OOCYTE RETRIEVAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FOLLICULAR POPULATION INBUFFALO OVARIES

Ovaries (N = 250) from slaughtered buffaloes were collected to study f ollicular population and compare methods of oocyte retrieval. The numb er and size of surface follicles were recorded and grouped into differ ent categories. Different sized follicles in relation to oocyte diamet er were studied histologically. Yield of oocytes per ovary were less ( P < 0.05) from ovaries bearing a corpus luteum (CL). Techniques used f or oocyte recovery included slicing, follicle puncture and aspiration. The oocyte recovery rate was greatest (P < 0.05) using slicing. The a verage number of visible surface follicles was 5.20 +/- 0.97 with mean numbers of 2.5, 1.2, 0.82 and 0.62 per ovary for follicles sized 4, 8 , 12 and 12 mm respectively. Histological studies revealed large numbe rs of primordial follicles in prepubertal and atretic follicles in sen ile buffaloes. They also established a biphasic relationship of growth between oocyte diameter and follicular size. (C) 1997 Published by El sevier Science B.V.