Embryo biotechnology in the dog: a review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Veterinary Science

Background:

• Canine embryos are scarce due to difficulties in in vivo collection and lack of in vitro production methods.
• Existing in vivo embryo transfer procedures have limited success, with few reported births.
• In vitro fertilization in dogs shows low rates (approx. 10%) and high polyspermy, with no resulting puppies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the challenges in canine embryo production.
• To compare the success rates of in vitro embryo production versus somatic cell cloning in canines.
• To emphasize the need for further research in canine reproductive physiology and developmental biology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on canine embryo production and reproductive technologies.
• Analysis of success rates for in vivo embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization.
• Examination of outcomes from somatic cell cloning in canines.

Main Results:

• In vitro fertilization in dogs has a low success rate (approx. 10%) and high polyspermy, with no puppies born from this method.
• Somatic cell cloning has been successful in canines, resulting in 41 puppies over 4 years.
• Canine embryonic stem cells and transgenic cloned dogs have been generated.

Conclusions:

• Current canine reproductive technologies, particularly somatic cell cloning, are more advanced than in vitro embryo production.
• There is a significant gap in fundamental research on canine reproductive physiology and developmental biology.
• Further studies are crucial given the increasing role of dogs in society and their use as biomedical models.