A new device for the aspiration of follicular fluid for acid-base balance analysis in cattle

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to evaluate a new device for the ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration of follicular fluid for acid-base balance analysis (ABB set) in comparison with the original modified commercial OPU set. In the ABB set, an aspiration syringe was placed in the front part of the new tool's handle, next to the transducer, so as to enable direct collection of the sample into the syringe. To obtain a sufficient amount of testable fluid, reservoirs of urine (rubber balloons) were used for later aspiration under laboratory conditions in Experiment 1. Fifteen triads of samples (each triad with two punctures) were collected. While the first sample of each triad was taken using the ABB set (ABB sample), two samples were taken by one puncture using the original modified commercial OPU set: aerobic phase of sampling (AE sample) with air present in the tubing at the start of sampling and the subsequent anaerobic phase of sampling (AN sample). Values determined in the second sample from the triad (AE) varied from the values in both ABB and AN samples (pH 7.685 vs. 7.704 vs. 7.692, pCO 2 11.13 vs. 10.3 vs. 10.85, pO 2 6.87 vs. 8.67 vs. 7.02). In Experiment 2, ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspirations were carried out in 13 cows bearing ovarian cysts with diameters of at least 3 cm, using plastic aspiration syringes (Experiment 2P) and in 12 cows using glass aspiration syringes (Experiment 2G). The sequence of samples was the same as in Experiment 1. We found a significantly higher pH in AE in comparison to AN (7.357 vs. 7.348), lower pCO 2 (6.85) and higher O 2 (14.12) in samples of AE in comparison to samples of ABB and AN (pCO 2 7.36, 7.30; O 2 9.95, 10.63 respectively) in cystic fluid in Experiment 2P. We found a significantly higher pH (7.4), lower pCO 2 (5.98) and a higher pO 2 (12.35) in AE samples in comparison to ABB and AN samples of cystic fluid (pH 7.386, 7.385; pCO 2 6.39, 6.35 and O 2 10.56, 10.65, respectively) from Experiment 2G. We conclude that the acid-base balance assay was affected by air, present in the tubing during aerobic sampling in comparison to anaerobic and ABB set sampling. These pre-analytical changes can be prevented by the use of the ABB set because the results obtained with the ABB set were not different from that of the AN samples. We also confirmed pre-analytical changes in acid-base balance parameters in the cystic fluid after it had been stored in plastic aspiration syringes. Our new ABB set equipped with a glass aspiration syringe is suitable for sampling follicular fluid for both acid-base balance and gas analysis.Keywords: cow; acid-base parameters; ovarian cysts; cystic fluid collection; ovum pick-up List of abbreviations ABB = acid base balance, AE = aerobic, AN = anaerobic, OPU = ovum pick-up, TVFA = transvaginal follicular aspiration

Acid-base balance parameters of follicular fluid and venous blood in cattle

“…Methodology in the studies used different data sets and different techniques for FF collection. The technique appears to be crucial, as was demonstrated experimentally (Cech et al 2013). It is necessary to avoid contact between the sample and the air (so-called "air contamination").…”

“…Because the follicular population of both ovaries was the same, an explanation of this event is only by the questionable quality of FF1 sampling at T36. Even if a special device for FF collection (Cech et al 2013) was used, a higher air contamination of the sample can occur due to the higher speed of aspiration, insufficient needle attachment or movement of the animal at a critical phase of the aspiration.…”

“…Follicular fluid sampling and analysis Follicular fluid was collected by TVFA as previously described (Indrova et al 2017) using a device for aspiration of FF for ABB analysis (Cech et al 2013). The TVFA was performed after epidural anaesthesia (4 ml, 2% lidocaine, Fatro, Ozzano Emilia, Italy), rectum evacuation and disinfection of the vulva and perineum.…”

Electrolytes, Metabolic And Acid-Base Parameters In Blood And Fluids of The Reproductive Tract During In Vivo Maturation of Bovine Oocytes

“…Although Indrova et al 12 collected FF at different times post PG or superovulation, these were conducted in three different experiments, and no comparisons could be made. Additionally, many studies used OPU for FF collection, which increased pO2 due to the mixing of FF with air in the OPU tubing 34,36,37 .…”