Development to the blastocyst stage of pig embryos cultured in the amniotic fluid of developing chick embryos.

Early-stage pig embryos were collected from superovulated donor gilts (60-72 hr post hCG injection) and co-cultured in modified Brinster medium for ovum culture (mBMOC-2) + porcine oviduct epithelial cells (POEC) or in the amniotic fluid of a developing chick embryo (CEAm). The development rate to the compacted morulae or blastocyst stage was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in embryos co-cultured in CEAm (60.0%) than those co-cultured in mBMOC-2 + POEC (18.0%). The results indicate that CEAm could be used for production of compacted morulae or blastocysts from early-stage pig embryos. This culture system could also be valuable in situations where a CO2 controlled incubator is not available.