COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS TO EVALUATE MORPHOLOGY IN PORCINE CUMULUS - OOCYTE COMPLEXES

TELLO, MF.; LORENZO, MS.; CLAVER, JA.; MARURI, A.; LOMBARDO, DM.

Tandil. Buenos Aires

Jornada; Primeras Jornadas de Ciencias Morfológicas de las Sierras de Tandil. Universidad del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA).; 2011

Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.

Cumulus ? oocyte complexes (COCs) morphology is evaluated not only for basic research but also to select the most suitable to use in biotechnological methods in reproduction (in vitro maduration, in vitro fecundation, embryo production). Traditionally, COCs morphological evaluation involves stereomicroscope observation and rutine stains by placing them on slides, obtanining an imprecise image caused by the overlap of cumulus cells on the oocyte. The aim of in this study is to compare porcine COCs morphology using different stains, not only with the traditional method but also with a new technique: thin sections embedded in historesin. COCs are aspirated from 3-8 mm antral follicles from ovaries of slaughtered gilts. They are classified under stereomicroscope, fixed in paraformaldehyde 2%, dehydrated with acetone and embedding in hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate. The 1-2μm sections are obtained with a rotary microtome and stained with H-E, Orcein. This technique allows the evaluation of different sections in the same COC, with no distortion of cell morphology by overlap, and the same COC can be evaluated simultaneously by different stains. The different morphological groups established by fresh observation could be characterized by this method. This novel technique may contribute to morphological knowledge of these structures in various species.