Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159648
Title: ADVANCEMENTS IN CRYOPRESERVATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMAL EMBRYOS

Author
item Dobrinsky, John

Submitted to: Theriogenology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2001
Publication Date: 1/1/2002
Citation: Theriogenology 57:285-302, 2002.

Interpretive Summary: The development of embryo freezing technologies revolutionized cattle breeding. Since then, advancements in cryobiology, cell biology and domestic animal embryology have enabled the development of embryo preservation methodologies for our other domestic animal species, including sheep and goats. Recently, technologies have been developed to cryopreserve pig embryos, notorious for their extreme sensitivity to cooling, while horse embryo cryopreservation is in its infancy. While cryopreservation can enhanced the utilization of in vitro embryo production technologies, cryosurvival of IVP or micromanipulated embryos is less than that of in vivo derived embryos. This review outlines recent efforts in livestock embryo cryopreservation. In the near future, use of preserved embryos could be a routine breeding alternative for all livestock producers, providing: preservation methods for maternal germplasm; global genetic transport; increased selection pressure within herds; breeding line regeneration or proliferation; and methodology for genetic rescue.

Technical Abstract: The development of embryo freezing technologies revolutionized cattle breeding. Since then, advancements in cryobiology, cell biology and domestic animal embryology have enabled the development of embryo preservation methodologies for our other domestic animal species, including sheep and goats. Recently, technologies have been developed to cryopreserve pig embryos, notorious for their extreme sensitivity to cooling, while horse embryo cryopreservation is in its infancy. While cryopreservation can enhanced the utilization of in vitro embryo production technologies, cryosurvival of IVP or micromanipulated embryos is less than that of in vivo derived embryos. This review outlines recent efforts in livestock embryo cryopreservation. In the near future, use of preserved embryos could be a routine breeding alternative for all livestock producers, providing: preservation methods for maternal germplasm; global genetic transport; increased selection pressure within herds; breeding line regeneration or proliferation; and methodology for genetic rescue.