奶牛卵泡超数同步发育及其卵母细胞的发育潜能

目的建立促奶牛卵泡超数同步发育的方法,并利用体细胞核移植和分子技术评价来自这些卵泡的卵母细胞发育潜能。方法用E2-P4对淘汰的高产奶牛进行联合处理后,分别对其实施不同组合的外源促性腺激素处理[FSH12h组,FSH48h组,FSH48h-LH6h组（简称LH6h组）,FSH48h-LH26h组（简称LH26h组）]以促进其卵泡超数同步发育;然后从卵泡中回收COCs进行体外成熟,排放第一极体的卵供作优质种牛的体细胞核转移（nucleartransfer,NT）受体,以评价卵的发育潜能。结果E2-P4能成功地诱导奶牛卵巢中产生一个新的卵泡起始波,并能保证卵泡在外源促性腺激素作用下实现超数同步发育;上述四组不同组合外源促性腺激素处理的卵母细胞衍生的NT重构胚经体内培养7d后,后3组的囊胚发育率显著高于FSH12h组和对照组（P〈0.01）;将这些克隆囊胚移植同步发情的受体牛子宫后,仅LH26h组的卵所获得的克隆胚能实现全程发育（直至克隆小牛出生）。经RT-PCR分析颗粒细胞中FSHr、LHr和连接蛋白43（Connexin43,Cx43）等mRNA含量变化,以及Western印迹分析其Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达水平的变化,证实该组卵巢提供的同步发育卵泡为早期闭锁卵泡。结论E2-P4-FSH48h-LH26h组合处理可人为调控牛卵泡的同步发育;处于早期闭锁状态卵泡的卵母细胞具备较高的发育潜能。     

不同直径山羊卵泡卵母细胞的发育特征及体外发育能力

目的研究山羊卵巢表面不同直径卵泡卵母细胞的发育特征及体外发育能力,优化山羊早期胚胎体外生产系统。方法收集繁殖期和非繁殖期山羊卵巢,采集表面直径小于1.5 mm、1.5-2.5 mm、2.5-3.5 mm和大于3.5 mm4种卵泡卵母细胞,以Hoechst33342染色检查核发育阶段;同时,利用体外培养方法观察不同直径卵泡卵母细胞的成熟、受精和早期胚胎发育能力。结果直径小于1.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞主要处于GVI期;1.5-2.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞以GVⅠ、GVⅡ和GVⅢ期为主;2.5-3.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞在GVⅡ到GVⅣ期间平均分布;大于3.5mm卵泡卵母细胞主要为GVⅢ到GVBD期。体外培养实验发现,直径小于1.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞仅有个别能完成成熟和卵裂;大于1.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞具有核成熟能力,能完成成熟和受精,但1.5-2.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞的受精卵通常阻滞于4-8细胞期;当卵泡直径大于2.5 mm时,卵母细胞才能较好地支持胚胎继续发育,其桑/囊胚的比例达到30%以上。卵泡卵母细胞的发育特征和体外发育能力与动物所处的繁殖季节无关。结论山羊卵巢上直径大于1.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞具有核成熟能力,大于2.5 mm卵泡卵母细胞能支持早期胚胎继续发育。     

山羊卵母细胞的减数分裂进程

本实验以随机屠宰山羊的卵巢为实验材料,研究了不同直径卵泡卵母细胞的减数分裂进程。结果显示,不同直径卵泡卵母细胞在体外成熟培养条件下的减数分裂能力不同:≤0.5mm直径卵泡的卵母细胞不能恢复减数分裂;0.8-1.2mm卵泡的卵母细胞可恢复减数分裂,但只能发育到MⅠ期,培养24h发育到MⅠ期比率60%;1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞已经完全获得减数分裂能力,培养24h发育到MⅡ的比例91%。完全获得减数分裂能力的1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞处于生发泡(GV)期的比率在成熟培养2-8h期间明显下降;其中,4-6h期间GⅤ比率下降最为迅速(由61%降低到19%,p<0.0005);体外培养6-12h期间MⅠ比率由25%上升到60%,随后下降,到24h仅有2%卵母细胞处于MⅠ期;培养16h有21%卵母细胞进入MⅡ期,24h 91%卵母细胞到达MⅡ期。对卵母细胞体外核成熟进程的数据做折线图计算结果表明,1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞减数分裂进程(各细胞周期事件出现和维持的时间)为:0-3.0h为GⅤ期,3.0-7.0h为前中期Ⅰ,7.0-14.6h为MⅠ期,14.6-18.4h处于后期-Ⅰ和末期-Ⅰ,18.4-24h为MⅡ期。本实验还证明,部分获得减数分裂能力(0.8-1.2mm卵泡)与完全获得减数分裂能力(1.5-5mm卵泡)的卵母细胞,其各细胞周期事件一旦发生,所需的时间是相同的。这些结果为进一步研究山羊卵母细胞减数分裂机制及其调控提供了重要的基础数据。     

卵泡内环境对猪卵泡卵体外成熟和发育的影响

研究卵泡内环境对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育的影响。主要结果如下：直径≥5mm、4－4.9mm、3－3.9mm和2－2.9mm的卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为90.5%、89.7%、85.4%和67.4%,体外受精后,卵母细胞的发育能力随卵泡直径的增大而增强,直径≥5mm和4－4.9mm卵泡卵的2－细胞、3－4－细胞发育率显著高于直径2－2.9mm的卵泡卵（P＜0.05或0.01）。体外成熟培养36h、42h和48h,直径2－2.9mm卵泡卵的体外成熟率,体外受精后的卵裂率差异不显著（P＞0.05）。在体外成熟培养液中添加5％或15％的不同直径卵泡的卵泡液,各组间卵母细胞的体外成熟率,受精卵的体外发育率均无显著差异,结果表明：卵泡大小对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育有重要影响。     

猪卵泡内环境对其卵母细胞体外成熟与发育的影响

目的：研究猪卵泡内环境对卵母细胞体外成熟,受精及受精卵体外发育的影响。结果：直径≥5mm,4-4.9mm,3-3.9mm,2-2.9mm的卵泡内卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为90．5％,89．7％,85．4％和67．4％。体外受精后,受精卵的发育能力随卵泡直径的增大而增强,来自直径≥5mm和4－4．9mm卵泡的受精卵发育到2－细胞,3－4细胞的比率显高于来自直径2－2．9mm的卵泡受精卵（P＜0．05或0．01）,体外成熟培养36,42,48小时,直径2－2．9mm卵泡卵的体外成熟率,体外受精后的卵裂率差异不显（P＞0．05）。在体外成熟培养液中添加5％或15％的不同直径卵泡的卵泡液,各组间卵母细胞的体外成熟率,受精卵的体外发育率均无显差异。结论：卵泡大小对猪卵母细胞体外成熟,受精及受精卵体外发育有重要影响。     

人重组卵泡刺激素和表皮生长因子对性未成熟小鼠卵母细胞和颗粒细胞复合体体外发育的作用

卵泡刺激素（FSH）对有腔卵泡和排卵前卵泡的促生命作用已被普遍接受,但关于其对腔前卵泡发育的作用报道结果不尽相同,关于表皮生长因子（EGF）对腔前卵泡的作用尚不确切,本研究目的在于探讨人重组卵泡刺激素（rechFSH)和EGF对早期卵泡发育的作用,利用胶原酶消化法从12日龄的小鼠卵巢中分离得到卵母细胞－颗粒细胞复合体（OGCs)(Fig.1)。体外每孔30－40个培养物并分别添加胎牛血清（FBS）,rechFSH和EGF。培养物每4天测量卵母细胞和OGCs直径,并每天照相,结果显示,rechFSH显著促进小鼠OGCs 及其卵母细胞的体外发育,这一作用可被EGF进一步增强（P＜0．05）（Fig.2),但到第八天培养结束时,培养后的OGCs卵母细胞要显著小于体内期生长对照组（P＜0．05）（Fig.3),说明FSH和EGF在卵泡早期发育中起重要作用。     

年龄和FSH在肉牛活体取卵过程中对卵泡和卵母细胞发育的影响

用B超活体取卵技术（TVFA）对莫累灰和婆罗门杂交肉取卵,探讨年龄和FSH诱导对青年牛,经产牛及老年牛卵泡和卵母细胞发育的影响。结果显示：青年牛（12月龄）和经产牛（7－8岁）平均卵泡数（≥2mm）及＞10mm卵泡数明显高于老年牛（≥14岁）（P＜0．01）。青年牛和经产牛平均卵母细胞数及平均COC数高于老年牛（P＜0．05）。1和2级卵母细胞比例青年牛高于或等于经产牛高于老年牛,3和4级卵母细胞比例老年牛高于经产牛高于或等于青年牛（P＜0．05）。青年牛和经产牛2级卵母细胞占优势,而老年牛3级卵母细胞居多。不同剂量外源性FSH诱导后,经产牛和老年牛平均卵泡数在各剂量组之间没有显著差异（P＞0．05）;但≥6mm卵泡数及2级卵母细胞比例明显增加,而2－5mm卵泡数相应减少及裸卵和老化卵比例降低（P＜0．05）。在10次取卵过程中,青年牛和经产牛发情当天平均卵母细胞数均以后各次的数量低（P＜0．05）。研究表明：利用TVFA可从肉牛获取卵母细胞,卵泡及卵母细胞发育受年龄的影响,这可能与生理状况有关;而适量FSH秀导可以促进牛卵泡发育,提高卵母细胞质量。     

人重组卵泡刺激素和表皮生长因子对性未成熟小鼠卵母细胞和颗粒细胞复合体体外发育的作用(英文)

卵泡刺激素(FSH)对有腔卵泡和排卵前卵泡的促生长作用已被普遍接受,但关于其对腔前卵泡发育的作用报道结果不尽相同。关于表皮生长因子(EGF)对腔前卵泡的作用尚不确切。本研究目的在于探讨人重组卵泡刺激素(rechFSH)和EGF对早期卵泡发育的作用。利用胶原酶消化法从12日龄的小鼠卵巢中分离得到卵母细胞-颗粒细胞复合体(OGCs)(Fig.1)。体外每孔30~40个培养物并分别添加胎牛血清(FBS)、rechFSH和EGF。培养物每4天测量卵母细胞和OGCs直径,并每天照相。结果显示rechFSH显著促进小鼠OGCs及其卵母细胞的体外发育,这一作用可被EGF进一步增强(p<0.05)(Fig.2)。但到第八天培养结束时,培养后的OGCs卵母细胞要显著小于体内同期生长对照组(p<0.05)(Fig.3)。说明FSH和EGF在卵泡早期发育中起重要作用。     

人工光照对青春期前雌性大鼠生殖系统发育的影响

目的研究人工光照时长对青春期前雌性大鼠生殖系统发育的影响。方法选取40只离乳后(日龄为21天)的SPF级雌性大鼠,随机分成对照组、16h光照组、20h光照组、24h持续光照组,每组10只。各组均正常饮食,持续28天。阴道涂片法检测动情周期,计算卵巢和子宫脏器系数,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清中褪黑素(MT)、卵泡刺激素(FSH)雌二醇(E2)水平,HE染色显微镜下观察卵巢和子宫组织形态学的改变。结果与对照组相比,24h持续光照组动情期延长,卵巢和子宫脏器系数升高,MT下降,E2水平增高,可见成熟卵泡和排卵后黄体;除20h光照组偶见少量成熟卵泡外,16h光照组和20h光照组卵巢和子宫脏器系数和血清激素水平未见明显改变。结论一定范围内延长光照对雌性大鼠生殖系统发育无显著影响,但24h持续人工光照可以导致青春期前雌性大鼠性发育提前,这可能与体内MT水平抑制有关。     

性成熟草鱼卵巢发育的年周期变化

产卵前的卵巢同时含有大量4时相卵母细胞及少量2时相和3时相卵母细胞。产后2时相及3时相卵母细胞增多而4时相卵母细胞骤减,8月份4时相卵母细胞的数量又增多,约占卵巢体积的80％,及至11月份其数量又下降。自11月至翌年1月,卵巢中3时相卵母细胞增多而4时相卵母细胞则消失不见。至2月份,新的4时相卵母细胞又开始出现并逐渐增多。性成熟草鱼的卵巢以如此规律周而复始地产生成熟的卵子。卵巢中卵母细胞的发育是不同步的。但在产卵前有大量的3时相卵母细胞向4时相演化,同时有为数不少的发育中的2时相卵母细胞存在。产后卵巢中亦同时存在不同发育时期的卵母细胞。     

Restoration of endocrine and ovarian function after stopping GnRH antagonist treatment in goats

We have tested if the high number of unfertilized ova and degenerated embryos found in superovulated goats previously treated with GnRH antagonist can be related to a prolongation of gonadotrophin down-regulation and/or alterations in follicular function during the period of administration of the superovulatory treatment, around 4 days after the end of the antagonist treatment. A total of 15 does were treated with intravaginal progestagen sponges and daily injections of 0.5mg of the GnRH antagonist Antarelix for 6 days, while 5 does acted as controls receiving saline. During the antagonist treatment, the mean plasma LH concentration was lower in treated than control goats (0.5 +/- 0.2 versus 0.7 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, P < 0.0005 ); however, the FSH levels remained unaffected (0.8 +/- 0.4 versus 0.8 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). In this period, treated does also showed an increase in the number of small follicles with 2-3 mm in size ( 10.7 +/- 0.7 versus 8.4 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05), and a decrease in both the number of follicles > or =4 mm in size ( 5.0 +/- 0.3 versus 6.8 +/- 0.5, P < 0.005) and the secretion of inhibin A (120.9 +/- 10.7 versus 151.6 +/- 12.6 pg/ml, P < 0.05). After cessation of the antagonist treatment, there was an increase in LH levels in treated goats from the day after the last Antarelix injection (Day 1), so that LH levels were the same as controls on Day 3 (0.6 +/- 0.1 versus 0.6 +/- 0.2 ng/ml). However, there were even greater numbers of small follicles than during the period of antagonist injections (15.4 +/- 0.6 in treated versus 8.9 +/- 0.7 in control, P < 0.0005 ). Moreover, the number of > or =4 mm follicles and the secretion of inhibin A remained lower in treated goats (3.9 +/- 0.3 follicles and 84.4 +/- 7.0 pg/ml versus 5.4 +/- 0.5 follicles, P < 0.05 and 128.9 +/- 14.2 pg/ml, P < 0.05 ). These results indicate that pituitary secretion of gonadotrophins is restored shortly after the end of antagonist treatment, but activity of ovarian follicles is affected.     

Developmental capacity of in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes from prepubertal and adult goats

The developmental competence of oocytes from prepubertal and adult goats was studied through in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture up to the blastocyst stage. Oocytes were recovered from antral follicles of prepubertal and adult goat ovaries, with or without ovarian stimulation with exogenous FSH. The effect of different sources of granulosa cells during IVM on the developmental competence of prepubertal goat oocytes was also noted. Oocytes were matured for 27 h at 38.5 degrees C in 5% CO(2) in air in 50-microl microdrops in TCM199 supplemented with 20% estrus goat serum, FSH, LH and estradiol-17beta or in 2 ml of the same medium supplemented with granulosa cells. Matured oocytes were inseminated with freshly ejaculated spermatozoa following capacitation At 24 h post-insemination, the oocytes were transferred to a granulosa cell monolayer, and early embryo development was evaluated until Day 10. Results show that the developmental ability of embryos from prepubertal goats after IVM and IVF is similar to those from adult goats. Treatment of the prepubertal and adult goats with FSH did not improve the developmental capacity of the resulting embryos. On studying the addition of different sources of granulosa cells to a maturation system of 2 ml of medium, a significantly positive effect of the cells from primed females was observed on the percentage of maturation, on embryo cleavage and on the percentage of embryos that overcame the in vitro developmental block from 8 to 16 cells.     

Effect of GnRH antagonists treatment on gonadotrophin secretion, follicular development and inhibin A secretion in goats

The aim of this study was to determine, for goats, the effects of daily doses of GnRH antagonist on ovarian endocrine and follicular function. Ten does were given 45 mg FGA intravaginal sponges and then five were treated with daily injections of 0.5mg of the GnRH antagonist Teverelix for 11 days from 2 days after the day of sponge insertion, while five does acted as controls. Pituitary activity was monitored by measuring plasma FSH and LH daily from 2 days before the first GnRH injection to Day 12. Follicular activity was determined by ultrasonographic monitoring and by assessing plasma inhibin A levels during the same period. In treated does, the FSH levels decreased linearly (0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/ml to 0.5 +/- 0.1 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and remained lower than the mean concentration in control goats (0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/ml, P < 0.005). LH levels were also lower during the period of antagonist treatment (0.6 +/- 0.2 ng/ml versus 0.4 +/- 0.1 ng/ml, P < 0.0005). During GnRH antagonist treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of large follicles (> or = 6 mm) from Day 3 of treatment (1.2 +/- 0.6, P < 0.0001), with no large follicles from Day 9. The number of medium follicles (4-5 mm in size) also decrease during the period of treatment (4.2 +/- 0.7 to 1.0 +/- 0.6, P < 0.0001), leading to a significant decrease in inhibin A levels when compared to the control (143.7 +/- 31.3 pg/ml versus 65.2 +/- 19.1 pg/ml, P < 0.00005). In contrast, the number of small follicles (2-3 mm) increased in treated goats from Day 4 of treatment (9.6 +/- 2.9 to 20.2 +/- 6.3, P < 0.005). Such data indicate that GnRH antagonist reduced plasma levels of FSH and LH with suppression of the growth of large dominant ovarian follicles and a two-fold increase in number of smaller follicles. The results confirm that GnRH antagonist treatment can be used in goats to control gonadotrophin secretion and ovarian follicle growth in superovulatory regimes.     

Prepubertal goat oocytes from large follicles result in similar blastocyst production and embryo ploidy than those from adult goats

Developmental competence of oocytes from prepubertal females is lower than those from adult females. Oocyte development competence is positively related to follicular diameter. Most of the follicles of prepubertal goat ovaries are smaller than 3 mm. The aim of this study was to compare oocytes of two follicle sizes (< 3 mm and ≥ 3 mm) from prepubertal goats with oocytes from adult goats in relation to their in vitro production and quality of blastocysts. Oocytes from prepubertal goats were obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries and selected according to the follicle diameter whereas oocytes from adult goats were recovered in vivo by LOPU technique without prior selection of follicle size. COCs were IVM for 27 h, IVF at the conventional conditions with fresh semen and presumptive zygotes were cultured in SOF medium for 8 days. Blastocysts obtained were vitrified and after warming their blastocoele re-expansion and the ploidy by FISH technique were assessed. We found significant differences between blastocysts yield of oocytes recovered from follicles smaller than 3 mm of prepubertal goats compared to those from adult goats (5.45% vs 20. 83%, respectively) however, these differences disappear if oocytes were recovered form large follicles (18.07%). A total of 28 blastocysts were analysed and 96.43% showed mixoploidy. Age did not affect the number of embryos with abnormal ploidy or blastocyst re-expansion after warming. Furthermore, the percentage of diploid blastomeres per embryo was similar in the 3 groups studied, adult, prepubertal from follicles ≥ 3 mm and < 3 mm (68.6%, 80.8% and 73.6%, respectively). In conclusion, IVP of blastocysts coming from follicles larger than 3 mm of goats 45 days old were not different to the blastocysts produced from adult goats, both in terms of quantity and quality.     

Follicular recruitment and ovulatory response to FSH treatment initiated on day 0 or day 3 postovulation in goats

The present study evaluates the effect of the presence of a large growing follicle at the onset of superovulatory treatment on follicular recruitment and ovulatory response in dairy goats. The treatment consisted of six equal doses of pFSH given every 12 h (total dose: 200 mg NIH-FSH-P1) which was initiated at Day 0 (Group D0) or Day 3 (Group D3) postovulation. Two half-doses of an analogue of prostaglandin F2alpha (delprostenate, 80 microg each) were administered together with the last two FSH doses to ensure luteolysis. A dose of a GnRH analogue (busereline acetate, 10.5 microg) was administered at the onset of estrus. Ovarian changes were evaluated twice a day by transrectal ultrasonography. Follicles were classified according to follicular diameter as small (3 to < 4 mm), medium (4 to < 5 mm) and large follicles (> or = 5 mm). The number of corpora lutea (CL) was recorded after laparotomy performed 6 days after estrus. The work was conducted in replicates. In the first trial, the does were assigned to either the D0 (n = 4) or D3 group (n = 4) and in the second replicate, each goat was assigned to the alternate group. No large follicles were recorded and the diameter of the largest follicle was 3.3 +/- 0.1 mm (mean +/- S.E.M.) at the initiation of the treatment in D0-treated goats. In contrast, a growing large follicle was present (6.7 +/- 0.4 mm, P < 0.01) when the treatment was initiated in D3-treated goats. In these goats, the number of small follicles increased 24 h after ovulation but then declined 48 h later, temporally correlated with the growth of the largest follicle of the first follicular wave. The number of small follicles recruited by the FSH treatment was significantly higher and occurred earlier in D0- than in D3-treated goats (9.0 +/- 1.3 versus 5.6 +/- 1.1 follicles; P < 0.05; and 24 h versus 48 h from the onset of the treatment, respectively). The number of large follicles at the onset of estrus was higher in D0- than in D3-treated goats (14.4 +/- 1.9 versus 10.3 +/- 1.3; P < 0.05). Consequently, the number of CL recorded 6 days after estrus were higher in D0- than in D3-treated goats (13.6 +/- 1.9 versus 10.4 +/- 1.9; P < 0.05, respectively). These results demonstrate that the presence of a dominant follicle at the time of initiation of super-stimulatory treatment is detrimental to ovulatory response. This study supports the advantages of the so-called Day 0 protocol, e.g. treatment starting soon after ovulation, when the emergence of the first follicular wave takes place and there are no dominant follicles.     

Effects of passive immunization against inhibin on ovulation rate and embryo recovery in holstein heifers

The effects of acute neutralization of endogenous inhibin on ovulation rate and circulating FSH levels were investigated. Nine or ten days after estrus, 5 heifers were given a single injection of 75 ml iv inhibin antiserum produced in a castrated male goat, while another 5 were given the same amount of a castrated male goat serum. All heifers were given injections of PGF2alpha im at 48 h and 60 h after the serum injection. Those exhibiting an estrus were artificially inseminated with frozen-thawed semen. Seven or eight days after the insemination, ova or embryos were collected using a non-surgical method. Administration of inhibin antiserum resulted in a significant increase in the number of medium-sized follicles compared with the number in the control animals. The number of large follicles in the inhibin-neutralized animals was 4.8 +/- 2.4 (mean +/- SEM; n = 5) on the day of estrus, while there was a single large follicles in the ovaries of control animals. Seven or eight days after estrus, 3 to 16 ova or embryos were recovered from 4 of 5 animals, and 64 % of the total ova/embryos were transferable. Administration of inhibin antiserum produced a significant increase in the concentrations of plasma FSH from 12 to 72 h after the serum injection compared with the levels in the control animals (P < 0.05). After the onset of estrus, preovulatory LH and FSH surges were noted in inhibin-neutralized animals and magnitude of the rise in each hormone was similar to the control animals. The present study demonstrates that a single injection of the inhibin antiserum induces multiple ovulations probably by enhancing FSH secretion, and that recovery of embryos is equal to that observation after an ordinary FSH treatment.     

Ovarian dynamics and their associations with peripheral concentrations of gonadotropins,ovarian steroids,and inhibin during the estrous cycle in goats

Ovarian changes determined by daily transrectal ultrasound and its relationship with FSH, LH, estradiol-17beta, progesterone, and inhibin were investigated in six goats for three consecutive interovulatory intervals. Estrous cycles were synchronized using two injections of prostaglandin F2alpha analogue 11 days apart. All follicles 3 mm or greater in diameter and corpora lutea were measured daily. A follicular wave was defined as one or more follicles growing to 5 mm or greater in diameter. The day that the follicles reached 3 mm in diameter was defined as the day of wave emergence, and the first wave after ovulation was defined as wave 1. During the interovulatory interval (mean +/- SEM, 21.3 +/- 0.4 days; n = 18), follicular waves emerged at 0.3 +/- 0.5, 6.5 +/- 0.2, and 12.1 +/- 0.4 days for wave 1, wave 2, and wave 3, respectively, in goats with three waves of follicular development and at -0.6 +/- 0.3, 4.7 +/- 0.2, 9.4 +/- 0.5, and 13.4 +/- 0.5 days for wave 1, wave 2, wave 3, and wave 4, respectively, in goats with four waves of follicular development (Day 0 = the day of ovulation). The mean diameter of the largest follicle of the ovulatory wave was significantly larger than those of the largest follicles of the other waves. Corpora lutea could be identified ultrasonically at Day 3 postovulation and attained 12.1 +/- 0.3 mm in diameter on Day 8. Transient increases in plasma concentrations of FSH were detected around the day of follicular wave emergence. The level of FSH was negatively correlated with that of inhibin. These results demonstrated that follicular waves occurred in goats and that the predominant follicular wave pattern was four waves with ovulation from wave 4. These results also suggested that the emergence of follicular waves was closely associated with increased secretion of FSH.     

Developmental competence of prepubertal and adult goat oocytes cultured in semi-defined media following laparoscopic recovery

With an increased interest in transgenic animal production, the caprine species offers many advantages, and the prepubertal goat is a potential source of large numbers of oocytes for in vitro embryo production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the follicular response and recovery of oocytes from prepubertal and adult goats following ovarian stimulation and laparoscopic recovery, and their developmental competence following culture in semi-defined media. Oocytes were collected over a 15-week period from prepubertal goats (3-7 months old) and adult controls (2-4 years old) that had been subjected to estrus synchronization and ovarian stimulation. Following insemination, zygotes were cultured for 96h in G1.2 followed by an additional 120h in G2.2. Morulae and blastocysts were scored using light microscopy on Days 7 and 9 followed by fluorescent staining for cell counts on Day 9 (216h postinsemination). The mean numbers of follicles aspirated and oocytes recovered were significantly greater for prepubertal than for adult goats (P<0.01). The number of oocytes recovered from prepubertal goats was observed to decline significantly with increasing age of the animals (P<0.05). The proportion of oocytes that matured and cleaved did not differ significantly between prepubertal and adult goats. Furthermore, no significant differences in morulae development (percentage of those cleaved), 5% versus 4%, or blastocyst development, 6% versus 7%, were observed for prepubertal and adult derived oocytes (P>0.1), respectively. Mean cell number per blastocyst also did not differ significantly. In conclusion, higher yields of oocytes were obtained from gonadotrophin-primed, prepubertal does than from adults, while in vitro development was similar.     

Meiotic competence of prepubertal goat oocytes

The object of this work was to evaluate in vitro maturation of follicular oocytes from the ovaries of prepubertal goats obtained from the slaughterhouse. To obtain the oocytes, follicles were dissected and classified according to their diameters. In the first experiment, oocytes were matured in vitro with granulosa cells. No significant differences were detected in the percentages of maturation between adult and prepubertal goat oocytes recovered from follicles of 2.5 to 6.0 mm in diameter (81.82 vs 72.47%, respectively). The percentage of maturation increased to 88.0% in prepubertal goat oocytes from 3.0 to 6.0-mm follicles. In the second experiment, the percentage of maturation of prepubertal goat oocytes was greater after 27 than after 24 h. In the third experiment, the maturational capacity of prepubertal goat oocytes according to follicular diameter was evaluated. The percentages of maturation after 27 h of culture with no granulosa cells were 24.14, 56.60 and 74.78%, respectively, for follicles 1.0 to 1.9 mm, 2.0 to 2.9 mm, and 3.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter. As the follicular diameter increased, growth of the oocyte as well as a greater number of oocytes with more cumulus cell layers were observed. A correlation between the diamter of the oocyte and its competence to complete in vitro maturation was also observed. Oocytes with more cumulus cell layers showed only a slight superiority in their capacity for maturation in large-size follicles (3.0 to 6.0 mm), but the difference was not significant. In conclusion, oocytes from prepubertal goats complete their growth and reach meiotic competence in follicles larger than 3.0 mm. With these oocytes it is possible to obtain in vitro maturation results similar to those from adult goats.