Could assisted reproductive techniques affect equine fetal membranes and neonatal outcome?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.11.032
• Publication Date: 2023-12-03T15:30:53Z
• Authors: Aliai Lanci; Francesca Perina; Sabrina Armani; Barbara Merlo; Eleonora Iacono; Carolina Castagnetti; Jole Mariella
• Keywords: Foal

Embryo transfer (ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used in equine species, but their effects on fetal adnexa neonates have not been investigated yet. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate whether pregnancies obtained by ET or ICSI could be associated with the presence macroscopic alterations membranes (FM) umbilical cord (UC) if use these techniques influence neonatal outcome. Sixty-six light breed mares hospitalized at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University Bologna, for attending delivery were included study. Mares divided into Artificial Insemination (AI; 32/66 mares, 48 %), Transfer (ET; 12/66 18.2 %) Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI; 22/66 33 groups. All medical reports foals reviewed data about mare, pregnancy, foaling, membranes, foal recorded. occurrence dystocia resulted statistically different between AI group (p = 0.0066), 0.044). Macroscopic examination FM revealed 30/66 (46 %): 8/32 (25 7/12 (58 15/22 (68 significant lower incidence compared 0.04) 0.002) Alterations reported chorionic villi hypoplasia, chorioallantois edema, allantois cysts, necrotic areas greenish-grey concretions. Total length UC significantly shorter (49 ± 9 cm; p < 0.03) (60 17 cm) (59 15 cm). However, there no differences foals' diseases birth survival among groups > 0.05). results demonstrate that vivo vitro produced embryos may lead placental development, as observed other without being a higher morbidity mortality. Further studies trophoblast histological evaluation, gene expression should carried out clarify mechanisms underlying alterations.