In vitro growth of pig oocytes from early antral follicles

Abstract

The objective of this research was to establish an optimum and standard culture system in IVG of pig growing oocytes. In the pig early antral follicles, only a few growing oocytes can reach to their final size. Porcine early antral follicles (1.2–<2 mm in diameter) containing growing oocytes (108.2±2.6um) isolated from Pig ovaries are difficult to become fully grown oocytes (122.1±2.2um) under culture conditions. The report was hypothesized that FSH, dbcAMP and oestradiol supported growth of porcine oocytes from pre antral follicles. Growing oocytes were cultured for 3, 5, 7 and 10 days in 3 culture medium in the presence of 0.01IU/ml FSH alone or 0.01IU/ml FSH and 1mM dbcAMP or both 0.01IU/ml FSH, 1mM dbcAMP and 0.001mg/ml oestradiol. The results demonstrate that cumulus still maintain oocytes after in vitro growth in three culture medium. Oocytes reached to fully growth oocytes when cultured with dbcAMP, FSH and oestradiol (58.7±0.7%), or dbcAMP and FSH (24.8±0.4%), than with FSH alone (5.5±0.4), respectively. In conclusion, after IVG culture, oocytes remained attached to their surrounding cumulus cells in three kinds of culture medium and the growth of porcine oocytes was supported by FSH, dbcAMP and oestradiol. Keywords: Early antral follicle; Pre antral follicle; Growing oocytes; Fully growth oocytes (GV); In vitro growth (IVG); Pocine