Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-08-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:38:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bonin_bf_me_botfmvz.pdf: 208253 bytes, checksum: b815ba940b43478c6f605909f134aaef (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos de doses baixas do extrato de pituitária eqüina (EPE) no crescimento folicular, taxa de ovulação e de recuperação embrionária em éguas idosas. Doadoras de embrião (n=20) da raça Quarto de Milha de um programa comercial com idade de 15 a 20 anos de idade, foram utilizadas em 3 ciclos consecutivos. O primeiro e o terceiro ciclo foi utilizado como grupo controle e entre eles o grupo tratado com EPE no segundo ciclo. Em todos os ciclos, a ultrassonografia transretal dos ovários foi realizada diariamente após aplicação de prostaglandina e monitorando os dois maiores folículos. Durante os três ciclos as éguas foram inseminadas com sêmen a fresco ou refrigerado do mesmo garanhão e receberam uma aplicação de acetato de deslorelina após a detecção de pelo menos um folículo de 35 a 40 mm de diâmetro. A recuperação embrionária foi realizada por lavado uterino 8 dias pós ovulação seguidas da administração de prostaglandina. No ciclo tratado, injeções de EPE (7mg/IM/duas vezes ao dia) se iniciaram no dia 8 após a ovulação até que um folículo pré-ovulatório fosse observado. A porcentagem de éguas com mais de uma ovulação foi comparada pelo teste de Fisher e a média do número de ovulações e embriões, assim como o diâmetro folicular, entre os ciclos foram comparados usando teste de Student’s. A porcentagem de éguas com mais de uma ovulação e o número de ovulações foram maiores (p<0,05) no ciclo tratado com EPE (65% das éguas e 1,8 ovulações) do que o grupo controle antes (5% e 1,0) e depois do tratamento (5% e 1,0). O número de embriões recuperados por ciclo também foi maior (p<0,05) no grupo tratado com EPE (1,0/ciclo) comparado com os ciclos controle (0,42/ciclo). Entretanto a taxa de embrião recuperado por ovulação foi similar (p>0,05) entre os grupos controles... / The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of low doses of equine pituitary extract (EPE) on follicular growth, ovulation rate and embryo recovery rates in old mares. Embryo donors (n=20) of Quarter Horse breed from a commercial embryo center aging 15 to 20 years old , were used during 3 consecutive cycles. The first and third cycles were use as control being the EPE treatment performed on the second cycle. In all cycles transrectal ultrasonography of the uterus and ovaries was performed daily after PG injection to follow the development of the two largest follicles. During the 3 estrus mares were inseminated with cooled or fresh semen from the same stallion and received an injection of deslorelin (1 mg i.m.) upon detection of at least one follicle of 35 to 40 mm in diameter. The embryo flushing’s were performed on day 8 post-ovulation and were always followed by administration of PG. On the treated cycle, EPE injections (7mg twice daily i.m.) were started on day 8 after ovulation until a pre-ovulatory follicle was observed. The percentage of mares with more than one ovulation was compared by means using Fischer’s test and the mean number of ovulations and embryos, as well as follicular diameters, between cycles were compared using Student’s t test. The percentage of mares with more than one ovulation and number of ovulations were higher (p<0.05) in the EPE-treated cycle (65% of mares and 1.8 ovulations) than in the control cycle before (5% and 1.0) and after treatment (5% and 1.0). Also the mean number of embryos recovered per cycle were higher (p<0.05) on EPE treated cycle (1.0 /cycle) than in no treated cycles (0.42/cycle). However the embryo rate per ovulation was similar (p>0.05) between no treated cycles (0.4 embryo/ovulation) and treated cycle (0.6 embryo/ovulation). The treatment with EPE allowed the recovery of embryos in ix stage of development more... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 demetrio_dgb_me_botfmvz.pdf: 667644 bytes, checksum: 5f9993cf1e9ece2e049393d95be3910d (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os fatores que afetam as taxas de concepção (TC) de vacas Holandesas em lactação que receberam IA ou TE. O experimento foi conduzido em uma fazenda localizada em Descalvado, SP, Brasil durante os meses de outubro de 2003 a setembro de 2004. As vacas eram ordenhadas 3 vezes ao dia e alimentadas com ração total devidamente balanceada. Vacas ciclando (n=1025) produzindo 33,37,2kg de leite por dia com 162103,7 de DEL receberam PGF2 e foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: IA ou TE. As vacas que apresentaram estro 48 a 96h após aplicação de PGF2 receberam IA (n=227) 12h após detecção do estro ou TE (n=160) 6 a 8 dias após. Todas as vacas da TE receberam embriões frescos (grau I ou II) de vacas Holandesas não lactantes produzidos in vivo. Analisou-se a produção de leite média de -7 a 14 dias após o cio. A temperatura corporal foi aferida e amostras de sangue foram coletadas para análise da concentração sérica de P4 por radioimunoensaio. O diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado aos 25 e 39 dias por ultra-sonografia. Morte embrionária tardia (MET) foi considerada quando as vacas gestantes no dia 25 estavam vazias no dia 39. As variáveis taxa de ovulação, TC e MET foram analisadas pelo modelo logístico (GLM) com finalidade de verificar a influência das covariáveis na probabilidade de sucesso. Os modelos foram ajustados no software R. A taxa de ovulação foi de 84,8% (328/387) e foi afetada negativamente pelo número de dias em lactação (p=0,05). Não houve diferenças nas TC do grupo TE em relação à qualidade e estágio do embrião, e assincronia entre doadora e receptora. TC no dia 25, das vacas ovuladas foi 37,9% (74/195) para IA e 59,4% (79/133) para TE (p<0,01). Temperatura corporal no dia 7 (T7) influenciou negativamente (p=0,02) a TC nos dois tratamentos. Para avaliação da P4, foram consideradas... / Objectives of this study were to evaluate factors that could affect conception rates (CR) of AI or ET in lactating Holstein cows. The trial was conducted at a dairy farm in Descalvado, SP, Brazil from October 2003 to September 2004. Cows were milked 3 times a day and fed with TMR composed by corn silage balanced to meet nutritional requirements for lactating dairy cows. Cycling cows (n=1025) producing 33.37.2 kg milk/d with 162.0103.7 DIM received PGF2 injection and were randomly assigned to received AI or ET. Cows detected in heat between 48 and 96 h after PGF2 injection (n=387) received AI (n=227) 12 h after heat detection or ET (n=160) 6 to 8 days later. All cows from ET received in vivo produced fresh embryos (grade I or II) from non lactating Holstein cows. Milk yield for each cow was recorded -7 to 14 d after estrus. Body temperature was recorded and blood samples were collected on days 7 and 14 to analyze serum P4 concentration by radioimmunoassay. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasound on day 25 and 39. Embryonic loss (EL) was considered when cows pregnant on day 25 were not on day 39. The variables ovulation rate, conception rate and embryonic loss were analyzed by logistic model (GLM), to evaluate the influence of covariates on probability of success. The models were adjusted in the public software R. Ovulation rate was 84.8% (328/387) and was only negatively affected (p=0.05) by days in milk. There were no differences in probability of CR when stage and grade of embryo and donor-recipient synchrony were analyzed. CR at day 25 of ovulated cows was 37.9% (74/195) for AI and 59.4% (79/133) for ET (p<0.01). Body temperature at day 7 affected negatively (p=0.02) CR in both treatments. To evaluate P4, only cows with synchrony zero (n=191) were used from both groups and 49.2% (94/191) were pregnant on day 25, 37.5% (39/104) on AI group and 63.2% (55/87; p<0.01)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Marco Antonio Alvarenga / Banca: Cezinande de Meira / Banca: Rubens Paes de Arruda / Resumo: A técnica de transferência de embrião (TE) foi desenvolvida nos anos 70, e vem sendo cada vez mais difundida. A eficiência de um programa de TE será determinada pelos índices de recuperação embrionária e taxa de prenhez. A receptora de embrião consiste no ponto crítico do programa de TE, e a correta seleção deste elo (fundamental) da cadeia é imprescindível para o sucesso da técnica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do dia do ciclo da receptora sobre as taxas de prenhez pós transferência de embrião; o efeito do tônus e morfoecogenicidade uterina nas taxas de prenhez de receptoras de embrião; relacionar a concentração plasmática de progesterona em éguas candidatas à receptora de embrião classificadas como marginais e aceitáveis e relacionar as concentrações plasmáticas de progesterona em éguas candidatas à receptora de embrião apresentando diferentes tônus e morfoecogenicidade uterina. Éguas receptoras entre os dias 3 a 8 pós ovulação foram utilizadas. A morfoecogenicidade e tônus uterino no dia da TE foram avaliados. O diagnóstico de prenhez foi realizado no dia 15 do embrião. Utilizou-se o Qui-Quadrado para análise das taxas de prenhez nos dias do ciclo, assim como para as taxas de prenhez e características uterinas. Para avaliação do efeito da concentração de progesterona sobre a classificação foi utilizada ANOVA. A comparação das concentrações plasmáticas de progesterona com as características uterinas foi feita utilizando-se o teste t. As taxas de prenhez não foram afetadas pelo dia do ciclo da receptora. As éguas apresentando morfoecogenicidade 1 e 2 tiveram maiores taxas de prenhez do que as éguas com morfoecogenicidade 3, diferindo estatisticamente (p<0,05). As éguas com morfoecogenicidade uterina 4 apresentaram índices de prenhez inferiores estatisticamente aos 3 outros padrões. / Abstract: Embryo transfer (ET) technique was developed in the seventies and nowadays it is spreading consistently. The efficiency on an ET programme is determined by recovery rate and pregnancy rate. The recipient mare is the most important factor in the ET programme, with special emphasis on its selection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the recipient's day of cycle on pregnancy rate after transfer, the effect of uterine tone and morphoecogenicity in pregnancy rates, relate plasmatic progesterone concentration in candidate recipient mares that were qualified as acceptable or marginal, and to relate plasmatic progesterone concentration to different uterine tone and morphoecogenicity in candidate recipient mares. Recipient mares were used between day 3 and 8 post ovulation. Morphoecogenicity and uterine tone were evaluated on ET day. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed on day 15 of the embryo. Chi square test was used to analyze pregnancy rates on the different days of cycle, and to relate pregnancy rates and uterine characteristics. In order to evaluate progesterone concentration in recipients that were classified as marginal or acceptable, ANOVA was utilized. To compare progesterone concentration and uterine characteristics, t test was performed. Pregnancy rates were not influenced by recipient's day of cycle on ET day. Mares presenting morphoecogenicities 1 and 2 had higher pregnancy rates than mares presenting morphoecogenicity 3, being statistically different (p<0,05). Mares presenting morphoecogenicity 4 had the lowest pregnancy rate, compared to the others. Uterine tone affected pregnancy rate. Mares with uterine tone 1 had higher pregnancy rates than uterine tone 2 and 3. Mares presenting uterine tone 2 had lower pregnancy rate than uterine tone 1, but higher than uterine tone 3 (p<0,05). Average plasmatic progesterone concentration on day 8 post xvi ovulation was higher than on day 4 post ovulation, with p<0,0002. / Mestre

Orientador : José Luiz Moraes Vasconcelos / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os fatores que afetam as taxas de concepção (TC) de vacas Holandesas em lactação que receberam IA ou TE. O experimento foi conduzido em uma fazenda localizada em Descalvado, SP, Brasil durante os meses de outubro de 2003 a setembro de 2004. As vacas eram ordenhadas 3 vezes ao dia e alimentadas com ração total devidamente balanceada. Vacas ciclando (n=1025) produzindo 33,37,2kg de leite por dia com 162103,7 de DEL receberam PGF2 e foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: IA ou TE. As vacas que apresentaram estro 48 a 96h após aplicação de PGF2 receberam IA (n=227) 12h após detecção do estro ou TE (n=160) 6 a 8 dias após. Todas as vacas da TE receberam embriões frescos (grau I ou II) de vacas Holandesas não lactantes produzidos in vivo. Analisou-se a produção de leite média de -7 a 14 dias após o cio. A temperatura corporal foi aferida e amostras de sangue foram coletadas para análise da concentração sérica de P4 por radioimunoensaio. O diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado aos 25 e 39 dias por ultra-sonografia. Morte embrionária tardia (MET) foi considerada quando as vacas gestantes no dia 25 estavam vazias no dia 39. As variáveis taxa de ovulação, TC e MET foram analisadas pelo modelo logístico (GLM) com finalidade de verificar a influência das covariáveis na probabilidade de sucesso. Os modelos foram ajustados no software R. A taxa de ovulação foi de 84,8% (328/387) e foi afetada negativamente pelo número de dias em lactação (p=0,05). Não houve diferenças nas TC do grupo TE em relação à qualidade e estágio do embrião, e assincronia entre doadora e receptora. TC no dia 25, das vacas ovuladas foi 37,9% (74/195) para IA e 59,4% (79/133) para TE (p<0,01). Temperatura corporal no dia 7 (T7) influenciou negativamente (p=0,02) a TC nos dois tratamentos. Para avaliação da P4, foram consideradas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Objectives of this study were to evaluate factors that could affect conception rates (CR) of AI or ET in lactating Holstein cows. The trial was conducted at a dairy farm in Descalvado, SP, Brazil from October 2003 to September 2004. Cows were milked 3 times a day and fed with TMR composed by corn silage balanced to meet nutritional requirements for lactating dairy cows. Cycling cows (n=1025) producing 33.37.2 kg milk/d with 162.0103.7 DIM received PGF2 injection and were randomly assigned to received AI or ET. Cows detected in heat between 48 and 96 h after PGF2 injection (n=387) received AI (n=227) 12 h after heat detection or ET (n=160) 6 to 8 days later. All cows from ET received in vivo produced fresh embryos (grade I or II) from non lactating Holstein cows. Milk yield for each cow was recorded -7 to 14 d after estrus. Body temperature was recorded and blood samples were collected on days 7 and 14 to analyze serum P4 concentration by radioimmunoassay. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasound on day 25 and 39. Embryonic loss (EL) was considered when cows pregnant on day 25 were not on day 39. The variables ovulation rate, conception rate and embryonic loss were analyzed by logistic model (GLM), to evaluate the influence of covariates on probability of success. The models were adjusted in the public software R. Ovulation rate was 84.8% (328/387) and was only negatively affected (p=0.05) by days in milk. There were no differences in probability of CR when stage and grade of embryo and donor-recipient synchrony were analyzed. CR at day 25 of ovulated cows was 37.9% (74/195) for AI and 59.4% (79/133) for ET (p<0.01). Body temperature at day 7 affected negatively (p=0.02) CR in both treatments. To evaluate P4, only cows with synchrony zero (n=191) were used from both groups and 49.2% (94/191) were pregnant on day 25, 37.5% (39/104) on AI group and 63.2% (55/87; p<0.01)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a importância do local de transferência embrionária (metade superior ou inferior da cavidade endometrial) nas taxas de implantação e gestação. Metodologia: Foram randomizadas 400 transferências embrionárias, guiadas por ultra-sonografia em dois grupos, de acordo com a distância entre a camada de basal de endométrio fúndico e a ponta do cateter de transferência, no ato do procedimento. O Grupo 1 (n200) correspondeu às transferências sendo realizadas a uma distância <50% do comprimento da cavidade endometrial, isto é, na metade superior da cavidade. O Grupo II (n=200) correspondeu às transferências realizadas a uma distância 50% do comprimento da cavidade endometrial, isto é, na metade inferior da cavidade. Os dados foram avaliados pelos testes t de Student, Mann-Whitney e exato de Fisher. Resultados: As características gerais da população estudada e das transferências tiveram distribuição igualitária (p>0,05) entre Grupos l e II. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos com relação às taxas de implantação embrionária (Grupo 1: 16,0%; Grupo II: 16,4% p=0,86) e gestação (Grupo 1: 35,0%; Grupo II: 29,5% p=0,28). Conclusão: As taxas de implantação e gestação são similares, quando os embriões são colocados na metade superior ou inferior da cavidade endometrial. / Abstract: The objective of the present study was to determine the importance of the site of embryo transfer (upper or lower haif endometrial cavity) on implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Methods: A total of 400 transfers guided by ultrasound were randomly assigned to two groups according to the distance between the basal layer of fundal endometrium and the catheter tip at the time of embryo placement. Group 1 (n=200) consísted of transfers corresponding to a distance of <50% of the endometrial cavity length, i.e. transfer in upper haif of the cavity; and group li (n=200) consisted of transfers corresponding to a distance of 50% of the endometrial cavity Iength, ie. transfer in lower haif of cavity. The Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Fishers exact test were used where appropriate. Results: The general characteristics of the study population and the main transfer cycle characteristics had an equal distribution (p>0.05) between groups 1 and II. No significant difference in implantation (Group 1: 16.0%; Group II: 16.4% p=0.86) or pregnancy rates (Group 1: 35.0%; Group II: 29.5% p=0.28) was observed between groups 1 and II. Conclusion: The implantation or pregnancy rates were similar whether the embryos were deposited in the upper or lower half of the endometrial cavity. / Orientador: José Gonçalves Franco Júnior / Coorientador: Anaglória Pontes / Banca: Marilza Vieira Cunha Rudge / Banca: Eliana Milanesi Rubio / Banca: João Batista Alcântara Oliveira / Banca: Mário Cavagna / Doutor

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Infertility is currently a serious problem that is escalating, not only in South Africa, but also worldwide. In Cape Town, a culturally diverse, urban community of approximately 1000 couples are referred to the Groote Schuur Hospital Infertility Clinic annually. Although infertility is primarily regarded as a medical condition, the treatments have emotional effects on infertile couples due to the recurring highs and lows that often accompany treatments. This study aimed to qualitatively explore and understand the emotional and psychological experiences of infertility and its treatments (specifically In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer). Social constructionism is based on the premise that realities are not constructed in a vacuum but rather undergo a process whereby the subjective and inter-subjective experiences over time and through cultural processes come to be regarded as truths. These truths become internalised and function as lenses through which we see ourselves, compose and invent ourselves accordingly, making sense of what would otherwise have been chaotic and meaningless experiences. Additional aims were to examine women's experiences of infertility care whilst undergoing treatment and describe their experiences of coping with infertility and In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET). Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 21 women presenting with primary infertility at a fertility clinic. This study utilised an ethnographic case study design. The results of the study suggested that women perceived themselves as not conforming to a dominant belief system that promotes motherhood as the most important role for women. The women described their 'failure' to fulfill socio-cultural expectations as emotionally turbulent. Some of the psychological responses to infertility included feelings of disappointment, shock, denial, devastation, anger, frustration, sadness, inadequacy, poor self-image and self-esteem. The women's personal accounts of their experiences of In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) revealed that they found the treatment to be highly stressful, with emotional bouts of anxiety, nervousness, excitement and optimism. A psychological synopsis of infertility and IVF-ET is infertility and IVF-ET presents. The findings in this study suggest the need for the incorporation of 6 presented. This diagrammatic representation shows the intensity of the emotional rollercoaster that psychosocial intervention into infertility management. Greater attention to the psychological and emotional repercussions of infertility treatment could lead to a more personalised approach which, in turn, would optimise patient satisfaction and also prepare couples for the demands of the program by informing them about better ways of coping.

Platelet activating factor (PAF) was administered to female mice in order to investigate its effect on ovulation rate and on oocyte quality including their in-vitro embryonic development, implantation and uterine receptivity. In experiment 1, 4-week-old female mice were assigned to receive PAF or phosphate buffered saline for 4 consecutive days. On the second day of this treatment, pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin was administered and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) 48 h later, after which copulation occurred. Oocytes were collected on the following day and evaluated. The mean number of oocytes and zygotes (two pronuclear stage embryos) recovered from the PAF-treated group was not diffferent from the control group (31 versus 27), but the proportion of zygotes was higher in PAF-treated group than in controls (83 versus 68%, P < 0.05, PAF versus controls). Although the rate of in-vitro first cleavage was not different in the two groups (82 versus 69% respectively), hatching was higher in the PAF-treated group than control mice (99 versus 83%, P < 0.01). In experiment 2, the in-vitro developed blastocysts from experiment 1 were transferred into the uterus of day 3 pseudopregnant PAF-treated or control recipients. Three different combinations of intrauterine transfer were performed; PAF embryo to control recipient (PAF → C: n = 19), control embryo to PAF recipient (C → PAF: n = 19), and control embryo to control recipient (C → C: n = 22). Implantation and abortion were assessed on day 19 post-transfer. The implantation rate of C → PAF (23.7%) was lower than C → C (31.1%, P < 0.05), but was not different from PAF → C (31.2%). Further, C → PAF showed a higher abortion rate per embryo (29.6%) than PAF → C (12.7%, P < 0.05), but was not different from C → C (24.4%). In the present study, PAF administration enables females to produce oocytes with a higher potential for fertilization, in vitro development and implantation, but has a detrimental effect on uterine receptivity to embryos.

Manipulation of the reproductive tract results in increased levels of prostaglandin, which may, in turn, reduce pregnancy rates in embryo recipients. Administration of a prostaglandin inhibitor prior to embryo transfer improves pregnancy rates in cows. Embryo transfer into heifers is more difficult and often requires additional manipulation of the uterus. This study was designed to determine whether administration of the prostaglandin inhibitor, flunixin meglumine, immediately prior to embryo transfer increases pregnancy rates in heifers. Heifers (n=466) were divided into two equal groups based on BCS (range=6-7) and weight (range=256-455). Estrus was synchronized in heifers by giving two injections of prostaglandin F_2" (PGF) eleven days apart with a two day stagger between groups. Heifers in each group were watched for estrus for four days following the second PGF injection. Each heifer detected in estrus (n~389; 83%) was palpated seven days later for the presence and location of an acceptable corpus luteum; development of the reproductive tract (uterine tract score; 1=prepubertal, 5=mature tract) and amount of uterine tone (uterine tone score; l=high tone, 2=medium tone, 3=low tone) were also estimated. The 352 heifers that had an acceptable CL were paired based on day of detected estrus, body condition score, body weight, and uterine tone score. One heifer of each pair was randomly assigned to receive 10ml of flunixin meglumine (IM) just prior to embryo transfer. Time between injection until completion of embryo transfer ranged from 2-25 minutes. All heifers received a single frozen/thawed embryo transferred by one of two experienced technicians. Data collected at the time of transfer included cervix score (1-3; 1=easily penetrated, 3=difficult), ease of transfer score (1-3; l=gun easily manipulated to site of transfer, 3=difficult), embryo placement in the uterine horn (U=upper 1/3, M=middle 1/3, L=lower 1/3), and technician. Pregnancy results were obtained 90 days after transfer via rectal palpation. The logistics procedures and chi-square analysis of SAS were used for data analysis.

Abstract Fertility declines with advancing age and the number of couples seeking infertility treatment at an older age is constantly increasing. A top quality embryo is believed to have the highest potential for implantation and development into a child. A better understanding of the relative importance of patient and treatment characteristics and of embryo quality could help to optimise the existing therapeutic schemes and the safety of in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). In this work, databases of five Finnish infertility clinics were studied retrospectively. Data on treatments performed in the years 1994–2005 were collected. A total of 19,000 treatment cycles were analysed. Special attention was paid to the relative significance of the transfer of top quality embryos with regards to pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth and cost of treatment in the general IVF/ICSI patient population and in groups with expected poor outcome. The results showed that the transfer of a top quality embryo is associated with a better chance of pregnancy and live birth. However, it does not diminish the probability of miscarriage. Both low and high BMI increase the miscarriage rate. Advancing age and a positive history of previous miscarriages are also associated with a higher probability of miscarriage. In addition, the need for hormonal substitution in cases of frozen-embryo transfer is a risk factor of miscarriage, probably because of suboptimal endometrial function. Since the transfer of several embryos leads to multiple pregnancies, which are associated with a high risk of maternal and fetal complications, elective single embryo transfer (eSET) of a top quality embryo allows all additional good quality embryos to be frozen and transferred later in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. The present work demonstrates that eSET is a safe treatment strategy at least until the age of 40. However, it might not be performed in women with fewer than four collected oocytes, since the prognosis might remain poor even if the response is improved in a following cycle. When eSET is applied routinely and on a large scale, it diminishes treatment costs while increasing the number of deliveries occurring at term, making IVF/ICSI at the same time safer and more affordable even to patients without access to reimbursed IVF treatment.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Robert L. Weaber / The dynamic environments, varying production practices, and general biological uncertainty associated with bovine reproduction makes informed, strategic decision making regarding the implementation of bovine reproductive technology a great challenge for producers. One might also argue that traditionally, ET’s primary focus of genetic improvement has greatly overshadowed any consideration of short to mid-term financial gain. To accomplish the objective of creating an economic risk analysis tool for user-defined embryo transfer (ET) programs, a circumstantial, stochastic prediction model utilizing @Risk© software to generate comparable economic values as an aid in the ET decision making process has been created. More realistic than the use of means in deterministic models, distributions defining the biological uncertainty for a multitude of reproductive outcomes are estimated through extensive literature review and limited industry sources. Applying the Latin Hypercube variation of Monte Carlo simulation, a sample value from the descriptive distribution associated with each stochastic variable is included in an iteration of the simulation. Through large numbers of iterations with dynamic combinations of variables, the process culminates in a distribution of possible values for the net present value (NPV), annuity equivalent net present value (ANPV), and return on investment (ROI) associated with the model described scenario of in-vivo derived (IVD) or in-vitro produced (IVP). Finally, using the distributions of NPV, ANPV, and ROI a decision maker can assess the economic risk linked to a user-defined ET program. To further complicate matters, cattle producers are now presented with a choice between two primary methods of ET. IVD ET describes the traditional method of ET that involves follicular stimulation and insemination of a donor female followed by the collection of fertilized embryos from the uterus. IVP commonly refers to the method of generating transferable embryos by collecting oocytes by ovarian aspiration; in-vitro fertilization of the collected oocytes; and incubated maturation of the fertilized oocytes. Encompassed within the two methods of ET exist several different sub-techniques, principally regarding the exception or inclusion of follicular synchronization and/or stimulation before ovum pick-up (OPU) in IVP procedures. Ultimately, operators must decide whether ET programs, of any type, serve as an economically viable means to increase rate of genetic improvement or take advantage of marketing opportunities. Although several economic value predictors for ET programs already exist (Beltrame et al. 2010), the opportunity remains to create more applicable models for Bos taurus beef production and varying marketing avenues in the U.S. This circumstantial, stochastic simulation model can serve as an aid in the ET decision making process by generating output that allows for the financial risk and sensitivity analysis of a user-defined ET program.