title: In vitro maturation and fertilization of swamp buffalo oocytes and their subsequent development.
abstract: The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the maturation, fertilization and subsequent embryo culture of swamp buffalo oocytes in vitro. The oocytes (n=273) were collected and morphologically graded based on the structure of cumulus-oocyte complexes as Grade 1 (compact, n=81), Grade 2 (expanded, n=70), Grade 3 (partially denuded, n=65) or Grade 4 (completely denuded, n=57). More than 60% of the in vitro matured oocytes co-cultured with capacitated spermatozoa demonstrated evidence of fertilization or cleavage to the 2-cell stage when either Grade 1 or 2 oocytes were used. The percentage of fertilized oocytes undergoing 2-cell stage cleavages from Grade 3 (53%) and Grade 4 (46%) groups was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that observed in the Grade 1 (64%) and Grade 2 (68%) groups. Development to the 6 to 8 cell stage substantiated fertilization of Grade 1 and 2 oocytes. These results demonstrated that swamp buffalo oocytes are capable of maturing in vitro, forming embryos, and developing at least to the 8-cell stage in culture medium alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Institute of Science and Technology Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavasuthipaisit
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitiyanant
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thonabulsombat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tocharus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriurairatna
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: White