In the present study, 19 OPU (Ovum Pickup) sessions were conducted for which 8 donor cows (n=8) were subjected to ultrasound guided follicular aspiration. 278 follicles were aspirate din total. The mean number of OPU sessions conducted per donor cow was 2.38±0.60. The number of large, medium and small follicles aspirated per cow was 3.13±1.19, 14.63±5.89 and 17.0±7.01 respectively. The total follicles aspirated per cow and follicles aspirated per cow per OPU session were 34.75±12.83 and 12.67±1.86 respectively (Table 1).
In total, 145 COCs were recovered (Fig 1). The mean number of COCs recovered from each donor cow was 18.13±6.66 and the mean oocyte recovery rate was 45.31±7.35 (Table 1). Percentage of grade A, B, C, D and E oocytes was 15.69±3.91, 24.97±3.02, 37.53±3.45, 19.44±3.76 and 2.38±2.38respectively (Table 2). More number of grade C oocytes were recovered followed by grades B, D, A and E oocytes.
Oocytes with grades A, B, C and D were selected for
in vitro maturation. Visualization of cumulus expansion after
in vitro maturation was considered for calculation of maturation rates. Out of 125 oocytes subjected for
in vitro maturation, 114 oocytes achieved maturation. The mean
in vitro maturation rate (IVM%) was 91.71±2.38%. Total of 106 matured oocytes were subjected for
in vitro fertilization using sex sorted bovine semen among which 96 oocytes were fertilized. The mean number of oocytes fertilized was 16±1.61 with the total mean percentage of 90.18±1.52% (Table 2).
The mean number of oocytes cultured was 16.33±1.41, mean number of embryos cleaved was 9.17±1.45 (Fig 2) and the mean cleavage rates observed was 55.1±5.90%. The mean number of blastocysts formed was 4.17±0.75 (Fig 3) and the mean blastocyst rate was 24.81±2.95% (Table 3).
Grading of embryos
The mean percentages of different grades of embryos observed were, code 1: 21.13±2.78, code 2: 14.41±3.25, code 3: 19.56±4.11 and code 4: 44.9±5.90 (Table 3). Highest number of code 4 embryos was produced in the present study.
In the present study small follicles were aspirated in greater numbers than medium and large follicles Similar to the results of
Manik et al., (2003), Goodhand et al., (1999), Presicce et al., (2020) Sakhong et al., (2012), da
Silva et al., (2017) and
Egashira et al., (2019). This suggests that breed, season, environment, nutrition and stimulation protocols have an impact on follicular populations of various sizes.
The oocyte recovery rate achieved in the current study (45.31±7.35%) is in consistent with the results obtained by
Gibbons et al., (1994) and
Garcia and Salaheddine, (1998) who achieved43.9% and 44.2% oocytes recovery rates, respectively. They found that performing OPU twice a week instead of once a week resulted in a higher number of harvestable follicles and higher recovery rates. The current findings are higher than
Sisodiya (2008),
Pieterse et al. (1988) and
Brogliatti and Adams (1996) who achieved 14.2%, 18% and 25% of recovery rates respectively.
Bungartz et al., (1995) reported 65.4% recovery rates;
Manik et al., (2003) 59%;
Verma (2005) 53.37%;
Li et al., (2007) 49.2±6.9%;
Egashira et al., (2019) 69.8±5.6%;
Baruselli et al., (2012) 91.2% and 61.1% in Gir and Holstein cows respectively, indicating that they achieved higher recovery rates than the present findings. When the OPU was performed close to the emergence of the follicular wave, higher recovery rate can be achieved.
Harkal (2019) found a greater oocyte recovery when follicular aspiration was done at 100 mm Hg vacuum pressure than when it was done at 80 mm Hg or 90 mmHg vacuum pressure highlighting that recovery rate is also influenced by the vacuum pressure used during follicular aspiration.
The recovery of grade C oocytes was higher than grades A, B, D and E oocytes in the present study. Results reported by
Looney et al., (1994), Manik et al., (2003), Chaubal et al., (2006), Sakhong et al., (2012) are in agreement with the present study who recovered highest percentage of grade C oocytes than grade A, B, D and E oocytes. Sanjeeva
Kumar et al., (2020) recovered more number of grade A oocytes followed by grade B, C and D oocytes. Oocyte quality is influenced by stage of oestrus cycle at the time of OPU session, nutritional deficiencies
(Santos et al., 2008), type of needle used, diameter of silicone tubing, experience as well as expertize of OPU technician and, Summer season negatively affects oocyte quality as compared to winter
(Guerrero-Gallego et al., 2021).
The mean
in vitro maturation rate achieved in the present study was 91.71±2.38% which is in accordance with Sanjeeva
Kumar et al., (2020) who reported 91.30±1.27%. Lower maturation rates were reported by
Verma (2005) 81.54%,
Lonergon et al. (1994) 70.20%,
Pontes et al., (2010) 75.53% and
Cabrera-Ramos et al., (2017) 70.34% where as higher maturation rates were achieved by
Chohan and Hunter (2004) who reported 92% maturation rate. According to various studies, IVM can be improved by supple metation of various compounds into maturation medium like amino acids, cysteine, insulin, transferrin, selenium, triiodothyronine and resveratrol.
The overall fertilization rates achieved in the present study was 90.18±1.52% which is higher than
Carvalho et al., (2010) who reported 67.2±5.7% fertilization rates. Their study suggested that sex-sorting procedure by flow cytometry did not reduce sperm’s capacity to produce embryos
in vitro.
The cleavage rates observed in the present study was 55.1±5.90%. Lower cleavage rates were reported by
Liang et al., (2008) 50.5±13.0% and
Presicce et al., (2011) 41.2±6.1%; and higher cleavage rates reported by de Oliveira
Bezerra et al., (2019) 63.80%;
Matoba et al., (2014) 75.4±5.2%;
Underwood et al., (2010) 78.8±4.6% and
Nogueira et al., (2021) 81.61%.
The present report of blastocyst percentage (24.81±2.95%) is higher than
Cebrian-Serrano et al., (2013) 5.56%;
Liang et al., (2008) 15.3±7.4%;
Presicce et al., (2011) 12.8±2.3% and
Pontes et al., (2010) 18.8%; and lower than those reported by de Oliveira
Bezerra et al., (2019) 30.47%;
Morotti et al., (2014) 29%;
Matoba et al., (2014) 31.8±8.2%;
Underwood et al., (2010) 35.9±4.8% and
Nogueira et al., (2021) 30.08%. According to
Nogueira et al., (2021), breed, blood group and frequency of aspirations have a strong influence on embryonic production.
Wilson et al., (2006) produced more number of grade 2 embryos followed by grade 1 and grade 3 respectively in contrast to the present study. In the present study, higher number of code 4 embryos were produced possibly due to effect of quality of oocytes, once weekly of aspiration, media used and the use of sex sorted sperm.