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ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

So, what exaclty is ICSI...?

As this procedure is becoming more widely used,we thought an explanation might help clients who have heard about it or are considering it. ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

An ultrasound exam is performed on the donor mare to determine how many follicles are present. Many mares have 12 to 18 immature follicles on their ovaries. This can occur at most anytime in the cycle but perhaps more often when the mare is approaching her heat cycle. The next step is TVA (transvaginal aspiration). An ultrasound guided needle is utilized to aspirate the oocytes (eggs) from as many follicles as possible. The oocytes are located under the microscope, packaged for transport and shipped to the facility performing the ICSI. At the ICSI facility they are matured for around 24 hours prior to injection. The oocytes that mature are then injected with a sperm cell. They are then incubated for 7-9 days and the injected oocytes that mature into embryos are then placed into recipient mares. If a large number of embryos are produced they can be vitrified (frozen).

There are many times this procedure is used. Some stallions only breed with ICSI because limited semen is available. Some mares that have fertility issues can still have foals when ICSI is used. If multiple foals are desired it can achieve this in a shorter period of time than one per cycle.

This procedure, although successful much of the time, is not a guarantee for success. Not all ooctyes mature, not all injected oocytes make embryos, and not all embryos transferred make a pregnancy. Most mares “ICSI’d” do produce foals. Royal Vista Southwest has established many pregnancies from ICSI embryos as well as frozen ICSI embryos.

This technology, while still recently utilized commercially in the horse industry, is proving to be invaluable to those who might otherwise be unable to obtain a foal with tradition breeding methods. Any of our staff would be happy to go over any further quetions you may have regarding ICSI management services with Royal Vista Southwest or the ICSI process in general.