Department of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer

The Department of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is one of our departments, consisting of 3 Professors, 1 Associate Professor, 1 Dr. Faculty Member, and 1 Research Assistant, totaling 6 academic staff. Our department also provides postgraduate doctoral and master's education, currently having 5 doctoral and 13 master's students. 

The Department of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer is a comprehensive scientific field aimed at enhancing reproductive performance in farm and pet animals; it encompasses reproductive physiology, endocrinology, cryobiology, and assisted reproductive techniques. Our department, specializing in animal reproduction, teaches and researches methods for managing fertility, infertility, and sterility processes in both male and female animals, as well as diagnosing and treating reproductive problems. The primary aim of the department is to maximize productivity in the livestock sector by developing advanced artificial insemination techniques. 

Within the veterinary faculty undergraduate curriculum, theoretical and practical education on reproductive endocrinology and physiology, reproduction in farm and pet animals, and artificial insemination techniques is provided to fourth and fifth-year students. The educational process includes courses covering critical stages such as the collection, storage, and thawing of sperm from different animal species, as well as monitoring reproduction, synchronization protocols, and determining the appropriate timing for insemination. Additionally, stages of embryo transfer, oocyte and embryo evaluation methods, and techniques for andrological examination are emphasized. In the context of in vitro spermatological analyses, the macroscopic and microscopic examination of sperm; motility, viability (dead-alive ratio), morphological assessment, concentration, and membrane integrity tests (HOS test, etc.) are taught in detail.

Our department has a clinical building with approximately 600 m2 of closed area. In the clinical building, student applications, research activities of our faculty members, and clinical activities are conducted. The applications carried out within the scope of clinical activities are generally listed below.

1. Artificial insemination with fresh or frozen sperm in different animal species, 
2. Storage and preservation of sperm in farm and pet animals, 
3. Year-round artificial insemination practices in dogs, 
4. Monitoring the timing of estrus (heat) in dogs and cats and determining the most suitable time for insemination,
5. Determining whether male animals can be used for breeding based on their breed characteristics through andrological examination, collecting ejaculate for spermatological examination, and preparing a spermatological examination report based on the results of the examination,
6. Synchronization applications of estrus in farm animals. Artificial insemination is performed by stimulating estrus in animals where estrus signs cannot be detected or that do not show estrus.
7. Basic spermatological examinations such as motility, dead-alive ratio, morphological examination, density (concentration), and membrane integrity tests are conducted on fresh or thawed sperm samples, and a spermatological examination report is prepared, 
8. Advanced spermatological examinations are performed on fresh or thawed sperm samples using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy to assess plasma membrane acrosome integrity, dead-alive ratio, mitochondrial activity, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation level, apoptosis, intracellular calcium level, and nitrite-nitrate levels.
9. Embryo production (from in vitro slaughter material) is carried out.
10. Sperm is obtained from the reproductive organs of deceased male animals (post mortem testis-epididymis), frozen, and preserved for use in artificial insemination.
11. In laboratory animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.), reproduction is monitored, and artificial insemination is performed using the collected ejaculate.   
12. In sheep and goats, estrus synchronization is performed during and outside the breeding season (heat stimulation), and insemination is carried out with fresh sperm stored at +4 °C for short-term storage of two to three days and thawed frozen sperm.
13.  Freezing and storing ram and buck sperm (stored for many years at -196 °C in liquid nitrogen tanks).
14. Embryos, oocytes, and their quality are evaluated, and reports are prepared.
15. In vivo embryo production, embryo transfer, and embryo freezing applications are performed in cattle.