A large number of normal ova or embryos are needed in basic researches on the ovum including ET, IVF and embryo engineering. For those purposes, ova are obtained by perfusing the extirpated oviduct or uterus. The authors succeeded in collecting embryos through the vagina from the uterus in situ of a rabbit with superovulation treatment, using their original 2-way balloon catheter for the boy's bladder.
A total of 555 ova were obtained from 17 subject rabbits; cleaved ova included 391 morula and 46 early blastocyst. The best yield from a single rabbit was 65 ova including 63 cleaved ova.
This is a very efficient method for embryo collection from the rabbit as it enables us to obtain many ova from the uterus in situ and even in repetition from the same animal.
