title: Influence of corpus luteum and ovarian volume on the number and quality of bovine oocytes.
abstract: In order to evaluate whether ovarian volume, presence and diameter of the corpus luteum (CL) have effects on the number and quality of bovine recovered oocytes, 110 ovaries were obtained from the slaughterhouse. Cumulus oocytes complex were aspirated and evaluated under stereomicroscope. Oocytes were counted and classified according to their quality (Grades I, II, III and IV). Ovarian volume was weakly correlated to the number of good quality oocytes (P < 0.05). Ovaries with CL showed greater numbers of good quality oocytes than ovaries without CL (P < 0.05). Further, presence of CL and its diameter positively influenced the probability of recovering good quality oocytes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ovarian volume is not a good parameter itself to predict important ovarian characteristics; moreover, analysis of CL, its presence and diameter, may be a good tool to improve efficiency on in vitro embryo production programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jurandy Mauro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Penitente-Filho
authors.forename: Carolina Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Adriana Moreira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zolini
authors.forename: Erly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrascal
authors.forename: Jovana Luiza
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Camila Oliveira
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Fabrício Albani
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ciro Alexandre Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D009865:Oocytes; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: bovine reproduction; embryo production; ovary; reproductive efficiency