Unilateral relationship of embryo and the corpus luteum in goat

The relationship between embryo and corpus luteum was studied in an experiment on Barbari goats which were made unilaterally pregnant by embryo transfer 5 days after oestrus. Two embryos were transferred to each recipient whose luteal stage was coinciding with that of the donor. The site of transfer was either ipsilateral uterine horn (group I) or contralateral uterine horn (group II). The "ipsilateral uterine horn" refers to the horn on the same side as the corpus luteum; the "contralateral uterine horn" refers to the horn on the side opposite to the corpus luteum. In all 10 recipients (5 in each group) having unilateral ovulations were used. Two of the 5 recipients, where embryos were transferred in ipsilateral uterine horn conceived and delivered two normal kids. None of the recipients where embryos were transferred in contralateral uterine horn conceived. The results of the experiment indicate that a unilateral feto-ovarian mechanism is involved in maintenance of the CL in goat.