Viability of horse embryos after storage and long-distance transport in the rabbit

Agricultural Research Council Unit of Reproductive Physiology and Biochemistry, Animal Research Station, Cambridge, U.K. and Academy of Agriculture, Institute of Applied Animal Physiology, 30-059 Krakow 2, al. Mickiewicza 24128, Poland Sheep and cattle embryos continue to develop normally in the ligated oviducts of rabbits (Adams, Moor & Rowson, 1968) and retain viability when transferred to ewes or cows, provided they are removed from the rabbit within 3-4 days (Lawson, Adams & Rowson, 1972; Lawson, Rowson & Adams, 1972). The rabbit genital tract was first used for long-distance transport of embryos by Hunter, Bishop, Adams & Rowson (1962), who obtained normal lambs after transfer to recipient ewes. In this paper, we describe the development and viability of horse embryos after long-distance transport in rabbits. Methods Seven maiden 2- and 3-year-old Welsh Mountain Pony mares maintained in Cambridge were used as embryo donors and six mixed-breed mares aged 2 to 8 years