Equine Reproduction Lighthouse

03/11/2026

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗜𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 🧬

In embryonic development, big things start with small steps!

Cleavage is the process in which a fertilized oocyte divides into multiple cells, marking an important stage in early embryo development.

Understanding the science behind each stage helps us appreciate the complexity of equine reproduction and the technology that makes it possible.

31/10/2026

💥𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐑 𝐒𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭!🐴 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐰 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Study Design:
• 6 stallions; 48 ej******es split into 4 aliquots per collection
• Four cryoprotectants tested at 5%: glycerol, methylformamide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide
• Four cooling rates applied: –1°C/min, –0.25°C/min, –4°C/min with 15-minute stabilization, –4°C/min with 75-minute stabilization
• Post-thaw assessment: total & progressive motility, rapid s***m percentage (computer-assisted s***m analysis), plasma membrane stability, & mitochondrial membrane potential (flow cytometry)

Key Results — Cooling Rate:
• –1°C/min consistently produced the best post-thaw outcomes across all parameters & all cryoprotectants
• Slower & staged cooling rates produced progressively inferior results for motility & mitochondrial membrane potential

Key Results — Cryoprotectant:
• Glycerol: superior s***m kinetics & mitochondrial membrane potential; lower plasma membrane stability than dimethylformamide
• Dimethylformamide: highest plasma membrane stability; moderate kinetics
• Methylformamide: similar kinetics to glycerol; intermediate plasma membrane stability
• Dimethylacetamide: lowest s***m kinetics across all parameters

Conclusions:
• A cooling rate of –1°C/min is the primary determinant of post-thaw s***m quality, regardless of cryoprotectant used
• Glycerol remains superior for s***m kinetics & mitochondrial function; dimethylformamide offers the strongest membrane protection
• Dimethylacetamide is not recommended as a standalone cryoprotectant for equine semen

(Frasson MS, Oliveira SN, Dell’Aqua Jr JA, Rodrigues LT, Cavaleiro TMS, Freitas-Dell’Aqua CP, Crespilho AM, de Mello Papa P, Segabinazzi L, Papa FO. 2025. Unraveling the effect of glycerol and amides and different cooling rates on post-thawed s***m parameters of equine frozen semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 145:105286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105286)

30/10/2026

29/10/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐬?

Immature oocytes are reproductive cells that have not yet completed their meiotic division inside the o***y.

Immature oocytes, distinguished by their prominent central nucleus, stand in contrast to mature oocytes, which have completed meiosis and exhibit a condensed nucleus. The oocyte and its surrounding cumulus cells are contained within a structure called a follicle, which provides the necessary environment for the oocyte’s growth and development.

The completion of oocyte maturation is complex and involves a delicate interplay of hormones, growth factors, and cellular interactions.

Both of these stages of oocytes, immature and mature alike, are suitable for Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection (ICSI) after in vitro culture.

GeneTech offers an expertly formulated in-vitro maturation media, designed to maximize the potential of immature oocytes collected, ensuring they reach full maturation for the ICSI procedure.

27/10/2026

27/10/2026

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐯𝐬. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐬🧊

One of the most common questions we hear is whether frozen embryos have lower pregnancy rates than fresh embryos.

The good news? When embryos are frozen and thawed using proper protocols, there’s very little difference in pregnancy rates. The freezing process is designed to preserve embryo viability, allowing frozen embryos to perform just as well as fresh embryos in many cases.

At the end of the day, success depends on many factors—but choosing a frozen embryo doesn’t mean compromising your chances.

Have questions about embryo freezing or transfer? We’re here to help.

26/10/2026

🔬 ISER Science Snippet

🐴 From “endometrosis” to Chronic Endometrial Degeneration: a proposed terminology change

Could clearer terminology improve how we describe chronic endometrial disease in mares? An international expert panel recommends replacing “endometrosis” with Chronic Endometrial Degeneration (CED).

Why change the name?
“Endometrosis” can be confused with endometritis and endometriosis. CED better describes chronic degenerative changes, including periglandular fibrosis alongside glandular and vascular alterations.

What are the key Findings?

• The panel strongly favoured moving away from “endometrosis”.
• CED and Chronic Equine Endometrial Degeneration (CEED) emerged as the leading alternatives.
• Neither term independently reached the predefined consensus threshold in Round 3. A final vote favoured CED, with 5 of 8 experts selecting it.
• CEED remains an accepted alternative when explicit identification of the equine species is useful.

As practical Implications, the authors recommend adopting CED in clinical communication, endometrial biopsy reports and scientific publications. CED complements the established Kenney–Doig grading system, which remains unchanged.

🔗 Read the open-access article published by Endgland and colleagues!!!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X26003754

26/10/2026

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. John Madigan has released a new book, Awakening at Birth: What the Newborn Foal Revealed About Birth, Consciousness, and Neurodevelopment. With a foreword by renowned animal behaviorist Temple Grandin, PhD, Awakening at Birth tells a medical mystery story that extends well beyond veterinary medicine: a veterinarian investigating newborn foals discovers biological signals that may change how we understand the transition to consciousness at birth, with potential implications for infant care and neurodevelopment. Awakening at Birth is available on Amazon.

Image description: Male veterinarian wearing blue jeans and a blue button-up shirt sits with a standing brown foal in a hospital stall; the foal approaches him gently; on the left side of the image is the cover of a book entitled "Awakening At Birth" with image of a chestnut-colored foal with white patch on head lying in pasture

25/10/2026