EFFECT OF THE USE OF TWO SPERM SELECTION TECHNIQUES FOR IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF ALPACA EMBRYOS

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the use of two sperm selection techniques for in vitro production of alpaca embryos. The ovaries and testis were collected from the local slaughterhouse and transport to 37 ° C in saline solution (0.9%) supplemented with gentamicin. Quality I, II and II oocytes were incubated in a maturation medium for 32 h at 38.5 ° C and 5% O2 and 5% CO2. For in vitro fertilization, sperm from the epididymis were selected using the Percoll gradient and Swim up technique. 18h after the oocytes were incubated with the sperm, these were denuded from the cumulus cells and cultured in SOFaa culture medium for 7 days. Morula and blastocyst rate and their morphological quality are evaluated at day 7 of culture. From a total of 370 ovaries, 1,137 oocytes were recovered, making an average of 3.6 oocytes / ovary. After the maturation and fertilization process and in vitro culture, the blastocyst rate was 8.43 ± 6.04% and 3.89 ± 1.75%, for oocytes fertilized with sperm selected with Percoll gradient and Swim up, respectively, not finding significant statistical differences (p> 0.05), between the groups. In conclusion, the in vitro fertilization of alpaca oocytes with spermatozoa selected with two selection techniques (percoll and swim up) did not significantly influence the quantity and quality of morulae and blastocysts at day 7 of embryo culture.