In vitro production of embryos in swine

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Significant advancements have been made in in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) for pig embryo production.
• Improvements in oocyte cytoplasmic maturation have been achieved through modified IVM procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current progress and persistent challenges in in vitro pig embryo production.
• To identify areas for future research to improve embryo quality and reduce polyspermy.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on IVM, IVF, and embryo culture (EC) techniques for pig embryos.
• Analysis of factors influencing oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development in vitro.

Main Results:

• Modifications to IVM procedures have enhanced cytoplasmic maturation.
• Polyspermy remains a significant challenge, though IVF medium modifications show promise in reducing it.
• While some EC media support development of in vivo derived embryos, in vitro produced embryo development is variable and often inferior to in vivo counterparts.
• Surgical transfer to recipients shows acceptable pregnancy rates, indicating potential viability.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, polyspermy and suboptimal embryo development hinder large-scale implementation of in vitro pig embryo production.
• Further research into novel IVM, IVF, and EC techniques is needed to improve oocyte/embryo quality and minimize polyspermy.