Purpose: The effects of estradiol on oocyte development seem to be varied among species. The present study investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol on in vitro maturation of buffalo and goat oocytes.
Methods: Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from large antral follicles of slaughtered buffalo and goat ovaries. COCs were cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 µg/mL of 17β-estradiol for in vitro maturation. Then, oocytes were used for the examination of state of nuclear maturation and cumulus expansion.
Results: In both species, oocytes treated with 17β-estradiol showed higher cumulus expansion rate than control (0 µg/mL treated). In buffalo, the percentage of oocytes matured to the metaphase II (MII) stage increased in the concentration-dependent manner of 17β-estradiol. Similarly, estradiol positively influenced nuclear maturation of goat oocytes in vitro.
Conclusions: Estradiol has promoting effects on normalprogress of in vitro oocyte meiosis in buffalos and goats.
Keywords: 17β‐estradiol; buffalo; goat; in vitro maturation; oocyte.
© 2020 The Authors. Reproductive Medicine and Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine.