Effect of Different Reproductive Stages and Culture Times on Domestic Cat <i>in Vitro </i> Oocyte Maturation

Abstract

The domestic cat has been used as a model to carry out comparative research in assisted reproduction, to be applied in wild cats. The efficiency in domestic cat IVM concerning the reproductive status and/or cultivation times has previously been investigated; however, the studies were carried out separately. The objective of this research was to evaluate the maturation of oocytes of domestic cats of different reproductive stages using two different in vitro culture times. The ovaries were obtained by Ooforo-Salpingo-Hysterectomy of cats that were of the following groups: 1) prepubertal, 2) follicular, 3) pregnant or 4) in anestrus. Maturation was carried out with TCM199 medium supplemented with BSA for 24 h and 48 h. On average, 29 ± 25, 20 ± 15, 17 ± 9 and 17 ± 13 oocytes/cat were recovered from the prepubertal follicular, pregnant, and anestrus stages, respectively, but did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05). Also, meiotic maturation did not show a significant difference between the different reproductive stages at 24 h and 48 h, respectively (P > 0.05). However, in the prepubertal and follicular stages, greater oocyte maturation numbers were observed at 48 h compared to 24 h (P < 0.05). In contrast, the aforementioned result was not observed in the pregnant and anestrus stages (P > 0.05), indicating that the in vitro culture duration is an important factor during in vitro maturation of domestic cat oocytes.

Recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies of feline reproduction

“…Thus, they must be matured in vitro is generally carried out between 32-48 hours (Evecen et al, 2009;Karja et al, 2002;Evecen et al, 2002;Evecen et al, 201et al, 2009;Evecen et al, 2003a). In vitro maturation period 0; Pichardo et al, 2021). In vitro, maturation of oocytes is one of the most critical points of the in vitro embryo production process.…”

“…The Season and The Cyclic Period of Donor Cats: Different studies on this subject have obtained either supporting or contradictory results in cats (Pope 2000). Some researchers declare that they did not find a difference between the in vitro maturation rates of oocytes obtained in different estrus cycle stages or seasons (Karja et al, 2002;Uchikura et al, 2011;Pichardo et al, 2021). In our previous study, we found that although not statistically significant, there were differences in in vitro maturation rates between different estrus cycle stages of queens and that the follicular stage was superior to other stages (Evecen et al, 2004).…”