Studies on the in vitro maturation of cat oocytes

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of gonadotrophin and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) supplemented Synthetic Oviduct Fluid (SOF) and Ham's F-10 media on the in vitro maturation of cat oocytes. Cocytes collected from spayed stray queens served as the material of the study. The ovaries were brought to the laboratory within 2 h in PBS solution at 38 degreesC. Recovered oocytes were divided into two groups (Group 1: SOF + 0,4% BSA + 10 mug/ml FSH + 10 mug/ml LH, group 2: Ham's F-10 + 0,4% BSA + 10 mug/ml FSH + 10 mug/ml LH) and left for maturation in an incubator at 38.5 degreesC for 48 h under atmosphere containing 5% O-2, 5% CO2 and 90% N-2 and almost 100% humidity. Oocytes were then fixed and stained. The maturation status of the oocytes was evaluated under a phase-contrast microscope at x400 magnification. Data were compared by using Student's t-test. Group 1 had 209 oocytes and group 2 had 207: a total of 416. In group 1 54.06% (113/209) and in group 2 29.00% (60/207) of the oocytes reached the M II stage. The difference between these values was statistically significant. At the end of the study, it was concluded that SOF medium was superior to Ham's F-10 medium for the in vitro maturation of cat oocytes. These results also showed that a satisfactory background for in vitro fertilization studies of cat oocytes has been established.