 17 of their estrous cycle.

Superovulation The actual superovulation should be done on any day of the estrous cycle between day 6 and day 15.

To superovulate females. Two times daily inject the female with 5 mg of FSH for 4 to 5 days. Estrus is then induced on the third day by injecting 25 mg of prostaglandin at the same time as the sixth shot of FSH. Estrus should occur on the fifth day, if not, continue FSH injections through the day 5.

To superovulate females 4. The ovaries should be palpated rectally everyday to make sure that overstimulation does not occur. Overstimulation can lead to irreversible damage to the ovaries. Once again the regimen calls for two shots daily of FSH, but instead of 5mg per injection the dosage decreases by 1 mg daily (day 1-5 mg, day 2-4mg, etc.).

To superovulate females Once again on the third day a 25 mg shot of prostaglandin is administered with the sixth shot of FSH. Estrus should occur on the fifth day, if not, continue FSH injections through day 5. Artificial insemination should take place 4 - 22 hours after the onset of estrus.

Equine Embryo 6.5 Day Old Embryo

The Beginning