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J.C.-A. was supported by the Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU project ref. INDI24/13.

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Cuervo-Arango, JuanCorresponding AuthorMartinez-Bovi, RebecaCorresponding Author

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April 12, 2025
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The Influence of Aspiration Pressure, Follicle Flushing Method and Needle Rotation During Single-Operator OPU Technique on Oocyte Recovery and Embryo Production in the Mare

Publicated to:Animals. 15 (6): 832- - 2025-03-14 15(6), DOI: 10.3390/ani15060832

Authors: Cuervo-Arango, Juan; Sala-Ayala, Laura; Marquez-Moya, Adrian; Martinez-Bovi, Rebeca

Affiliations

CEU Univ, Univ Cardenal Herrera CEU, Fac Vet Med, Equine Fertil Grp, Valencia 46115, Spain - Author

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two aspiration pressures (75 vs. 150 mmHg), the follicle flushing method (injection pump controlled by a foot pedal vs. a plastic syringe) and the twisting of the OPU needle on oocyte recovery and in vitro embryo production. OPU data from a total of 104 warmblood sport mares belonging to a commercial OPU-ICSI program were collected as part of a prospective study split into three experiments. Each mare was used only once for OPU. In Experiment 1, the mares' follicles were aspirated using either a high aspiration pressure (flow rate of 1.33 mL/s; n = 18) or low aspiration pressure (0.75 mL/s; n = 18); in Experiment 2, follicles were flushed using either a manual method (plastic syringe, n = 18) or an automatic method (injection pump controlled by a foot pedal, n = 18); and in Experiment 3, the follicles were aspirated by scraping the follicle wall with needle rotation (needle twisting, n = 16) or without needle rotation (control, n = 16). In all the experiments, the same OPU operator and technician searching oocytes were used, and the allocation of each mare to the different treatment groups was randomized. The overall mean oocyte recovery rate of the study was 54.2 +/- 17.1%, and the mean number of embryos per OPU-ICSI session was 1.9 +/- 1.6. The oocyte recovery rate was not influenced by any of the parameters investigated (p > 0.05). However, high aspiration pressure (150 mmHg) tended to yield oocytes with lower maturation (51.6%; p = 0.09) and blastocyst rates (20.6%; p = 0.08) following IVM and ICSI, respectively, compared with the low aspiration group (64.4% MII rate and 31.4% blastocyst rate). In conclusion, increasing aspiration pressure does not increase oocyte recovery. Furthermore, when a single operator performs the OPU (holding the ovary and handling the needle simultaneously), needle rotation to scrape the follicle wall does not improve oocyte recovery.

Keywords

Assisted reproductive techniqueDevelopmental capacityHorseIn vitro embryo productioIn vitro embryo productionIntracytoplasmic sperm injectionMorphologyNuclear transferOocyte recoveryOvum pick-upRateTransvaginal follicle aspirationVacuum

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Animals due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 15/86, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-08-04:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 1 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Cuervo-Arango Lecina, Juan) and Last Author (Martinez Bovi, Rebeca).

the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been Cuervo-Arango Lecina, Juan and Martinez Bovi, Rebeca.