THE EFFECT OF BOVINE AMNIOTIC-FLUID ON IN-VITRO MATURATION OF BOVINE OOCYTES

Three experiments were carried out to investigate whether bovine amnio tic fluid (BAF), when added as a protein supplement to the maturation medium, supports the in vitro maturation of pre-ovulatory bovine oocyt es. In the first experiment, the medium was supplemented with three di fferent concentrations of the BAF (10, 20 and 50%, respectively). In t he second experiment, the effects of a combination of two protein supp lements BAF plus oestrus cow serum (BAF-OCS) and BAF plus bovine folli cular fluid (BAF-BFF), on the in vitro oocyte maturation rates were ev aluated. In the third experiment, the effects of three different prote in supplements (BAF, OCS, and BFF) on the oocyte maturation percentage s were compared. Maturation rates at the metaphase II stage, following supplementation with 20% BAF (77%) and 10% BAF (68%) were significant ly higher (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) than those resulting from supplementation with 50% BAF (44%). Significant differences between t he 10% BAF and 20% BAF treatments were not observed. Significant diffe rences were, however, found between the BAF-OCS treatment (57%) and th e BAF-BFF treatment (50%). The results obtained from the BAF and the O CS treatments (77 and 78%, respectively) were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than when BFF (60%) was used. It is concluded that supplementati on of the in vitro maturation medium of pre-ovulatory bovine oocytes w ith BAF provides important levels of proteins and growth factors respo nsible for nuclear and cytoplasmic development.