Doctoral Seminar

IVF : Possible or feasible

in Bovines S.RAJA
Assistant Professor
argoraja@gmail.com
Department of Veterinary
Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal 637 002

TAMIL NADU VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
 Possible and feasible

▰ While something might be theoretically possible, it might not be feasible in the

current situation

▰ In general, possible and feasible mean the same. Feasible does make it sound –
considering pros and cons

▰ In other words, theoretically possible, but practically speaking not so much.

▰ It is (technically) possible to do IVF but without the right knowledge, skills Actual
Need and financial means it may/may not feasible.

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

IVF is possible Feasibility?
 Importance

▰ Embryo production rate from the total cumulus oocyte complexes (COC),
the embryo production rate remains at 30 to 40%

▰ Among domestic species, greatest progress in developing IVF and

complementing technology because of emphasis on bovine reproduction

▰ With IVF, genetic material from dead animals can be utilized

(Lonergan et al., 2016; (Brackett, 1998).

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
Importance

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

(Sjunnesson, 2020)
 History

• In 25th July 1978 the first IVF baby has been

reported and named as Louise Brown in England
by Dr. Edwards, IVF pioneer
( A milestone in ART Research)

• In India S. Mukhopadvav Kolkata reported a first

test tube baby on 3rd October 1978 and named as
"Durga”

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 What is IVF
• In In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process by which an
egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body: in vitro
• Vitro
• Fertilization
“Test tube baby”

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Indications

• Ovulation problems
• Tubal block
• Presence of seminal antibodies in the female
• Seminal problems for the male: (Motility, Concentration, abnormalities)
• Unexplained infertility
• Genetic progress
• Research
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
 Objectives for IVF

▰ Maximize the number of offspring from genetically

superior animals and disseminate germplasm worldwide

▰ Produce thousands of embryos needed for scientific

research

▰ Alternate to infertility approach

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Steps in IVF
Hormonal
treatment
Female

Collection of
oocytes
Mature Ova
Keep to
Mix in a test tube develop
embryo
Motile sperms

Sperm preparation Transfer

to mother

Semen Male
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
Steps involved

✓ Oocyte collection

✓ In vitro maturation (IVM)

✓ In vitro fertilization (IVF)

✓ In vitro culture (IVC)

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Collection of oocytes

Slaughtered animal Live animal

✓ Oocyte aspiration ✓ Endoscope inserted through the

✓ Slicing of ovaries, skin of the right paralumbar fossa,
✓ Follicle dissection ✓ By laparoscopy
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar✓
2021-22ovum pick-up
In Vitro maturation

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

In Vitro maturation
Different Grades of Oocytes

Grade A Good Grade B fair Grade C Poor

After Maturation

Degree 2 Degree 1
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
Degree 0
 Sperm preparation
• Separation of viable sperm cells from other constituents of the
ejaculate as early as possible to achieve fertility for in vitro procedures
(IUI, IVF, ICSI)

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Sperm Oocyte Co Incubation (In Vitro Fertilization)

Sperms and oocytes are co incubated

in a petridish at controlled
environment

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Advances in IVF -ICSI
INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI /ˈɪksi/) is an in vitro fertilization (IVF)
procedure in which a single sperm cell is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an
egg

✓ Male infertility
✓ Unexplained infertility

Revolution in ART
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
IMSI-IVF

Intracytoplasmic Morphologically
Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI) is a
sperm injection (ICSI) of a specially
selected single sperm directly into the
mature egg

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

ZyMOT – IVF
ZyMot device is a new, FDA-approved, groundbreaking technology that helps
embryologists select the highest-quality sperm for IVF (in vitro fertilization)
treatments.

microfluidic sperm separation device

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
 In Vitro Culture

The presumptive zygotes were cultured in early-stage medium for

the first three days and then transferred to later-stage medium.

The culture medium was changed every 24 h.

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Developmental stages of embryo

• Grading of embryos
• Synchronization of female
• Transfer the embryo by 7th day by
surgical or nonsurgical method
• Preservation of embryos

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Success/limitations in IVF

• still unresolved drawbacks of IVP that limit a

wider implementation.

• Communication between embryo and

maternal environment is probably an
important research target to understand
and regulate embryo development
in vitro–produced (IVP) embryo success in each successive
step

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

(Merton et al., 2003).
In vivo–produced embryos (IVD) and in vitro–produced
(IVP) embryos worldwide

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

(Ferré et al., Animal 2020)
IVF-Exploration
Today vision is tomorrows action
 Selection process Exploration

New genetic tools led to improved animal

selection by GS and allowed accelerated genetic
gain and progress

Embryo biopsy does not affect the viability and pregnancy

rate of IVP-derived embryo (de Sousa et al., 2017)
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
Need for IVF in Indian scenario Exploration

A: Form a breeding plan and establish a

nuclear breeding population

B: Establish the base and nuclear breeding

population of elite embryos

C: Transgenerational breeding cycle from

parental embryos to offspring embryos

D: Reference population construction and

updating

(embryo to embryo gene transfer)

(Hou et al, 2018)
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
IVF in endangered animal Propagation Exploration

• Population of endangered or rare animal

embryos can be quickly expanded through
in vitro recycled propagation.

• Live offspring can be obtained through

embryo transfer to recipient of same or
relative species/breeds as needed

(Hou et al, 2018)

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
SWOT ANALYSIS for IVF feasibility in India

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Satandardized technique Financial assistance

HGM Bulls for genetic

improvement-milk demand Output?
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

FUNNEL chart for IVF in India

AWARENESS Analysis of reproductive Data

DISCOVERY Identify the Locality/Breeds

INTENT Formulate the standard IVF protocol

Finance
SELECTION Select the HGM bulls and elite dams

Implement the design (IVF/ET)

IMPLEMENT
Stock Replacement/Cryopreserve
RESULT

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 COMPETITOR MATRIX HIGH VALUE 2 Developed
INDIA
countries

Large Number of small farmers

Small Number of large farms
Livelihood dairying
Current scenario commercial dairying
Standardized Bull station
Standardized Bull station
Genetic improvement programmes-Decades
Genetic improvement programmes-Decades
PTP,PS,MOET
PTP-Genomic-IVF for E to E
LOW VALUE 1

Focus More Genomic selection SNPs

Current Plan Identify the local bulls/elite dams Netherland envisioned to enable
human reproduction in space by 2028.
Implement IVF for faster genetic make up – HGM Bulls

Continue IVF for sustained Improvement Mission Lotus 2023

Future scenario
Elite herd population at farmers level

LOW VALUE 2
 IVF feasibility in Space
• NASA has sent human and bull sperm to the ISS as frozen samples on Micro-11 mission
• First step in understanding the potential viability of reproduction in reduced-gravity conditions.

2023, the company plan to execute Mission

Lotus – a mission that enables human
gametes fertilization and early embryo
development in space

Overview of Mission Lotus based on SBU perspective (Shao, 2019)

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22
 Summary

• IVF could be an alternative tool for Infertility condition

• Combination of OPU, IVP, SS and GS has proven successful in the commercial field
in several countries

• Rapid E-to-E life cycle also offers a unique model for studying molecular evolution
and artificial selection

• IVF is continuous development/exploratory research

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Feasibility Conclusion

• Near term future will be based on the ability to sell high genetic livestock at
premium prices.

• Sales of high quality offspring will continue to provide the economic justification
for the use of IVF technology in the dairy sector.

• At least in the organized bull mother farms in India can be suggested for
implementing IVF for progressive genetic improvement

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

 Feasible for Genetic
IVF is possible improvement
 References
• de Sousa RV, da Silva Cardoso CR, Butzke G, Dode MAN, Rumpf R and Franco MM 2017. Biopsy of bovine embryos produced in vivo and
in vitro does not affect pregnancy rates. Theriogenology 90, 25–31.

• Ferré, L. B., M. E. Kjelland, L. B. Strøbech, P. Hyttel , P. Mermillod and P. J. Ross:2020. Review: Recent advances in bovine in vitro
embryo production: reproductive biotechnology history and methods. Animal, 14:5, pp 991–1004

• Merton JS, de Roos APW, Mullaart E, de Ruigh L, Kaal L, Vos PLAM and Dieleman SJ 2003. Factors affecting oocyte quality and quantity
in commercial application of embryo technologies in the cattle breeding industry. Theriogenology 59, 651–674

• Zhuocheng Hou, Lei An , Jianyong Han, Ye Yuan, Dongbao Chen and Jianhui Tian. 2018. Revolutionize livestock breeding in the future:
an animal embryo-stem cell breeding system in a dish. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology : 9:90

• Shao Heung Tneh. 2019. Feasibility Study on Implementing IVF Hardware to Achieve Human Reproduction in Space. Luleå University of
Technology Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering

• Ylva Sjunnesson (2020) Invitro fertilisation in domestic mammals—a brief overview, Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 125:2, 68-76,
DOI: 10.1080/03009734.2019.1697911

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Thank you !