title: Effect of porcine and ovine FSH on nuclear maturation of pig oocytes in vitro.
abstract: The effect of porcine or ovine FSH on the maturation rate of porcine oocytes and on the time course of meiotic progression was studied. Groups of 20 grade-A cumulus oocyte complexes, aspirated from slaughterhouse cycling-gilt ovaries, were cultured in vitro in 400 mul of Modified Parker's Medium supplemented with oestrous cow serum and porcine FSH (Folltropin(R)-V, 0.50 mg/ml) or ovine FSH (Ovagen(TM), 0.44 iu/ml), in four-well dishes under mineral oil, at 38.5 degrees C, 5% CO(2) in humidified air. At the end of each 3-h interval, from 3 to 42 h of culture, the nuclear status of oocytes was assessed microscopically (1000x), after fixation (methanol/acetic acid: 3/1) and orcein (2%) staining. Oocytes were classified as (i) immature (IMM), i.e. oocytes at germinal vesicle stage, germinal vesicle break down and prophase I, (ii) metaphase I (MI) and (iii) metaphase II (MII), i.e. oocytes at anaphase I, telophase I and metaphase II. Data were analysed using regression analysis, chi-square and t-test. Nuclear status was assessed in 1610 oocytes (porcine FSH: 787, ovine FSH: 823). Most of the oocytes were at MI from 24 to 33 h (porcine FSH 60.27%, ovine FSH 42.80%, p < 0.001) and at MII from 36 to 42 h (porcine FSH 80.38%, ovine FSH 67.45%, p < 0.01) of culture. Significantly higher maturation rate was observed in porcine FSH than in ovine FSH treated oocytes (86.69 +/- 12.97%, 71.34 +/- 9.86%, mean +/- SD, p < 0.05), after 42 h of culture. In conclusion, under the specific culture conditions, porcine FSH seems to support pig oocyte maturation better than ovine FSH.
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Research Foundation, Veterinary Research Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece. samartzi@vri.gr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samartzi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsakmakidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Theodosiadou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vainas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone