Evaluation of Embryonic Sex Ratio in the Left and Right Uterine Horns of Super Ovulated Goats

The objectives of this study are to determine whether there are differences in the number of ovulations between the left and right ovaries, and the male embryo implantation between the left and right uterine horn in goats. Twentyfour multiparous goats were superovulated and used as donors. An intra-vaginal progesterone-impregnated CIDR device was inserted to the estrous synchronization donors for 13 days during the early breeding season. Super ovulations were induced by eight doses of Folltropin with its concentrations decreasing starting at days 10-13 of the estrus cycle. All goats were inseminated with 6×108 sperm twice via artificial insemination 42 h and 50 h after removal of CIDR. Semen from three goats, that on average sired an even sex ratio (1:1) for X and Y sperm, were mixed and deposited into the cervix. The embryos from the left and right uterine horn were collected by surgery on the sixth day following insemination and evaluated based on morphological evaluation of developmental stage and quality. The numbers of total corpora lutea, eggs, and embryos per right ovary (6.3 ± 1.2, 5.7 ± 1.7, 5.1 ± 2.1) was significantly greater than the left ovary (5.1 ± 1.4, 4.3 ± 2.0, 4.0 ± 1.9). One hundred ninety-eight embryos (95 from the left uterine horn and 103 from the right uterine horn) were sex-typed by DNA analyses for the amelogenin gene. There were significant differences (p