E.FFECT OF HARVESTING TECHNIQUE AND OTHER FACTORS ON · OOCYTE RETRIEVAL IN BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

Abstract

A study was undertaken to assess the ovarian biometry, follicular population and oocyte rec9very in buffalo
ovaries obtained from a local abattoir. Three harvesting techniques viz., aspiration, puncture and slicing methods
were employed to recover oocytes. Effect of ovarian status (luteal phase vs. non-luteal phase), ovarian volume
(<1.5 cm3 vs. >1.5 cm 3
), side of ovary {Right vs. left) and number of visible follicles (No follicles vs.1-5 follicles vs:
6-1 0 follicles) on oocyte yield and quality were analyzed. The ovarian biometry (length, width, thickness, volume
and weight) and the number of visible follicles did not differ significantly between left and right ovaries. The number
of visible follicles were significantly higher (P<0.01) in non-luteal phase ovaries (2. 78 ±0.16) compared to luteal
phase ovaries (1.97 ±0.19). Among the three collection methods, slicing technique yielded highest no. of total and
good quality oocytes respectively (7.98 ± 0.70 and 3.23 ± 0.30) followed by puncture (3.46 ± 0.31 and 1.25 ± 0.17)
and aspiration methods (2.38±0.19 and 0.84 ± 0.10). Irrespective of the method employed, a little over 1/3 o·f
__ recovered oocytes were of poor quality (32.46- 34.34%). Luteal phase ovaries (having CL) yielded lower no. of
oocytes compared to non-luteal phase (no CL) ovaries. Both left and right ovaries contributed equally to total as
well as different quality grades of oocytes in all the methods. Ovarian velum non-significantly affected the oocyte
yield which was slightly higher in ovaries with a mean volume >1.5 cm3
• The results indicate that slicing method is
superior to the other two methods employed in this study to harvest more number of good quality as well as culture
grade oocytes from buffalo ovaries.