Embryo Transfer and Oocyte Maturation in Dromedary Camels

Advances in reproductive biotechnology have gradually transformed the management of dromedary camel breeding, with particular focus on in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo transfer to enhance genetic gain and population sustainability. Oocyte maturation protocols aim to guide immature oocytes collected from donor ovaries through nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, typically to the metaphase II stage, under controlled culture conditions. Mature oocytes may then be fertilised in vitro or employed in somatic cell nuclear transfer to generate embryos ranging from early cleavage stages to blastocysts. Embryo transfer techniques, whether surgical or transcervical, enable precise placement of embryos into synchronised recipients, improving conception rates and reducing the generation interval. Despite species-specific challenges—such as variable follicular dynamics, sensitivity to oxidative stress and unique reproductive anatomy—optimised culture media, hormonal supplements and tailored transfer protocols are steadily enhancing success rates. These combined approaches hold promise for preserving elite genetics, bolstering herd productivity and supporting conservation initiatives across arid regions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have leveraged somatic cell nuclear transfer to generate multiple cloned dromedary camels and examined the factors that influence cloning efficiency. A seminal investigation correlated blastocyst formation rates with surgical embryo transfer outcomes across diverse camel breeds, demonstrating that oocyte source critically affects both pregnancy establishment and healthy offspring production. This work established a robust framework for large-scale cloning and highlighted surgical transfer as a reliable method for achieving consistent gestation in recipient camels.

Embryo Transfer and Oocyte Maturation in Dromedary Camels publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in embryo transfer and oocyte maturation in dromedary camels across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

In vitro maturation (IVM): Laboratory process by which immature oocytes complete nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation prior to fertilisation or nuclear transfer.

Embryo transfer (ET): Introduction of preimplantation-stage embryos into a synchronised recipient female to establish pregnancy.

Blastocyst: Stage of embryonic development characterised by a fluid-filled cavity and distinct inner cell mass and trophectoderm layers, typically observed 7–8 days post-fertilisation.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT): Cloning technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated oocyte to generate a genetically identical embryo.

References

1. Blastocyst formation, embryo transfer and breed comparison in the first reported large scale cloning of camels. Scientific Reports (2021).
2. Development and pregnancy rates of Camelus dromedarius-cloned embryos derived from in vivo- and in vitro-matured oocytes. Animal Bioscience (2021).
3. Insulin-like growth factor-1 improves in vitro meiotic resumption of dromedary camel (Camelus Dromedarius) oocytes. Animal Reproduction (2023).
4. Factors affecting the pregnancy rates post embryo transfer in dromedary camels: Quality and number of recovered embryos.. Benha Veterinary Medical Journal (2021).