Embryo Transfer Into Rabbit: A Procedure for Laparoscopy-Guided Transfer of Embryos Into Oviduct of Ovulating Recipient Female Rabbit Model

Abstract

Source: Garcia-Dominguez, X. et al., Minimally Invasive Embryo Transfer and Embryo Vitrification at the Optimal Embryo Stage in Rabbit Model. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)

This video describes the technique of transferring embryos into the oviduct of a recipient female rabbit via Laparoscopy. It allows embryo remodeling in rabbits during its migration through the oviduct, eventually helping in successful implantation. This technique can also be used for stored embryos with good efficiency.

Protocol

1. Embryo Transfer

1. Preparation of recipient females
   1. Use only sexually mature females (> 4.5 months old).
   2. One week before ET, adapt females to a 16 h light/8 h dark regime to initiate follicular growth and enhanced female receptivity.
   3. Select the recipient females, observing the turgidity and color of the vulva. If the vulva is turgid and reddish, the female is receptive.
   4. Induce pseudopregnancy (ovulation) by a single intramuscular injection of 1 µg of buserelin acetate (synthetic analogue of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) regardless of body weight.
      NOTE: Normally, 0.8 µg is....

Results

Figure 1: Laparoscopic embryo transfer assisted by Laparoscopy (External view). A) Insertion of the endoscopic trocar (one port). B) Insertion of the endoscopic camera and the epidural needle (black arrow). C)

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) 	VWR	332
Buprenorphine hydrochloride	Alvet Escartí 	626	To be ordered by a licensed veterinarian.
Buserelin Acetate	 Sigma Aldrich 	B3303
CO2 	Air Liquide 	99921	CO2 N48.
Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS)  	Sigma Aldrich	D5773 	Without calcium chloride
Electric razor 	 Oster Golden A5 	078005-140-002
Endoscope camera  	Optomic Spain S.A	OP-714
Endoscope trocar with silicone leaflet valve  	Karl Storz Endoscopia Ibérica S.A.	30114GK 	Lightweight trocar model.
Clorhexidine digluconate soap  	Alvet Escartí	0265DCCJ500B
Epicraneal needle 23G	Alvet Escartí	514056353	 Smaller needles can be also used.
Epidural catheter	 Vygon corporate	187.1
Epidural needle	 Vygon corporate	187.1
Eye ointment	 Alvet Escartí 	5273
Laparoscopy equipment 	Karl Storz Endoscopia Ibérica S.A.	 26003 AA 	Hopkins® Laparoscope, 0º-mm straight-viewing laparoscope, 30- cm length, 5-mm working channel.
Light source  	Optomic Spain S.A	Fibrolux 250
Mechanical CO2 insufflator 	 Karl Storz Endoscopia Ibérica S.A.	Endoflator®
Silicone tube for insufflato	r Karl Storz Endoscopia Ibérica S.A.	20400040
Stereomicroscope	 Leica 	MZ16F 	There are cheaper options such as Leica MZ8 or Nikon SMZ-10 or SMZ-2B, to name a few.
Rabbits  	Universitat Politècnica de València 	Line A	Other maternal lines, such as Line V or Line HP can be used.