title: Comparison of different methods for the recovery of horse oocytes.
abstract: The object of this study was to compare 4 different methods of oocyte recovery from mares; 1) transvaginal follicle aspiration in vivo; 2) follicle aspiration in vitro; 3) oocyte recovery by isolation of follicles in vitro and 4) follicle scraping in vitro. Oocyte recovery was highest after follicle scraping (71.1%) and follicle isolation and rupture (61.3%). Follicle aspiration in vitro and in vivo yielded oocytes on 31.2% and 19.3% of occasions, respectively. The output of different types of cumulus-oocyte-complexes was different among the methods; the portion of compact cumulus-oocyte-complexes was significantly higher with follicle scraping (50.7%) and follicle isolation (44.5%) than with aspiration in vivo (31.9%) and in vitro (23.7%). The recovery rate of oocytes from small follicles (<15 mm) was significantly higher than from larger follicles (P<0.05) using transvaginal follicle aspiration. The proportion of oocytes that were degenerate (exhibited shrunken, dense or visibly damaged ooplasm) ranged from 1.2% after follicle scraping, to 17.2% after aspiration in vivo. These results indicate that, for the recovery of horse oocytes in vitro, follicle scraping and follicle isolation give the highest recoveries of cumulus-intact oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kanitz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hinrichs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D013396:Suction / Q000662:veterinary