Biochemical constituents and steroid hormones in follicular fluid from antral follicles of cross-bred Malabari goats of Kerala

Abstract

ABSTRACT A study was conducted in cross-bred (CB) Malabari goats of Southern India, Kerala to assess the pattern of change in biochemical constituents of follicular fluid during final stages of follicle development. One hundred and twenty goat ovaries were collected from local slaughter houses. After classifying the antral follicles based on size i.e. small (1–3 mm) and large (3–6 mm), the follicular fluid was aspirated and analysed to estimate the concentration of various biochemical constituents including total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and steroid hormones. The results showed that the concentration of glucose in follicular fluid was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in small follicles compared the large ones. However, the level of HDL and oestrogen was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in large follicles. Follicular fluid protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, and progesterone did not differ significantly between the small and large follicles. The results of the present study suggest that the biochemical constituents in the antral follicular fluid vary with the follicular size and the data would contribute to better understanding of the follicular fluid metabolite dynamics of goat ovarian follicles which imparts oocyte competence for fertilization during later developmental stages.