Effect of Goat Follicular Fluid on in vitro Production of Embryos in Black Bengal Goats

The study was undertaken to elucidate the beneficial effects of goat follicular fluid (gFF) added to maturation and culture media on in vitro maturation, fertilization and post-fertilization development of oocytes in Black Bengal goats. Follicular fluid and oocytes were collected from slaughter house goat's ovaries using the aspiration technique. Media were prepared using TCM-199 supplemented with 0.5% bovine serum albomin (BSA) plus four levels of gFF at concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. Oocytes were matured for 27 h, fertilized with capacitated fresh semen in Brackett and Oliphant (BO) medium for 6 h and then cultured up to 7 days, at 38.5 degrees C with 5% CO2 under humidified air. It was observed with 0% to 15% of gFF that 53.8-75.0% of the oocytes reached the cumulus cell expansion level-3; 41.5-67.8% reached metaphase-II; 28.6-38.4% exhibited normal fertilization (formation of 2-pronuclei); 12.3-33.7% were 2-cell embryos. The development of embryos was arrested at the 2-cell stage in control media and at the 8-cell stage in 5% media, though morula and blastocyst stages developed in 10% (14.1% and 9.3%, respectively) and 15% gFF media (18.0% and 10.0%, respectively). In comparison, it was observed that the results in all stages of in vitro production of embryos could be significantly increased (P<0.05) by adding 5% gFF to control media. The results could further be improved (P<0.05) by increasing the level of gFF to 10% but no further increment (P>0.05) occurred when gFF increased to 15% level. It is concluded that gFF has a positive effect on in vitro production of embryos in Black Bengal goats and a 10% level of gFF is recommended based on the improvements observed and the associated economic benefits.