Recovery Efficiency of Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) according to Collection Frequency for Ovum Pick-up (OPU) Method in Hanwoo Cow

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the oocyte recovery efficiency through having an OPU session once and twice a week. Also, the oocyte recovery efficiency was examined by using OPU after two and three months of rest period. Six cows were used for oocytes collection and were randomly divided into two groups. In experiment 1, OPU sessions were conducted once and twice a week to collect oocytes. The collected oocytes between once and twice OPU groups were classified into four groups (grade 1, 2, 3 and 4) according to the quality of cumulus cells and ooplasm. Based on the result, the percentage of collected oocytes per aspirated follicle number was similar between once and twice OPU session groups (65.5 ± 1.9 and 68.7 ± 1.4 vs.). However, the percentage of grade 1 oocytes from the twice OPU session group was significantly high compared with that of the once a week OPU session group (25.3 ± 0.9 and 32.5 ± 1.2% vs. once and twice session group, respectively, p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the group with three months of rest period tended to have a high percentage of collected oocyte compared with the group with two months of rest period (64.6 and 70.9% vs. 2 and 3 months rest group, respectively, p = 0.62). The percentage of grade 4 in the group with three months of rest period was significantly low compared with the group with two months of rest period group (27.3 and 36.5% vs. two and three months rest group, respectively, p = 0.05). In conclusion, twice a week OPU session is suitable for collection of high quality oocytes by using OPU, and three months of rest period is needed for the recovery of oocyte quality of a donor cow.