Current relevant knowledge on dog reproductive physiology - a review.

Successful in vitro techniques depend on the possibility to mimic in vivo conditions. For this reason, knowledge onreproductive physiology is necessary to define an efficient entirely in vitro system to produce embryos. A betterunderstanding of the processes and the factors underlying in vivo fertilisation in the dog is necessar. In vitro oocytematuration had been extensively studied, but we could wonder if in vivo processes are identical with what wasobserved during in vitro studies. Improving reproductive biotechnologies therefore requires the realization offundamental studies to better describe and understand phenomena. This review presents a summary of currentavailable knowledge about dog reproductive physiology and biology of the canine oocyte development andmaturation, specifically those factors influencing in vitro developmental competence of the oocyte. An understandingof the mechanisms controlling oocyte maturation and development is a particularly important target because it wouldbe helpful to developing assisted breeding in this species.