ABSTRACT
With a view to search for optimal concentration of hyaluronan (HA) and plant protein (PP) in different culture systems for in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in 2 culture systems (first co-cultured with granulose cells and estrus calf serum (ECS) in 2 mL volume, second without co-culture where ECS was replaced by exogenous hormones and BSA or PP in 100 µL dose under mineral oil). Seven types of media were used; 3 in first system and 4 in second system. To evaluate HA and PP effect on oocytes after in vitro culture an estimation of meiosis stage and a level of DNA fragmentation was performed by TUNEL staining. The highest meiotic maturation (84%) was observed in oocytes cultured in medium enriched with ECS in co-culture with granulose cells (1st system). The lowest meiotic maturation was noted in medium with addition of BSA (43%). The addition of HA in the medium enriched with BSA significantly increased the rate of matured oocytes (67%) and also didn’t affect the chromatin quality of individual oocytes. The addition of HA to the culture medium supplemented with a PP decreased the rate of matured oocytes to 54% but no statistical differences were noted. The results of the present study showed that HA supplementation didn’t have a detrimental impact on oocyte chromatin integrity and improved bovine oocytes’ meiotic maturation in medium supplemented only with BSA without co-culture of granulose cells.