TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigations into the control of litter size in swine
T2 - I. Comparative studies on in vitro development of Meishan and Yorkshire preimplantation embryos.
AU - Youngs, C. R.
AU - Ford, S. P.
AU - McGinnis, L. K.
AU - Anderson, L. H.
PY - 1993/6
Y1 - 1993/6
N2 - Three experiments were conducted to examine the in vitro development of preimplantation embryos from the prolific Chinese Meishan pig. Experiment 1 was conducted to assess whether Meishan embryos would develop in vitro and retain their viability, whereas Exp. 2 and 3 examined the developmental pattern of Meishan embryos. In all three experiments, Yorkshire embryos served as a contemporary comparison. Ovulation and embryo recovery rates were not different between Meishan and Yorkshire gilts. Meishan embryos cultured for 96 h were capable of establishing pregnancies. The number of cell nuclei present after 144 h of culture was lower (P < .01) for Meishan than for Yorkshire blastocysts. Meishan preimplantation embryos exhibited a slower (P < .02) in vitro rate of development from the four-cell to the compact morula stage than did Yorkshire embryos. Early blastocysts from Meishan gilts, although morphologically similar in size, contained fewer (P < .06) cells than did their counterpart Yorkshire embryos. These data demonstrate that Meishan embryos develop more slowly and contain fewer cells than do Yorkshire embryos. This differing developmental pattern of Meishan preimplantation embryos, if similar to that previously reported in miniature swine and mice, may relate to increased embryo survival.
AB - Three experiments were conducted to examine the in vitro development of preimplantation embryos from the prolific Chinese Meishan pig. Experiment 1 was conducted to assess whether Meishan embryos would develop in vitro and retain their viability, whereas Exp. 2 and 3 examined the developmental pattern of Meishan embryos. In all three experiments, Yorkshire embryos served as a contemporary comparison. Ovulation and embryo recovery rates were not different between Meishan and Yorkshire gilts. Meishan embryos cultured for 96 h were capable of establishing pregnancies. The number of cell nuclei present after 144 h of culture was lower (P < .01) for Meishan than for Yorkshire blastocysts. Meishan preimplantation embryos exhibited a slower (P < .02) in vitro rate of development from the four-cell to the compact morula stage than did Yorkshire embryos. Early blastocysts from Meishan gilts, although morphologically similar in size, contained fewer (P < .06) cells than did their counterpart Yorkshire embryos. These data demonstrate that Meishan embryos develop more slowly and contain fewer cells than do Yorkshire embryos. This differing developmental pattern of Meishan preimplantation embryos, if similar to that previously reported in miniature swine and mice, may relate to increased embryo survival.
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U2 - 10.2527/1993.7161561x
DO - 10.2527/1993.7161561x
M3 - Article
C2 - 8325817
AN - SCOPUS:0027616662
SN - 0021-8812
VL - 71
SP - 1561
EP - 1565
JO - Journal of Animal Science
JF - Journal of Animal Science
IS - 6
ER -