REPEATED LAPAROSCOPICAL FOLLICULAR PUNCTURE AND OOCYTE ASPIRATION IN SWINE

Ovum pick up was investigated in gilts by follicular puncture via lapa roscopy. A total of 22 puberal gilts were used after estrous synchroni zation (15 days Regumate(R), Serum-Werk Bernburg, Germany; 1000 IU PMS G) in two series. In the first series, follicles of 5 mm and more of t he ipsilateral ovary (n = 13 gilts) were aspirated 3 days after PMSG a pplication (corresponding to day 17-18 of the estrous cycle). Follicle s of the contralateral ovary were punctured 2 days later. In the secon d series, follicles of both ovaries of 3 gilts were aspirated on days 3, 4 and 5 after PMSG. Aspiration was carried out via a two-way cannul a and an electronic aspiration pump at 0.2-0.25 bar pressure. The morp hology of cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) were evaluated using a light microscope. The mean number of adspected and punctured follicles per g ilt was 14.8 +/- 5.9 and 9.3 +/- 3.4, respectively. The topography of genital organs did not allow the laparoscopic puncture of all follicle s. A total of 122 COC were aspirated from 204 follicles. The mean rate of oocyte recovery was 54.7 +/- 21.8%. A significantly higher percent age of oocytes was aspirated from follicles of 6- greater-than-or-equa l-to 7 mm on days 4 and 5 compared to follicles of 5 mm on day 3 after PMSG (70.0 and 69.1% vs. 48.3%). The different qualities of COC were observed after aspiration. More oocytes with compact COC were recorded from follicles of 5 mm diameter compared to both expanded COC and tho se with few layers and overly denuded oocytes (69.7% vs 12.1, 9.1 and 9.1%, p < 0.05). There was a tendency a higher proportion of expanded and few-layer COC to be aspirated from follicles of 6 mm diameter. A t otal of 60.7% of recovered COC from large preovulatory follicles (grea ter-than-or-equal-to 7 mm) had few cumulus cells (p < 0.05). Follicula r development and oocyte quality were evidently not influenced by repe ated follicular puncture.