Superovualtion Trials For Embryo Transfer in the Camel (Camelus Dromedarius)

(Sayed Taha Ismail, Marzouk bin Mohammed)

---

Abstract

The current investigation represents a successful attempt of superstimulation and embryo recovery in the dromedary camel in Saudi Arabia.Six mature non-pregnant female camels were used in this study. Camels were superstimulated by injecting 3000 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at the end of 10 days progesterone treatment. The development of ovarian follicles was monitored by ultrasound array scanner until the majority of follicles were considered sufficiently mature (1.3-1.9cm in diameter). Mating of the female camels with fertile male camel was allowed twice, 12 hours apart. Each female camel received 3000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) just after the first mating. Embryo recovery, by the interrupted-syringe method, was carried out at day 7 to 7.5 post mating. All camels experienced oestrus 8 to 10 days post eCG administration. Four out of six camels responded to the superstimulatory treatment (66.70%). The mean number of ovulations (corpora lutea, CLs) produced by the camels responded to superstimulation was 8.75±4.80, with a range of 6 to 16 CLs. Among these camels, the percentage of ovulation was 97.22%. Three embryos, at hatched blastocyst stage, were collected from the four responded camels, one from each camel. In conclusion, despite the promising results of the current study concerning the superstimulatory response and ovulation rate, the embryo recovery rate needs more research to achieve similar success to superovuloation
PDF

References