Peritoneal fluid from rabbits or goats as media for in vitro maturation, fertilization and initial culture of caprine oocytes

The efficacy of peritoneal fluid from rabbit and goat for in vitro maturati on, fertilization and initial culture of embryos from caprine oocytes was e valuated. Peritoneal fluid was collected from adult female goats (n = 9) or rabbits (n = 9). Good quality oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturatio n and fertilization in three different media viz. Tissue Culture Medium (TC M-199), goat Peritoneal Fluid (gPF) and rabbit Peritoneal fluid (rPF). Matu ration rates were 74.7 +/- 2.07% and 63.6 +/- 5.28% in TCM-199, gPF 65.8 +/ - 2.54% and 55.6 +/- 3.79%, and rPF 57.7 +/- 1.78% and 44.6 +/- 3.01% when evaluated on the basis of cumulus cell expansion and the achievement of met aphase-II stage, respectively. However, no significant differences were obs erved in respect of maturation rate between the control and gPF and between gPF and rPF groups. Freshly ejaculated buck semen was treated with heparin (10 mu g/ml) and after 45 min incubation with heparin, 8.0% sperm were liv e and acrosome reacted. The proportions of fertilized oocytes based on male and female pronuclei formation or on cleavage development were 50.5 +/- 5. 03, 42.3 +/- 3.15 and 34.2 +/- 1.98%; 31.0 +/- 2.80, 27.9 +/- 2.12 and 21.8 +/- 1.69% for TCM, gPF and rPF, respectively. It was concluded that perito neal fluids either from goats or rabbits could be used as an alternative me dium to TCM-199. However, further research is required to confirm its effic acy for embryo development up to the blastocyst stage. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V, All rights reserved.