title: The in vitro developmental competence of bovine oocytes can be related to the morphology of the ovary.
abstract: This study was designed to assess whether the developmental potential of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) could be related to the morphology of their originating ovary, providing a simple, noninvasive and objective selection criterion. Ovaries were divided into 3 categories on the basis of: A) presence of a follicle > 10 mm in diameter, B) presence of more than 10 follicles of 2 to 5 mm in diameter and no follicles > 10 mm, and C) presence of less than 10 follicles of 2 to 5 mm in diameter and no follicles > 10 mm. The COCs, isolated from ovaries of Category C, showed lower rates of maturation and blastocyst formation than those from Categories A and B. Moreover, blastocysts derived from Category C ovaries had fewer cells than those derived from the other 2 categories. It is concluded that ovarian morphology is a simple and noninvasive parameter for an effective selection of oocytes with better developmental competence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy of Domestic Animals University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luciano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Modina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponzini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pocar
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lauria