Pregnancy resulting from cattle oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro

Follicular oocytes (n = 81) collected from cattle at a local slaughterhouse were matured and fertilized in vitro. Of 27 ova 19 (70%) were penetrated by spermatozoa and 40/54 (74%) inseminated ova transferred surgically to the oviducts of a synchronized heifer were recovered by non-surgical flushing of the uterine horns 6 days later. Of the 40 ova 15 (38%) were at the morula, early blastocyst or diminutive morula stages. Culture in vitro sustained further development of all embryos and 9 were expanding or expanded blastocysts. One pregnancy resulted from non-surgical transfer of 2 blastocysts. The results demonstrate that immature oocytes from cattle can be matured and fertilized in vitro, subsequently develop to the blastocyst stage, and develop into a normal pregnancy after non-surgical transfer.