Reciprocal insemination and egg transfer between ferrets and mink

Abstract

Epididymal mink sperm were injected into the uteri of 12 ferrets. On various days after insemination, 80 fertilized eggs and implantation sites including three living embryos in 11 ferrets were observed. No embryos, however, survived beyond 26 days. Ferret sperm were injected into the uteri or ovarian capsules of 22 mink; none of 165 eggs were fertilized. Ferret and mink eggs recovered at different times and from different parts of the genital tract were measured and recorded. When 77 ferret eggs were transferred into the uteri of nine mink, the majority of them developed at a slower rate than normal for a few days and then degenerated, but none implanted. Most of the 67 mink eggs transferred to the uteri of nine ferrets developed and implanted, but all degenerated after implantation. Fifty‐one ferret eggs were transferred to the uteri of eight ferrets; 13 living fetuses and four young were obtained. Eleven mink eggs were transferred into the uteri of two mink; only one implantation site was observed.It is concluded that a high proportion of ferret eggs can be fertilized if a large number of mink sperm are injected, but mink eggs cannot be fertilized by ferret sperm. Ferret blastocysts can develop for a few days in the uterus of mink, but implantation fails. Although mink blastocysts can develop and implant in the uterus of ferrets, they degenerate after implantation.