Preparation of foster mothers for production of IVF-derived offsprings in cynomolgus monkey

抄録

Assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer have been extensively established in mammals. However, relatively a little have been studied regarding ARTs in non-human primates. Thus, the current study was conducted to establish the experimental conditions for embryo transfer of IVF-derived embryos in cynomolgus monkeys. Mature and immature oocytes were surgically harvested from the superovulated ovaries of female cynomolgus monkeys, fertilized with the ejaculated sperms incubated in the presence or absence of caffeine and dbcAMP, and cultivated to 2∼8-cell embryonic stages. To investigate the effect of gonadotropin (Gn) stimulation on preparation of foster mothers, 2∼3 embryos were surgically transferred into the infundibulums of female monkeys synchronized with or without Gns (Leuplin, FSH, and hCG), and pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography. From IVF experiment, we found that hyperactivation of sperms with caffeine and dbcAMP was essential step for successful production of fertilized zygotes. Interestingly, foster mothers only in natural estrus cycle, but not Gn-treated one, could produce 2 healthy neonates from IVF-derived embryos, indicating the negative effect of Gn-mediated synchronization. Collectively, the results suggest that basic experimental conditions for preparation of IVF-derived embryos and foster mothers were established in cynomolgus monkeys.