Abstract: 261

THE EFFECTS OF SERUM SOURCE AND HORMONE SUPPLEMENTATION ON GOAT OOCYTE MATURATION, FERTILIZATION AND EARLY EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NON-BREEDING SEASON.

Seydou Samaké^{1 *}, Oladele Gazal^{2 *}, Eugene Amoah^{1 *}, Seyoum Gelaye¹
Agricultural Research Station Fort Valley State Univ. Fort Valley, GA 31030 ¹
Dept of Biological Sciences St.Cloud State Univ. St.Cloud, MN 56301 ²

This study assessed the effects of serum source (fetal bovine serum, FBS vs. goat serum, GS), and the presence or absence of hormones (100 g LH/ ml, 0.5 g FSH/ml and 1 g estradiol-17/ml) on goat oocyte maturation, cleavage and early development during the non-breeding season. Female goats were superovulated as described by Amoah & Gelaye (1990). Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were aspirated from 2-6 mm diameter follicles and matured in vitro for 24 h as follows: 1) TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% of FBS, 2) TCM-199 + 10% GS, 3) TCM-199 + 10% FBS + hormones, and 4) TCM-199 + 10% GS + hormones. Expanded COC obtained from 24 h maturation, were fertilized as described by Parrish et al. (1986). At 18 h post insemination, zygotes were transferred to modified TCM-199 containing 10% of either FBS or GS and were cultured, for up to 5 days to morula or blastocyst stages, under paraffin oil and a humidified 5% CO2 in air at 38.5°C. Overall, maturation rate was significantly higher in the presence of FBS compared to GS (100% vs. 43%; P<0.05). While no cleavage was observed in the absence of hormones, cleavage rate was significantly higher with FBS + hormones (69%) compared to the GS + hormones treatment (54%; P<0.05). Morula and blastocyst formation were also significantly improved by FBS + hormones (58%) compared to GS + hormones treatment (45%; P<0.05). These results indicate that goat oocytes can be successfully matured in vitro, during the non-breeding season, and that FBS is a superior serum source than GS for goat oocytes in vitro maturation and early embryo development. Funded by USDA CSREES grant # GEOX-3207.

    This abstract is being presented on Monday, August 2 at 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM at CUB 2nd Floor Ballroom.