INFLUENCE OF BUFFALO OESTRUS SERUM (BES) AND FETAL BOVINE SERUM (FBS) IN THE PRESENCE OF OESTRADIOL (E2) AND FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE (FSH) ON NUCLEAR MATURATION OF BUFFALO OOCYTES

The influence of buffalo oestrus serum (BES) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the presence of oestradiol and follicle stimulating hormone on nuclear maturation of buffalo oocytes was evaluated. The oocytes matured in the presence of 10 % BES or 10 % FBS showed higher maturation rates than those matured in the medium alone. The addition of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E-2) in the presence of serum to the medium improved maturation rate over that of the serum alone. However, the maturation rate was higher (71.05 %) in Ham's F-10 + FBS + E-2 + 10 mu g/ml FSH than in Ham's F- 10 + BES + E-2 + 10 mu g /ml FSH i.e. 51.16 %, but no significant difference was observed. In the present study, FBS was found to be a more suitable protein supplement for in vitro maturation of buffalo oocytes in comparison with BES. Therefore Ham's F- 10 supplemented with 10 % FBS in combination with E-2 and 10 mu g/ml FSH proved to be the most efficacious medium for maturation of buffalo oocytes.