INFLUENCE OF FSH ON IN-VIVO MATURATION OF GOAT OOCYTES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT UP TO BLASTOCYST STAGE AFTER IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Goat follicular oocytes were matured in TCM-199 medium supplemented wi th 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) or 10% FBS+5 mu g/ml follicle stimula ting hormone (FSH-P). Some of the oocytes were stained by 2% Giemsa st ain and observed for nuclear maturation and the others were fertilized with goat epididymal sperms and co-cultured in TCM-199 supplemented w ith 10% FBS, with goat oviductal epithelial cells for 7 days. Addition of FSH-P in the maturation medium increased the significantly higher maturation rate (P<0.005) and cleavage rate (P<0.01). After in vitro f ertilization, the oocytes that had been matured in medium without FSH- P did not progress beyond morula Stage. Supplementation of FSH-P in th e maturation medium, however, enabled the in vitro fertilized oocytes to develop up to blastocyst stage.