Transcervical Endoscopic Intrauterine Artificial Insemination in Santa Inês Sheep

Given the endoscopic possibilities and the need to improve AI in sheep, the objective of this study was to develop a transcervical endoscopic technique for artificial insemination in sheep. The study was conducted on 35 ewes divided according to the artificial insemination (AI) technique applied. In a pilot study, two techniques were tested using a rigid endoscope coupled to a protective sheath totaling 3mm, in a group of ewes not subjected to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol and those subjected to the protocol (GPes, n=5 and GPep, n=10). After the pilot study, two additional techniques were tested in synchronized ewes for FTAI: a control group with cervical traction (GC, n=10) and an AI group using vaginoscopy with a multiport for the passage of a rigid endoscope (GVe, n=10). The GPes and GPep groups showed 100% (5/5) and 10% (1/10) cervical passage rates, respectively. The GPep group had 90% (9/10) superficial cervical inseminations, 10% (1/10) intrauterine inseminations, and a 10% (1/10) pregnancy rate. In GC and GVe, 3.5±3.3 and 1.6±1.2 cervical rings were passed, respectively. Additionally, semen deposition resulted in 20% (2/10) intrauterine inseminations and 80% (8/10) deep cervical inseminations for GC, while GVe had 20% (2/10) intrauterine inseminations and 80% (8/10) superficial cervical inseminations. The pregnancy rate was 20% (2/10) for both GC and GVe groups. The GPen technique proved efficient for hysteroscopy; however, GPep was not efficient for AI due to the presence of typical estrus mucus. Nevertheless, it laid the foundation for the development of GVe, which showed promise in gynecological evaluations, enabling intrauterine AI and a complete gynecological assessment.