Effect of oocyte harvesting techniques on in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization in sheep

• Published in: Small ruminant research 2000-04, Vol.36 (1), p.63-67
• Main Authors: Wani, N.A, Wani, G.M, Khan, M.Z, Salahudin, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: In vitro fertilization; In vitro maturation; Oocyte harvesting
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-4488(99)00097-8

Three different methods, viz., puncture , aspiration and slicing were used for harvesting the oocytes of ovine ovaries. The aim was to determine an efficient method for oocyte harvesting and its effect on subsequent in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization. The average total number of oocytes recovered per ovary was significantly higher by puncture (9.5 ± 0.45) and slicing (9.5 ± 0.40) than by the aspiration method (6.8 ± 0.30) ( P < 0.05). However, the percentage of good quality oocytes was higher in the aspiration method (64.4%), compared to the puncture (54.7%) or slicing (54.3%) methods. The oocytes obtained were matured and fertilized in vitro using the spermatozoa collected from the epididymus of slaughtered rams. There was no significant difference in the subsequent percentage of oocytes maturing and being fertilized in vitro between the three methods of oocyte harvesting. It can be concluded that all the three methods can be used for the collection of oocytes in sheep, without any detrimental effect on the subsequent maturation and fertilization rate. Also the spermatozoa collected from the epididymus of dead/slaughtered rams can be used successfully for the in vitro fertilization of oocytes in sheep.