Manipulation of canine fertility using in vitro culture techniques

Highlighting the important aspects of canine reproductive physiology, this review documents developments made with in vitro culture of canine gametes, and indicates how these techniques can be further exploited. In vitro culture of gametes and embryos has been achieved in many mammalian species, allowing the development of reproductive technology. Despite numerous investigations in other species, only a small number have been performed in dogs. Further studies are required to establish the differences between canine reproductive physiology and that of other mammals. Ultimately, these studies may lead to the development of a gamete salvage technique incorporating oocyte, spermatozoa and embryo culture, and cryopreservation to allow genetically important material from Canidae to be saved. In dogs, the oocyte is ovulated when immature rather than mature, as in other species, and the survival rate of spermatozoa is greater within the female tract. By incorporating knowledge of canine reproductive physiology and work on in vitro culture in other mammals, some important achievements have been made. Sperm capacitation, induction of the acrosome reaction, maturation of canine oocytes and fertilization have all been achieved in vitro. Embryo culture has proven more difficult, with only two studies reporting success. Cryopreservation of spermatozoa has been perfected and is used routinely when transporting semen for artificial insemination. However, improvement in embryo culture techniques and development of oocyte and embryo freezing are required. This work in the domestic model may lead to development of a gamete-banking programme to safeguard the future of endangered canine species.