In-vitro fertilization of rabbit ova ovulated in vitro during ovarian perfusion

During in-vitro perfusion of rabbit ovaries, ova that ovulated in response to hCG were recovered and cultured with spermatozoa capacitated in vivo. After culture for 30 h, 113 (48.8%) of the ova underwent cleavage and were not degenerate. Of these 113 zygotes, 75 were successfully transferred to the oviducts of 14 gonadotrophin-treated host rabbits. On Day 14 after transfer there were 14 implantation sites and 9 pregnancies proceeded to term. These data indicate that in-vitro ovulated ova can be fertilized in vitro and be used to establish normal pregnancies in a host rabbit.