Micromanipulation of sheep morulae to produce monozygotic twins.

ABSTRACT

Donor ewes were treated with an intravaginal sponge containing 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA) which was removed 12 days later. On the mornings of days 10, 11, and 12, each animal received 30 mg horse anterior pituitary (HAP) extract. Donors were mated twice daily during oestrus. Egg recovery was attemped seven days after progestagen with-drawal, when late morula/early blastocysts could be expected. The zona pellucida was opened with the aid of a micromanipulator, and the embryo was removed by gentle positive pressure from an evacuating pipette. After removal from the zona pellucida, the embryo was bisected using a fine glass needle; each demi-embryo was immediately placed either into the original zona pellucida or into one from an evacuated oocyte. The original opening was closed and both halves were transferred bilaterally into previously synchronized recipients. From 17 embryos split and transferred to 17 ewes, nine became pregnant and produced seven sets of monozygotic twins and two singletons.