Data di Pubblicazione:
2022
Citazione:
Assisted Reproduction Technologies: which ones can be proposed to pet owners? / G.C. Luvoni, M. Colombo. ((Intervento presentato al 16. convegno Congress Problems in Reproduction of Small Animals - Fertility, Pregnancy and Neonate tenutosi a Wrocław nel 2022.
Abstract:
Assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) are auseful mean to improve reproductive efficiency, in both humans and animals. They can be applied to tackle infertility issues or to increase the reproductive potential of animals. In any case, the final aim of the application of ARTs is to obtain healthy progeny.
Questions to ask are: which ART can be proposed to pet owners with a reasonable rate of success, and which is still experimental and not yet applicable in clinical practice? How to select the most suitable and applicable technique?
A wide array of techniques is currently available, but different procedures imply different levels of complexity, invasiveness, and chances of success. Mostly driven by the progresses made in human ARTs, veterinary ARTs have also evolved. While some are routinely applied in farm animals, where the economic interests are stronger, some are also commonly employed for small animals. However, whereas a few, traditional procedures, such artificial insemination are now routinary techniques, others are still experimental.
To guide clinicians and safeguard the patients, in human assisted procreation ARTs are often classified in three levels, based on the etiology and severity of the infertility problem, as well as on
the invasiveness of the procedure, with the first level being the least invasive and simplest techniques and the third level being the most advanced, complex and impactful. When possible, the lowest level
ARTs should always be chosen first. On the other hand, the cause of the infertility problem might also be used to choose the best ART to be applied in every case. Causes can be due to the male animal
(i.e., male factor), to the female (i.e., female factor), to both of them (i.e., male + female factor), or sometimes cannot be distinguished or identified (i.e., idiopathic infertility). The infertility might be
caused by impotentia coeundi or generandi due to problems of different origin - anatomical, hormonal, functional, behavioral etc.
A gynecological examination of the bitch and estrous monitoring by means of vaginal cytology and blood progesterone assays should be routinely carried out. Firstly, it should be excluded that the infertility is only “apparent” and due to an incorrect breeding management. Instead, in the case of irregular estrous cycles, anestrus or ovulation failure or when anatomical anomalies of the vaginal tract or behavioral attitudes prevent mating, first level ARTs as medical treatments for estrous or ovulation induction or artificial insemination can be taken into account.
For the male, as well as andrological examination, semen analysis is currently performed in many clinics. A base spermiogram, which should include, at least, the evaluation of motility, concentration and morphology, could show that there is a sufficient number of motile, good quality spermatozoa, and first level ARTs can be applied, such as artificial insemination. Intravaginal or intrauterine, or less commonly surgical, insemination can be used, depending on semen quality and conservation status (fresh or chilled or frozen) (Hollinshead & Hanlon, 2017; Linde-Forsberg &
Forsberg, 1989; D. Zambelli, Bini, & Cunto, 2015; Daniele Zambelli & Cunto, 2005).
Other evaluations of the semen, besides a base spermiogram, can also be done. For instance, the hypo-osmotic swelling test (England & Plummer, 1993), that is feasible in every environment equipped with amicroscope allows the evaluation of spermatozoa membrane integrity and viability. With a more sophisticated microscope, provided with fluorescence lamp and filters, acrosome
integrity and ability to undergo acrosome reaction could be evaluated with the use of specific dyes such as the peanut agglutinin (PNA) conjugated wi
Tipologia IRIS:
14 - Intervento a convegno non pubblicato
Elenco autori:
G.C. Luvoni, M. Colombo
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