Cell-free DNA content in follicular fluid: A marker for the developmental ability of porcine oocytes.

Purpose: The present study examined the relationships among the amount of cell-free-DNA (cfDNA) in porcine follicular fluid (FF), the developmental ability of enclosed oocytes, and characteristics of granulosa cells and examined the effect of cfDNA content in maturation medium on the developmental ability of the oocytes.

Methods: Oocytes and FF were collected from individual gilts, and the gilts were rated based on the ability of their oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage and the amount of cfDNA in the FF. The copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA (Mt-DNA) and nuclear DNA (N-DNA) were measured by real-time PCR and the DNA sequence.

Follicular factors determining the developmental competence of porcine oocyte.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between granulosa cells (GCs), number of follicles, and the ability of follicular fluid to support in vitro growth of oocytes.

Methods: The culture medium was supplemented with follicular fluid (FF) collected from GC-rich ovaries and GC-poor ovaries, and its effect on in vitro growth and quality of oocytes derived from early antral follicles (EAFs) was assessed.

Results: GC-rich FF treatment enhanced oocyte growth and augmented changes in the chromatin configuration and lipid content of oocytes when compared to oocytes treated with GC-poor FF.

Modification of the medium volume and gel substrate under in vitro culture conditions improves growth of porcine oocytes derived from early antral follicles.

This study compared the effects of different volumes of culture medium for the in vitro growth of oocytes derived from porcine early antral follicles (EAFs). Oocyte granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) were collected from EAFs (0.5-0.