Development to the Blastocyst Stage of Pig Embryos Cultured in the Amniotic Fluid of Developing Chick Embryos

Abstract

Early-stage pig embryos were collected from superovulated donor gilts (60-72 hr post hCG injection) and co-cultured in modified Brinster medium for ovum culture (mBMOC-2) + porcine oviduct epithelial cells (POEC) or in the amniotic fluid of a developing chick embryo (CEAm). The development rate to the compacted morulae or blastocyst stage was significantly higher (P<0.01) in embryos co-cultured in CEAm (60.0%) than those co-cultured in mBMOC-2 + POEC (18.0%). The results indicate that CEAm could be used for production of compacted morulae or blastocysts from early-stage pig embryos. This culture system could also be valuable in situations where a CO₂ controlled incubator is not available.