Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in small ruminants

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)
• Animal science

Background:

• Small ruminants are vital for global meat and wool production.
• Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are less developed in small ruminants compared to other species.
• Current ARTs in small ruminants primarily involve artificial insemination and in vivo embryo transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in small ruminants.
• To highlight the potential applications and research needs for ICSI in sheep and goats.
• To discuss future prospects of ICSI in animal production systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on ICSI in small ruminants.
• Analysis of reported live births and challenges associated with ICSI.
• Exploration of potential advancements and applications of ICSI.

Main Results:

• Live births via ICSI in goats and sheep are infrequent, with limited data available.
• Intensive research on ICSI in small ruminants is currently lacking.
• ICSI offers potential applications for utilizing semen from valuable animals, epididymal sperm, and fertilizing immature or cryopreserved oocytes.

Conclusions:

• ICSI holds significant potential for small ruminant production systems, despite current limitations.
• Further research is crucial to optimize ICSI protocols and expand its application in sheep and goats.
• Advanced applications like transgenic-ICSI and combination with spermatogonial transplantation warrant future investigation.