Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Hensley, Erika L.
Author's Email Address	ehensley@vt.edu
URN	etd-080999-101905
Title	INDUCED CERVICAL DILATION IN SHEEP: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS ON FERTILIZATION RATES AND EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Animal and Poultry Sciences
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Gregory S. Lewis Committee Chair J. B. Hall Committee Member R. G. Saacke Committee Member
Keywords	Cervix Oxytocin Sheep
Date of Defense	1999-07-12
Availability	restricted
Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of a treatment used to dilate the cervix for transcervical AI and embryo transfer on pregnancy or fertilization rates in sheep. Experiment 1 was conducted as a 2 x 2 factorial, with the main effects of estradiol-17b (E2) and oxytocin (OT). On d 6 of pregnancy, ewes received (i.v.) 100 mg of estradiol-17b, or saline; 10 h later, ewes received (i.v.) 400 USP units (20 mL) or saline. Blood samples were collected for progesterone analysis. Transrectal ultrasonography was used to determine pregnancy on d 25. Treatment did not affect (c 2 , P > .05) pregnancy rates. For nonpregnant ewes, the period × E2 × OT interaction (P < .01) was significant. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of oxytocin and(or) cervical manipulation on fertilization rates. In Exp. 2, nulliparous ewes were assigned to one of two randomized treatment groups: 1) saline or 2) oxytocin. In Exp. 3, multiparous ewes were assigned to one of two randomized treatment groups: 1) saline-cervical manipulation or 2) oxytocin-cervical manipulation. Ewes in Exp. 2 and 3 were laparoscopically inseminated. In Exp. 2 and 3, ewes received (i.v.) either 400 USP units of oxytocin or 20 mL of saline. In Exp. 2 and 3, oocytes and(or) embryos were collected. Treatment did not affect recovery, fertilization, or pregnancy rates in Exp.2 and 3. In conclusion, the treatment used to dilate the cervix in ewes to facilitate the transcervical AI or ET does not seem to affect fertilization or pregnancy rates.
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