EFFECTS OF NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN THE MATURATION AND FERTILIZATION MEDIA ON BOVINE OOCYTES

In the present investigation the effects of 2 non-steroidal anti-infla mmatory drugs commonly used in veterinary practice, flunixin-meglumin (FM) and phenylbutazone (PB), were studied. These drugs were added to the in vitro maturation medium of bovine oocytes. The effect of FM on in vitro fertilization was also tested. The results indicated that in vitro concentrations corresponding to maximal concentrations of FM in the plasma after therapeutic doses did not influence the in vitro matu ration or fertilization rates of oocytes. However, doses higher than p hysiologic concentrations resulted in significant decreases in oocyte maturation and complete failure of fertilization. Concentrations of PB corresponding to concentrations commonly found in the plasma after th erapeutic doses resulted in a significant decrease in the number of ma tured oocytes.