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What
exactly is Oocyte?
Here
is the dictionary definition: o·o·cyte (ō'ə-sīt')
n.
A cell from which an egg or
ovum develops by meiosis; a female gametocyte.
Oocyte (Egg) Transfer
Although embryo transfer provides a means
of obtaining pregnancies from some mares that might not
otherwise be capable of producing offspring, some mares cannot
provide embryos for transfer. Mares in which embryo transfer may
not be successful include those with: l) chronic uterine
infections, 2) repeated failure of ovulation, or 3) anatomical
problems (e.g., cervical scarring, etc.). Although these mares
may not be able to donate embryos for transfer, they could
potentially be used as oocyte (egg) donors and continue to
produce foals through a new assisted reproductive technique
called oocyte transfer.
Oocyte transfer involves collecting an
oocyte(s) directly from the donor mare's ovary using a procedure
called transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (TVA).
The donor mare’s oocyte is then surgically transferred into
the oviduct (fallopian tube) of a recipient mare who has been
inseminated with semen from the desired stallion, which allows
fertilization (of the donor mare’s egg) and subsequent
embryonic development to occur within the reproductive tract of
the recipient mare. Because the recipient mare is inseminated,
her oocyte must be removed to prevent it from being fertilized.
Oocyte transfer does not require ovulation
to occur in the donor and completely bypasses all of her tubular
genitalia (i.e., oviduct, uterus, etc.); therefore, it may be
especially well suited for donor mares with ovulatory failure
and/or those with chronic problems associated with the tubular
genitalia (e.g., uterine infections, etc.). In addition, oocyte
transfer has been proposed as an alternative method of obtaining
pregnancies from any mare in which embryo transfer has been
unsuccessful regardless of the underlying reason.
Dr. Dirk Vanderwall, Dr. Nick
Egland, and Frank Dillon,
with a recipient mare receiving oocyte.
Click
for the Oocyte Contract
Click for the
Authorization & Consent Form
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