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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Laser-assisted Cytoplasmic Microinjection in Livestock Zygotes
Published on: October 5, 2016
The effect of laser-assisted incubation on bovine in vitro embryos
Wei Zhang1,2,3, Ying Chen1,2, Jiaxin Zhang3
1Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding for Ruminant Livestock, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China.
Introduction:
This paper aimed to enhance the hatching of bovine in vitro produced embryos by exploring their optimal LAH perforation/thinning pattern.
Methods:
Ovaries were col-lected from an abattoir to obtain cumulus-oocyte complexes. After in vitro fer-tilization, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst-stage embryos were allocated to experimental groups, and their hatching outcomes were compared following four Laser-Assisted Hatching (LAH) treatments, which aim to facilitate embryo hatching from the zona pellucida and subsequent implantation into the endo-metrium by creating small pores or thinning the zona pellucida. The treatments included removal of 1/4 of the zona pellucida, removal of 1/3 of the zona pellucida, thinning of 1/4 of the zona pellucida, and thinning of 1/3 of the zona pellucida.
Results:
The results showed that: ① The hatching rate of 4-cell embryos with 1/4 zona removal was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.01); ② the hatching rate of 8-cell embryos with removal of 1/3 of the zona pellucida was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.01); ③ for morula-stage embryos, both 1/3zona removal and 1/3zona thinning resulted in significantly higher hatch-ing rates than the control (p < 0.01); and ④ the hatching rate of blastocysts with removal of 1/3 was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the most effective LAH treatments were 1/4zona removal for 4-cell embryos and 1/3zona removal for 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst-stage embryos, all of which yielded improved hatching rates.
