Use of black seed (Nigella sativa) honey bee to improve sheep oocyte maturation medium.

Sheep are important livestock and a source of milk, meat, and wool globally. The increasing demand for animal protein requires increased productivity in sheep. In vitro fertilization and maturation can improve sheep productivity.

The role of honeybee pollen as a natural source of antioxidants in the in vitro maturation medium of sheep oocytes and its effect on gene expression.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of honeybee pollen as an antioxidant source in a maturation medium of sheep oocytes on the in vitro maturation rate, glutathione concentration, and gene expression. To our knowledge, this study might be the first of its kind in this field. Sheep oocytes were cultured in vitro with honeybee pollen at four different concentrations (0.