University of Missouri-Columbia researchers led by Dr. Randall Prather, co-director of National Swine Resource and Research Center, announced on May 3rd that they had developed a technique for freezing and preserving pig embryos.
The researchers were able to freeze embryos created in vitro by removing lipids from the unfertilized eggs prior to fertilizing them with muscle cells from a male pig. The embryos were then frozen at the blastocyst stage of development. They were then able to thaw and implant the embryos in surrogate females producing two litters of pigs carrying the modified genetic material which altered the fatty acid-content in their tissues.
Although many embryos are required to produce a successful pregnancy in swine utilizing embryo transfer, this technique, once refined, should enable the transfer of swine embryos across the country and worldwide. The ability to store and transport frozen embryos will facilitate the ease by which genetic traits can be disseminated.
Source:
Biology of Reproduction, Papers in Press May 3, 2006