Small ruminant reproduction laboratory

This reproduction laboratory provides scientific and technical support to research on technical efficiency and productivity improvement in small ruminants, which favors the search for new reproductive strategies in ovine. To this end, it focuses its activity on reproductive biotechnology applied to production and genetic improvement. It also develops its activity in the characterization of breeds from the reproductive point of view, as well as the preservation of endangered livestock breeds. It is prepared for the cryopreservation of genetic material.

It is structured in two clearly differentiated areas:

Reproduction laboratory: equipped for the elaboration of hormonal profiles in serum and plasma and other determinations by ELISA.

It has:

• ALOKCA ultrasound scanner
• Wallg ELISA washer
• Vapor pressure osmometer to measure semen quality: VAPRO®. Wescor
• Microscopy
• Gas extraction cabinets
• Semen biofreezer with nitrogen tank
• CO2 and N2 incubators: water jacketed FormaTM. Thermo ScientificTM and Heraeus
• Ultrasonic bath
• Leitz microscope
• Other standard laboratory equipment

Clean room for Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and embryo culture, in positive pressure: classification ISO 7 clean room according to ISO 14644-1 according to particles contained in the air, and ISO 5 in horizontal laminar flow cabin.

It is equipped with:

• CO2/air and CO2/N2/O2 incubators: with FormaTM Series II water jacket. Thermo ScientificTM and Heracell®. Heraeus
• Two steromicroscopes in horizontal laminar flow cabinet: SZH10. Olimpus and SMZ1500. Nikon
• Cryopreservation equipment for genetic material.
• Anti-vibration table equipped with micromanipulator, inverted fluorescence microscope Axiovert135TVZeiss and for embryo enuleation and biosia the XYclone® laser objective from Hamilton Thorne, and Xyclone® Laptop System with digital camera.
• Multiporator

The experimental operating room infrastructure equipped for embryo recovery and oocyte aspiration by laparoscopy (LOPU) complements the activity of this laboratory.

The Agri-Food Research and Technology Center is registered and authorized as a team for the collection and production of sheep - goat embryos (zootechnical code: ES02ET02OV/C).