Abstract
Protein supplementation during in vitro maturation can profoundly affect both the rate and overall efficiency of the maturation procedure [Biol. Reprod. 66 (2002) 901]. The present study was conducted to assess the ability of different concentrations (1, 5, and 10%) of bovine follicular fluid (bFF) to support in vitro maturation of oocytes and subsequent developmental capacity. The bFF was derived either from competent follicles (>8 mm) obtained by transvaginal recovery following superovulation or from a pool of small follicles (2–5 mm) from abbatoir-derived ovaries. Bovine oocytes were cultured for 24 h in synthetic oviduct fluid medium (m-SOF) supplemented with polyvinylpyrrolidone. Following fertilization and embryo culture, more oocytes ( P<0.05) reached the blastocyst stage when oocytes were cultured with 5% bFF from competent follicles (41±3.7%) compared with bFF derived from small follicles (16±2.9%). Estradiol and recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone added to the competent bFF during maturation acted in synergy to increase blastocyst production rate ( P<0.05); this blastocyst production rate (57±1.2%) was higher than those obtained with the addition of these two hormones to bFF derived from small follicles (26±2.9%). The quality of blastocysts obtained was reflected by inner cell mass (51.30±3.5 and 25.50±3.7) and trophectoderm cell numbers (99.72±2.5 and 94.80±4.7) for bFF from competent and small follicles, respectively. In conclusion, follicular fluid originating from competent follicles increased the developmental competence of abbatoir-derived oocytes.
Published Version
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