Storage of Fertilized Rabbit Ova

Abstract

CHANG¹ successfully stored fertilized rabbit ova at 0° C. and 10° C. for 4 days; Averill and Rowson² stored sheep ova at 4.5–7° C. for 3 days. In both cases the environment used was the blood serum of animals of the same species, and the effectivity of the method was tested by the results of their development after transplantation. Chang has found that the most favourable temperature to store rabbit ova was 10° C., and he also has shown³ that the cleavage of eggs in the medium after their previous storage at low temperatures does not mean that the eggs can develop normally in the female tract. Hafez⁴ demonstrated in a paper published in 1961 that fertilized rabbit ova may be successfully stored in vitro during 6 days in liquid medium made of 1 : 1 serum/saline solution mixture. He applied also the transfer technique, and the results were examined by killing the recipients and counting the embryos 15 days post coitum. Experiments on the deepfreezing of eggs⁵ have so far not led to the successful storage of ova.