Understanding the ICSI Process
Vita Nova Reproduction Center is currently a LABORATORY ONLY setting. We DO NOT offer aspirations, board, foaling, embryo transfer, or other reproductive services. ​​
THE BASICS:
Immature oocytes are sent to us by YOUR Licensed Veterinarian for maturation culture (the process of encouraging immature oocytes to be ready to receive a sperm cell)
ICSI is an acronym for the very specific and highly specialized process of fertilizing individual oocytes (eggs) with single sperm cells
Following ICSI, fertilized oocytes are cultured in our system for 7-10 days to facilitate Embryo development
Developed Embryos (typically 20-30% of those that are fertilized) can then be sent for transfer or vitrified (frozen) for later use
Follow Our 5 Step Process Below:
1. Contact your local LICENSED Veterinarian to perform an ultrasound of your mare's ovaries to determine the number of FOLLICLES present. Good candidates for an ASPIRATION procedure should ideally have 12 or more follicles between 10-20mm in size. Keep in mind that AGED mares often have lower follicle numbers and may take multiple aspiration attempts with lower numbers before successful embryos are produced.
2. When your mare has a suitable number of follicles of an ideal size, an aspiration can be scheduled and performed by a licensed, specialized Veterinarian. OOCYTES are the unfertilized eggs that are recovered from the FOLLICLES found on your mare's ovaries. Once recovered, they can be packaged and shipped to our lab via overnight or counter to counter services at room temperature.
3. Make sure to visit our website to download our Contract and credit card form, complete and return to our Office Manager, Taryn, at office@vitanovarepro.com. Don't forget to have all stallion/semen contracts and recipient mare contracts organized ahead of scheduling your mare for aspiration.
4. Once oocytes are received, they are placed into MATURATION culture to encourage them to grow to a point where they can actually be fertilized with sperm from your desired stallion. Typically 50-60% of received immature oocytes will mature to be fertilized. ICSI is the process of FERTILIZATION of the immature oocytes with individual sperm cells. Once ICSI is complete, fertilized oocytes are then placed into culture to encourage embryo development which occurs between 7-10 days after ICSI.
5. AT THE TIME ICSI IS PERFORMED: you should have a clear-cut plan of what you plan to do with any possible resulting embryos! We can ship them to a recipient facility for fresh transfer or freeze them for a later date. *Please note-we typically prefer to warm your embryos here unless they are sent to an approved facility experienced with our thawing method. This is to help protect your investment and give each embryo the BEST possible chance for survival. If you plan to freeze, please complete a storage contract at time embryos are produced.