In vitro maturation, fertilization and embryonic development of morphologically classified goat oocytes*

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effect of compactness of cumulus cells on in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryonic development. The morphologically classified goat oocytes were isolated and classified into 3 categories, i.e. good, fair and poor quality oocytes according to the compactness of the cumulus cells and were assigned for in vitro, maturation, fertilization and embryonic development. Maturation rates (M II) in good quality oocytes were significantly higher (85.06%) as compared to fair (58.33%) and (42.65%) poor quality oocytes. Total and normal fertilization rates were also higher in good quality oocytes than fair and poor quality oocytes. The cleavage (65.32%), morula (13.70%) and blastocyst (23.38%) development of good quality oocytes was found to be significantly higher than fair and poor quality oocytes. Thus, it is concluded that the selection of good oocytes according to cumulus cells compactness is an important criteria for in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development.