EVALUATION OF THREE TECHNIQUES TO RECOVER CANINE EMBRYOS USING A POST-MORTEM MODEL

Objective. To compare three embryo recovery techniques, using simulation models in which denuded oocytes were introduced in recently recovered uteri. Materials and methods. Ten denuded oocytes were deposited in the ovarian tip of each uterine horn using a Tomcat catheter. Technique one (T1) consisted of a puncture made close to the ovarian tip of the uterine horn with a 20 G needle connected to a 20 ml syringe loaded with 20 ml of PBS (flush medium). In the base of each horn, a 1 cm incision was made to place the Tomcat catheter from which the fluid was recovered into a Petri dish. For technique two (T2) a puncture in the ovarian tip was made as in T1 but the oocytes were recovered with a catheter that was passed through the cervix and the fluid recovered in a Petri dish. In technique three (T3) a catheter was inserted through the cervix and was used for pumping the collection media in and out. Results. The number of structures recovered per horn was 7.3 ± 2.4 (73%) for T1; 8.5 ± 1.9 (85%) for T2 and 5.8±2.2 (58%) for T3. The first two techniques were not significantly different (p>0.01) and showed better recovery rates than the technique used in T3. Conclusions. Canine embryos could be retrieved using a less invasive technique by passing an 8-french catheter through the cervix thereby reducing the damage to the uterus and the possible generation of adhesions.