Abstract

Intrauterine laparoscopic insemination is diffuse in sheep breeding, yet requires veterinary expertise and expensive equipment. Our aim was to evaluate the time required, reproductive outcome and post-operative complications of mini invasive laparotomic intrauterine insemination, as an alternative approach to laparoscopy. A total of 115 Sopravvissana breed ewes were enrolled, including 75 adults and 40 lamb ewes, after oestrus synchronisation. Ewes were sedated and restrained in dorsal recumbence. Uterine horns were exposed through an abdominal incision of 4–7 cm, cranially to the udder. Thawed semen, containing 100 × 10⁶ progressive motile (70%) and morphologically normal (80%) sperm cells, was inoculated into uterine lumen through an intravenous catheter. The abdominal incision was then routinely closed. The time interval for: (a) laparotomy and uterine exteriorisation, (b) intrauterine insemination, (c) abdominal wall closure and (d) total procedure was recorded. Pregnancy, lambing, twinning rates and sex ratio were submitted to chi-square test, comparing lamb and adult ewes. Time intervals and the duration of laparotomic procedure were compared in lamb and adults through Mann–Whitney U test for independent samples. Median ± standard error (SE) of total time for laparotomic intrauterine insemination was 5.53 ± 0.07 and 4.99 ± 0.11 min, for adult and lamb ewes (p<.05), which was similar to what was reported for laparoscopic methods. At pregnancy check, 60% and 70% of adult and lamb ewes resulted pregnant. Laparotomy is poorly applied due to risk of adherence and decreased fertility. In our study, ewes were naturally bred in the following season with 90% pregnancy rate. Our results showed that time for laparotomy is quite similar to laparoscopic insemination, as for the conception and lambing rates.

• HIGHLIGHTS

• Time required for the overall procedure (5.53 ± 0.07 and 4.99 ± 0.11 min, for adult and lamb ewes, respectively, with significant difference (p<.05)) was similar to laparoscopic artificial insemination.

• About 60% and 70% of adult and lamb ewes resulted pregnant, respectively.

• No decreased fertility was observed in the following breeding season (90% pregnancy rate at natural insemination).

• Laparotomic approach is quite similar to laparoscopic insemination, in terms of time required for its complete achievement, for the conception and lambing rates; furthermore it has the advantage of reducing equipment costs.

摘要

宫内腹腔镜人工授精在绵羊育种中很普遍，但需要兽医专业知识和昂贵的设备。我们的目的是评估微创剖腹子宫人工授精所需的时间、生殖结果和术后并发症，作为腹腔镜检查的替代方法。在发情同步后，共有 115 头 Sopravvissana 品种母羊被登记，包括 75 只成年母羊和 40 只羔羊。母羊被镇静并限制在背卧位。子宫角通过 4-7 厘米的腹部切口暴露在乳房的头侧。解冻精液，含 100 × 10 ⁶通过静脉导管将进行性运动 (70%) 和形态正常 (80%) 的精子细胞接种到子宫腔中。然后常规关闭腹部切口。记录以下时间间隔：（a）剖腹手术和子宫外翻，（b）宫腔内人工授精，（c）腹壁闭合和（d）整个过程。妊娠、产羔、双胞胎率和性别比进行卡方检验，比较羔羊和成年母羊。通过独立样本的 Mann-Whitney U 检验比较羔羊和成人的时间间隔和剖腹手术的持续时间。对于成年和羔羊，剖腹子宫内人工授精总时间的中位数 ± 标准误差 (SE) 分别为 5.53 ± 0.07 和 4.99 ± 0.11 分钟 ( p<.05)，这与腹腔镜方法报道的相似。在妊娠检查中，60% 和 70% 的成年母羊和羔羊怀孕。由于依从性和生育力下降的风险，剖腹手术的应用很差。在我们的研究中，母羊在接下来的季节自然繁殖，妊娠率为 90%。我们的结果表明，就受孕和产羔率而言，剖腹手术的时间与腹腔镜授精的时间非常相似。

• 强调

• 整个过程所需的时间（成年和羔羊分别为 5.53 ± 0.07 和 4.99 ± 0.11 分钟，差异显着（p <.05））与腹腔镜人工授精相似。

• 分别约有 60% 和 70% 的成年母羊和羔羊怀孕。

• 在接下来的繁殖季节未观察到生育力下降（自然授精时的妊娠率为 90%）。

• 剖腹手术与腹腔镜人工授精非常相似，就其完成所需的时间、受孕和产羔率而言；此外，它还具有降低设备成本的优势。