Comparative Evaluation of Different Maturation Media for In-vitro Maturation of Buffalo Oocytes
Nagendra Singh *
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anuj Kumar
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mukul Anand
Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Akash Singh
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Payal Tiwari
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Renuka Mishra
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shourabh Singh Singhal
Shourabh College of Veterinary Science, Kheda, Hindaun City 322234, Karauli, Rajasthan, India.
Amrita Priyadarshi
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Pratyanshu Srivastava
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ashutosh Mishra
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Diksha Singh
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kanchan Kushwaha
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nikita Singh
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
Hanuman Prasad Yadav
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura (281001), Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The composition and buffering capacity of maturation media can influence the in vitro maturation of buffalo oocytes. This study compared three commercially available media-BO-HEPES-IVM, BO-IVM, and OMM-under identical laboratory conditions. Buffalo ovaries were collected from a local abattoir and transported in physiological saline at 24–32 °C within 2–3 h of slaughter. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were recovered from 2–8 mm follicles by the slashing technique, graded morphologically, and selected for maturation. Grade A and B oocytes were distributed among three treatment groups in six replicates and cultured in 50 µL drops of maturation medium beneath mineral oil at 38.5 °C in 5% CO₂ for 22–24 h. Maturation was assessed according to cumulus cell expansion and expressed as a percentage. The mean number of oocytes subjected to maturation and the mean number of matured oocytes did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. However, the maturation percentage differed significantly among the media. BO-HEPES-IVM produced the highest maturation rate (90.53 ± 2.61%), followed by BO-IVM (83.72 ± 3.34%) and OMM (77.48 ± 1.65%). The numerical pattern of complete cumulus expansion was consistent with this result. Under the conditions evaluated, BO-HEPES-IVM provided the highest cumulus-expansion-based maturation rate. Further assessment of nuclear maturation and subsequent embryo development is needed before broader conclusions regarding developmental competence can be drawn.
Keywords: Buffalo, buffering agent, developmental competence, maturation rate, oocytes