Elevated Histone H1 (MPF) and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activities in Pig Oocytes Following In Vitro Maturation do not Indicate Cytoplasmic Maturation

Effects of different media (TCM 199 + BSA, TCM 199 + FCS, TCM 199 + NBCS, Whitten's medium + BSA) supplemented with estradiol-17β and two isolated and everted follicle shells on MPF and MAP kinase activities and the sensitivity to parthenogenetic activation of pig oocytes were examined at the end of culture (48 h). Elevated ( P  <   0.05) activities of MAP kinase were recorded in metaphase II oocytes following culture in Whitten's medium, whereas MPF levels were lowest ( P  <   0.05) in MII oocytes matured in TCM 199 supplemented with BSA. Oocytes matured in TCM 199 based media showed higher ( P  <   0.05) activation rates when compared to oocytes incubated in Whitten's medium. Whitten's medium supplemented with different protein sources (amino acids, FCS, BSA) was used to study the effects of different exposure periods to eCG/hCG stimulation on MPF and MAP kinase activities and in vivo fertilisability following culture for 48 h. MPF and MAP kinase activities were significantly increased by eCG/hCG stimulation of COCs during maturation. Further, the continuous presence of eCG/hCG during culture (48 h) significantly increased the levels of both kinases in comparison to stimulation by gonadotrophins alone during the first 24 h of incubation. In vivo fertilisation of oocytes matured in Whitten's medium supplemented with eCG/hCG for 24 or 48 h led to a significant retardation of early embryonic development compared to ovulated oocytes. In conclusion, media composition and gonadotrophin stimulation affect MPF/MAP kinase activities and the susceptibility to parthenogenetic activation of IVM oocytes. However, elevated kinase levels in pig oocytes following culture do not indicate complete cytoplasmic maturation.     

Aging of recipient oocytes reduces the development of cloned embryos receiving cumulus cells

Parthenogenetic activation is an important factor in successful production of cloned mammals. Because it has been reported that aged oocytes are more sensitive to parthenogenetic activation than young oocytes, the present study examined the effects of oocyte aging on the in vitro and in vivo developmental potential of nuclear-transferred (NT) mouse oocytes receiving cumulus cells. The potentials of young NT oocytes (14 h after human chorionic gonadotrophin [hCG] injection) to develop into blastocysts was, however, significantly higher than that of aged oocytes (20 h after hCG injection; 16% vs 6%). When the nuclei of NT oocytes at the 2-cell stage were fused with enucleated fertilized 2-cell embryos, the potentials of the serial NT embryos to develop into blastocysts were no different for both young and aged oocytes (74% vs 74%). Live young, however, were obtained only after transfer of serial NT blastocysts developed from young NT oocytes (2%). In contrast to a report using embryonic nuclei as the nuclear donors, the results of the present study indicate that young oocytes are superior to aged oocytes as a source of recipient cytoplasm for mouse somatic cell cloning.     

Attempt at in vitro maturation of minke whale (Balaenoptera Bonaerensis) oocytes using a portable CO2 incubator

The present study was conducted to investigate whether a portable CO2 incubator was effective for in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine, porcine and minke whale oocytes, and the effect of maturation media supplemented with different hormones; porcine follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH), estradiol-17beta (E2), or pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG): human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for minke whale immature oocytes was also examined. In vitro maturation rates of bovine and porcine oocytes cultured in the portable CO2 incubator were not significantly different from the standard CO2 incubator. In minke whale IVM culture using the portable incubator, the maximum expansion of cumulus mass was observed by pFSH/E2 and PMSG/hCG at the end of IVM culture. Moreover, the IVM culture period was shortened to 28-30 h from 96-120 h previously reported. The proportion of matured oocytes cultured in the medium supplemented with pFSH/E2 (26.7%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that with PMSG/hCG (6.9%). The present study indicates that a portable CO2 incubator is a useful device for minke whale IVM culture on a research base ship, and the addition of pFSH/E2 into an IVM medium enhanced cumulus expansion and the proportion of minke whale matured oocytes.     

Quality and Developmental Ability of Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) Embryos Obtained by IVM/IVF, In Vivo Matured/IVF or In Vivo Matured/Fertilized Oocytes

The effect of source of cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs), maturation and fertilization conditions on developmental competence of dromedary embryos was examined. Thirty-six adult females were superovulated with equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) injection (3500 IU, IM) and divided in three groups of 12 females each. Group 1 provided 138 COC's collected from follicles >or= 5 mm 10 days after stimulation prior hCG treatment and matured in vitro for 30 h. Group 2 provided 120 in vivo matured oocytes which were aspirated from their follicles 20 h after hCG (3000 IU, IV) given on day 10 follow eCG injection. Group 3 provided 65 in vivo matured/fertilized oocytes. Females in Group 3 received hCG on day 10 following eCG treatment and then were mated 24 h later. Fertilized oocytes were collected from the oviducts of females 48-h post-mating. Quality of the oocytes was assessed after in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC) of COCs. All cultures were performed in three replicates (n = 3) at 38.5 degrees C, under 5% CO(2) and high humidity (>95%). Only COCs with cumulus and homogenous (dark) cytoplasm were used. Nuclear maturation rate for Groups 1 and 2 was determined by epifluorescence microscopy in a sample of COCs (n = 30) denuded, fixed and stained with Hoechst 33342. To study the viability of obtained embryos, hatched blastocysts from each group were transferred to recipients followed by pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasonography at 15, 60 and 90 days. The percentage of COCs reaching metaphase II (MII) after 30 h of maturation was slightly but not significantly higher for in vivo matured oocytes (28/30; 93%) than those in vitro matured (25/30; 84%). The total rate of cleavage (2 cells to blastocyst stage) was not different for the three groups. However, significantly (p < 0.05) more blastocyst and hatched blastocysts were obtained from in vivo matured and in vivo fertilized oocytes (Group 3; 52% and 73%) than from in vitro fertilized oocytes whether they were matured in vitro (Group 1; 35% and 32%) or in vivo (Group 2; 32% and 45%). Pregnancy rates were not significantly different amongst all groups for the three first months following embryo transfer. All pregnancies were lost after day 90 follow transfer except for in vivo matured and in vivo matured/fertilized groups. Only in vivo matured/in vitro fertilized and in vivo matured/fertilized produced embryos continued normal development until term and resulted in the birth of normal and healthy live calves. Six claves (29%; 6/21) were born from Group 3 and one (8%; 1/13) calf was born from Group 2. This study shows that the IVC system used is able to support camel embryo development. However, developmental competence and viability of dromedary embryos may be directly related to the intrinsic quality (cytoplasmic maturation) of oocytes.     

小鼠卵母细胞氯化锶激活条件

以昆明小鼠为试验对象，研究了氯化锶（SrCl2)浓度，激尖处理时间以及卵龄对卵母细胞SrCl2孤雌活化的影响。hCG注射后18h的小鼠卵母细胞在1.6,5.0,10,20mmol/L SrCl2的激活液中处理10min，各组间的激活率（原核期卵母细胞的比例）无显著性差异（P＞0．05）。10，20mmol/L SrCl2组发育至2－，4－细胞期比率（59．26％，20．37％，63．79％，20．69％）同于1．6，5．0mmol/L 组（20．63％，9．26％，47．06％，7．84）（P＜05）。只有20mmol/L组的少数激活卵母细胞（3．45％）发育至桑椹胚阶段。10，20mmol/L SrCl2组处理20，40，60min，2组间的活化率无显著性差异。处理40min,20mmol/L组的桑椹胚和囊胚发育率（64．44％，22．22％）均显著高于10mmol/L组（30．36％，11．61％），处理60min,10mmol/L组的桑椹胚和囊胚发育率（84．68％，46．77％）均显著高于20mmol/L组（67．46％，28．57％），10mmol/L SrCl2处理，20，40，60，180，360min，其活化率和2－细胞的发育率无显著性差异。60，180min处理组的囊胚发育率（49．58％，47．59％）差异不显著，但2者均显著高于20，40，360min组（4．50％，12．24％和35．53％），后3者组间差异显著。随卵龄的增加，活化率显著增加。hCG注射后16h卵母细胞的活化率（77．78％）显著高于14h的卵母细胞（29．63％），而hCG注射后18h卵母细胞的活化率（49．19％）又显著高于16h的卵母细胞，hCG注射后18，20h卵母细胞的活化率差异不显著（94．19％，85．90％）。hCG注射后14，16，18h卵母细胞激活后的囊胚发育率（6．71％，27．78％，47．67％），各组间差异显著。但hCG注射后20h卵母细胞激活后的囊胚发育率（39．74％）显著低于18h的卵母细胞。     

Factors affecting premature chromosome condensation of cumulus cell nuclei injected into rat oocytes

To date, production of cloned rats by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) has not yet been successful. Inducing premature chromosome condensation (PCC) of injected cell nuclei in recipient cytoplasm is considered essential for successful mouse cloning by the Honolulu method. In the present study, some factors affecting PCC of rat cumulus cell nuclei injected into rat oocytes were examined. Wistar female rats (young: 4 to 5-week-old, mature: > or =10-week-old) were superovulated by injections of eCG and hCG, and oocytes recovered 14 or 17 h after hCG injection were received with cumulus cell nuclei using piezo-driven micromanipulator. When the oocytes were recovered 14 h post-hCG injection from young rats and the nuclear injection into oocytes was completed within 45 min, PCC was observed in 44-49% of NT oocytes. In the case of oocytes from mature rats, PCC occurred in 11-19% of the NT oocytes. Oocytes recovered 17 h post-hCG injection did not support PCC of the injected nuclei (0-7%) regardless of the donor age. Treatment of oocytes with a neutral cysteine protease inhibitor, N-acetylleucylleucylnorleucinal, slightly increased the incidence of PCC (48 vs 37%). Comparison of rat strains for oocyte donors indicated that proportions of NT oocytes undergoing PCC in Wistar and LEW oocytes (41-46%) were higher than those in Donryu and F344 oocytes (17-25%). Thus, ability of rat oocytes to promote PCC of the injected nuclei is dependent on the characteristics of oocytes, such as age or strain of donor rats, and timing of oocyte recovery.     

In vitro fertilisation of in vivo matured porcine oocytes obtained from prepuberal gilts at different time intervals after hCG injection

The goal of the present study was to find out the best interval after hCG injection in PMSG primed prepuberal gilts for retrieval of in vivo matured oocytes for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Altogether 66 gilts were superovulated with 1500 IU PMSG and 500 IU hCG 72 h later. Ovum pick up was performed endoscopically 24, 28, 32 or 36 h after hCG and a total of 869 cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were aspirated from 1400 follicles. COCs were tested for quality, and an aliquot was immediately fixed and stained to determine meiotic configuration. The remaining COCs were fertilised in vitro using frozen-thawed epididymal semen. Quality and developmental stage of embryos were tested after IVF, and the number of nuclei was counted. At 24 to 32 h after hCG only few oocytes have entered the second meiotic cycle (18 to 25% vs. 58% at 36 h, p < 0.05). The overall cleavage rate was significantly influenced by insufficient maturation rate at the early collection times (14% at 24 h vs. 49% at 36 h). Additionally, when oocytes were collected 24 to 32 h vs. 36 h the cleavage rate based on mature oocytes was lower (26 vs. 62%, p < 0.05). Once embryonic development has been initiated, the further in vitro development to blastocyst stages did not differ between groups. However, the number of cells was lower at collection times 24 to 32 h as compared to 36 h after hCG (12 to 15 cells vs. 22 cells, p < 0.05). The results indicate that the time of COC collection affects the in vitro developmental competence up to the blastocyst stage and should not be performed earlier than 36 h after hCG treatment.     

Effect of time of oocyte collection and site of insemination on oocyte transfer in mares

The objective of the study was to compare embryo development rates after transfer of oocytes collected 22 or 33 h after hCG injection into recipients inseminated within the uterus or the oviduct. Oocytes were collected at approximately 22 or 33 h after hCG injections and incubated for approximately 16 or 1.5 h, respectively, before transfer. Intrauterine inseminations using 1 x 10(9) progressively motile sperm were done approximately 12 h before and 2 h after transfer. For intraoviductal inseminations (gamete intrafallopian transfer [GIFT]), semen was centrifuged through a Percoll gradient, and 200,000 progressively motile sperm were transferred with oocytes into the oviduct. Time of oocyte collection (22 or 33 h) after hCG injection did not affect embryo development rates (17/25, 68%, vs 12/23, 52%, respectively; P = 0.40). When results from oocyte collections at 22 and 33 h after hCG were combined, oocyte transfer with intraoviductal vs intrauterine insemination resulted in similar (P = 0.70) embryo development rates (12/22, 55%, and 17/26, 65%, respectively). However, the interaction between time of oocyte collection and site of insemination tended to be significant (P = 0.09), suggesting that GIFT using oocytes collected at 33 h after hCG may not be as effective as using oocytes collected at 22 h after hCG. Because intraoviductal insemination requires a low number of sperm, GIFT could be used in cases of male subfertility, frozen semen, or sexed sperm.     

Plasma steroid profiles following follicle-stimulating hormone or equine chorionic gonadotropin injection in cows chronically treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist

Plasma steroid profiles following follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) injection were studied in chronically gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A)-treated cows. Follicular development and irINH secretion were stimulated by FSH or eCG injection. The plasma concentrations of estradiol-17 beta (E(2)) and testosterone (T) were markedly increased following eCG injection. However, significant increases of the plasma E(2) and T concentrations were not detected in FSH-treated cows. Ovulation of developed follicles were depended on the hCG injection in both groups. These results show: 1) Follicular response to an exogenous gonadotropin is still remained, 2) Ovulation of developed follicles is induced by hCG injection and 3) FSH and eCG cause disparate plasma steroid profiles, under the influence of repeated GnRH-A treatment.     

次黄嘌呤维持小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂阻滞的时效性和可逆性研究

为提高体外成熟卵母细胞的发育能力,本实验采用卵泡内存在的减数分裂抑制剂次黄嘌呤(Hypoxanthine,HX)在体外维持小鼠GV期卵母细胞减数分裂阻滞,探讨了次黄嘌呤对卵母细胞减数分裂抑制作用的时效性、可逆性以及对卵丘扩展和解除抑制后的发育能力的影响。结果表明(1)4mmol/LHX维持减数分裂阻滞的作用具有时效性,GV%在18h时显著下降。(2)HX处理时间短于24h时,解除抑制后再成熟时卵母细胞的成熟率不受影响,抑制24h再成熟14h时成熟率仍可达86%。(3)HX处理会抑制卵丘扩展,解除抑制后再成熟时卵丘扩展程度跟抑制时间长短有关。(4)HX处理6h后,卵母细胞的孤雌激活率上升(42%vs20%,P<0.05),但胚胎的发育能力下降。这证明HX维持小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂阻滞的作用具有时效性和可逆性的特点,为建立提高体外成熟卵母细胞的发育能力的培养体系打下了基础。     

A phenotypic study of murine oocyte death in vivo

Most studies of oocyte apoptosis have been performed in vitro and have employed the method of artificial induction of apoptosis by an anti-cancer agent. However, the process of oocyte death in vivo has not been clearly identified. To investigate the death process in unfertilized oocytes in vivo, we examined the cytochemical change of oocytes collected by oviduct flushing at various intervals after hCG injection. At each collection time, the collected oocytes were phenotypically classified under the microscope into four groups: single-cell oocytes (non-activated and without a nucleus and cytokinesis), activated oocytes (single-, 2- or 4-cell with a nucleus), fragmented oocytes, and dead oocytes. The number of single oocytes decreased and dead oocytes increased with the lapse of time, but the number of activated oocytes or fragmented oocytes did not. Also, most of the dead oocytes observed were single cell. At each time point, single oocytes were stained with anti-tubulin antibody to examine their spindle status. At 24 h after hCG injection, all ovulated oocytes had a normal bipolar spindle, while at 64 h all single-cell oocytes had no spindle. From these observations, we concluded that most oocyte deaths in vivo occur in the single oocyte stage, not in activated or fragmented oocytes.     

Changes in bovine luteal progesterone metabolism in response to exogenous prostaglandin F(2alpha)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) on luteal synthesis of progesterone (P4) and related progestins. Sixteen beef heifers were assigned in equal numbers to four groups in a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The experiment consisted of two levels of PGF2alpha analog (0 and 500 microg) and two levels of time (4 and 24 h after injection) of corpus luteum collection. All heifers were injected intravenously with saline (2 ml) or PGF2alpha (cloprostenol) on day 8 of the estrous cycle (estrus=day 0). Jugular blood was collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 h after injection. Resulting sera were analyzed for P4 by use of radioimmunoassay. Luteal tissue was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for P4, 20beta-hydroxyprogesterone, pregnenolone, and allopregnanolone (3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one). Treatment with PGF2alpha reduced serum concentrations of P4 as early as 1 h after injection (P<0.005) and steroid levels remained low over 24 h. Similarly, administration of PGF2alpha caused a decline in luteal P4 (P<0.005), 20beta-hydroxyprogesterone (P<0.10), and pregnenolone (P<0.05). In contrast, treatment with PGF(2alpha) caused an increase in luteal allopregnanolone over time (time x treatment interaction; P<0.05). These data are interpreted to suggest that PGF2alpha promotes conversion of P4 to the metabolite allopregnanolone.     

昆明小鼠早期胚胎发育时程

以昆明种小鼠为对象,在严格控光条件下,对交配后阴道栓形成时间、排卵时间、精子入卵与原核形成时间以及2-细胞至囊胚的发育时程等进行了系统研究。结果如下:(1)从注射hCG 当天(0 d)21:00(hCG后6 h)至次日(第1 天)1:00(hCG 后10 h),有84.2% 的超排小鼠形成阴道栓;(2)大部分小鼠(66% ～100% )排卵从hCG后第1 天2:00(hCG 后11 h)开始,至3:00～4:00(hCG后12～13 h)结束;(3)从hCG 后第1 天7:00(hCG后16 h)至11:00(hCG 后20 h),小鼠卵受精率为5.6% ～82.4% ;(4)从hCG后第1 天7:00(hCG 后16 h)至11:00(hCG 后20 h),原核形成率为4.4% ～67.5% ;(5)从hCG 后第1 天21:00(hCG 后30 h)至第2 天1:00(hCG后34 h),2-细胞形成率为14.9% ～83.1% ;hCG后第2 天19:00(hCG后52 h)至23:00(hCG后56 h),4-细胞形成率为12.9% ～85.7% ;hCG 后第3 天6:00(hCG后63 h)至10:00(hCG 后67 h),8-细胞形率为12.8% ～88.2% ;(6)从hCG 后第3 天10:00(hCG 后67 h)至24:00(hCG后81 h),8～16 细胞(早期桑葚胚)形成率由100% 下降到42.9% ;从hCG 后第3 天24:00(hCG 后81 h)至第4 天4:00(hCG后85 h),17～32 细胞(晚期桑葚胚)形成率由57.1% 增加到90.0% ;(7)从hCG 后第4 天6:00(hCG后87 h)至8:00(hCG后89 h),囊胚形成率从11.4% 上升到60.9% 。     

Morphological differentiation of cumulus-oocyte complexes induced by the administration of gonadotropins in mice

The morphological changes were examined in the present study in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes and granulosa cells induced by the administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Dissolution of the germinal vesicle (GVBD) occurred in oocytes at 3 hr after hCG administration. Partial expansion of the cumulus cell investment was observed in the cumulus-oocyte complexes, especially those with the oocytes having undergone GVBD. Cumulus expansion due to the deposition of intercellular materials stained with colloidal iron proceeded up to 8 hr after hCG administration. The number of cells in the follicles containing matured oocytes is smaller than that in the follicles containing intact germinal vesicles in the granulosa cell layer, which indicates that the dispersion of cells occurs during meiotic maturation not only in the cumulus-oocyte complexes but also in the granulosa cell layer. Examination of the expansion of mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes by electron microscopy revealed the abundant deposition of intercellular materials and the retraction of the cytoplasmic processes joining the cumulus cells to the oocyte at 3 hr after hCG administration.     

Developmental ability of vitrified mouse oocytes expressing water channels

Previously, we showed that the exogenous expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3), an aquaglyceroporin, improved the tolerance of mouse oocytes to vitrification with a glycerol-based solution. In the present study, we examined conditions suitable for the expression of AQP3 and the ability of vitrified oocytes to develop in vitro and in vivo after fertilization. After only partial remove of cumulus cells, immature mouse oocytes (germinal vesicle stage) were injected with 5, 10 or 20 pg of AQP3 cRNA and cultured for 12 h for maturation. When matured oocytes were vitrified with a glycerol-based solution, 57-61% survived regardless of the amount of cRNA injected (5-20 pg). By contrast, no oocytes injected with water (control) survived. When the zona pellucida was removed from the vitrified oocytes and the oocytes were then fertilized in vitro and cultured, the proportions that were fertilized and developed into blastocysts were higher when the amount of cRNA injected was 5 pg than 10-20 pg. When 16 blastocysts were transferred to a pseudopregnant mouse, 5 developed to term, demonstrating that oocytes vitrified after injection of AQP3 cRNA retained the ability to develop to term. The water-permeability of cRNA-injected oocytes was higher than that of control oocytes from the maturing stage to the 1-cell zygote stage, whereas glycerol-permeability was higher only at metaphase II. This indicates that AQP3 was expressed for a relatively short period of time. These results suggest that the transient expression of water/cryoprotectant channels is effective for cryopreserving cells that have low membrane-permeability, such as mammalian oocytes.     

Nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of bovine oocytes cultured with dbc AMP, FSH and hCG

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of addition of dbc AMP on bovine oocyte maturation and fertilization in vitro. The bovine oocytes isolated from 2–8 mm follicles were cultured for 26 h in TCM-199. The maturation rate (71.4 %) did not significantly increase after supplementation of the culture medium with dbc AMP (86.3 %.) or FSH + hCG (86.3 %). The in vitro fertilization rate of oocytes based on sperm penetration and presence of sperm tail in the ooplasm increased significantly in the dbc AMP (34.7 %) and the dbc AMP + FSH + hCG (33.9 %) treated groups when compared with untreated controls (17.9 %). However, dbc AMP treated oocytes were not able to secure the formation of male pronucleus 20 h after in vitro fertilization, while in oocytes matured in dbc AMP free medium both pronuclei were present in approximately 15 % of the penetrated oocytes. Also, the sperm head decondensation was blocked or slowed down by the dbc AMP treatment. It is concluded (1) that dbc AMP may improve the condition for the interaction of oocytes with spermatozoa, and (2) that the ooplasm of such dbc AMP treated oocytes apparently is not able to decandense the sperm head and transform it to the male pronucleus.     

显微注射Ca^2＋激活小鼠M Ⅱ期卵母细胞

胞质内显微注入Ｃａ＾２＋可以激活小鼠Ｍ Ⅱ期卵母细胞，且随着卵龄的增加，激活率明显升高。卵龄小于１６ｈ（ｈＣＧ注射后）注射Ｃａ＾２＋引起的激活率很低，卵龄超过１８ｈ，激活率达到５０％以上。卵龄小于１６ｈ的卵母细胞，卵内注入超纯水未能激活卵母细胞，而在１８￣１９ｈ卵龄组，注射水的对照组激活率为３５％，但显著或极显著地低于注射Ｃａ＾２＋的试验组。激活前注射ＥＤＴＡ卵母细胞的激活率约为３０％，激活后注射     

Plasma estradiol-17ß concentrations in the cow during induced estrus and after injection of estradiol-17ß benzoate and estradiol-17ß cypionate -a preliminary study

Plasma estradiol-17 beta concentrations were investigated in cows during induced estrus and after an intramuscular injection of 10 mg of estradiol-17 beta benzoate and estradiol-17 beta cypionate to determine a withdrawal period for both preparations. After the estradiol-17 beta benzoate injection, the plasma estradiol-17 beta concentration was higher than the physiological maximum of 24 pg/ml obtained during induced estrus for a period of 114 +/- 10 h (mean +/- SEM). For estradiol-17 beta cypionate the corresponding value was 170 +/- 17 h (mean +/- SEM). A withdrawal period of 7 days for the benzoate ester and of 10 days for estradiol-17 beta cypionate is therefore proposed. These results were confirmed by biopsies taken at the injection site 8 and 15 days after the injection of estradiol-17 beta benzoate and estradiol-17 beta cypionate, respectively. In these biopsies no residues of estradiol-17 beta nor of its esters could be detected.     

Chronological changes of bovine follicular oocyte maturation in vitro

Chronological changes of bovine follicular cumulus-oocyte-complexesi were studied after in vitro maturation over a period of 48 h. According to their thickness and compactness of cumulus investments they were classified into 4 groups and cultured in enriched Ham’s F-10 medium with or without human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and estradiolbenzoate (EB) for 0, 6, 12, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 and 48 h. Representative samples were taken at each time interval for evaluation of nuclear maturation stages, ooplasm quality and size of the peri vitelline space (PVS). The results showed that oocyte nuclear breakdown (ONBD) required 6 to 12 h culture, and the peak of the first polar abstriction occurred at 24 h. The culture period required for ONBD and abstraction of the first polar body were related to the thickness and compactness of cumulus investments with and approximately 6 h delay in heavily compacted complexes. Ooplasm quality evaluation failed to show a clear trend, but the PVS increased in size from 0 h to 30 h and then, retracted again from 30 to 48 h. The overall maturation rate in the presence of hCG and EB was 79.1 %, and a substantial proportion (68.8 %) of nude or partially covered oocytes reached metaphase II stage. In the presence of hCG and EB no block at either metaphase I or at anaphase-telophase I was observed. In the absence of hCG and EB the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II was much lower (48.6%) in comparison with oocytes matured in the presence of these hormones (79.1 %). It was concluded a very high proportion of slaughterhouse oocytes could be matured in vitro and that the cumulus investments and addition of certain hormones affected the maturation rate.