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Successful in vitro techniques depend on the possibility to mimic in vivo conditions. For this reason, knowledge on reproductive physiology is necessary to define an efficient entirely in vitro system to produce embryos. A better understanding of the processes and the factors underlying in vivo fertilisation in the dog is necessar. In vitro oocyte maturation had been extensively studied, but we could wonder if in vivo processes are identical with what was observed during in vitro studies. Improving reproductive biotechnologies therefore requires the realization of fundamental studies to better describe and understand phenomena. This review presents a summary of current available knowledge about dog reproductive physiology and biology of the canine oocyte development and maturation, specifically those factors influencing in vitro developmental competence of the oocyte. An understanding of the mechanisms controlling oocyte maturation and development is a particularly important target because it would be helpful to developing assisted breeding in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attainment of a feasible in vitro capacitation is clearly dependent on the maintenance of suitable energy levels of mammalian spermatozoa. This is because of the fact that all the sperm changes related to capacitation, such as the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation or changes in motility patterns, are energy-consuming. Canine semen can be capacitated and undergoes acrosome reaction in vitro and spermatozoa are able to fertilize homologous oocytes in in vitro culture conditions. The aim of this paper is to describe the recent research of the authors in the field. Recent and classical reviews and new trends regarding semen prelevation, evaluation and preparation for in vitro fertilization in dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]