The oviduct provides the optimal environment for the transport of sperm and oocyte at the
earliest stages of mammalian embryo development. During the early postfertilization period,
several major developmental events occur in the embryo including (i) the first cleavage
division,(ii) activation of the embryonic genome,(iii) compaction of the morula, and (iv)
formation of the blastocyst. Most of these events are initiated in the oviduct. The absence of
assistance from the oviduct may compromise the developmental ability of the cattle embryo …