Effect of aspiration pressure during oocyte harvesting on oocyte recovery and in vitro development of ovine oocytes.

Oocytes from abattoir-sourced ovine ovaries were aspirated from 2- to 4-mm follicles using 25, 50 or 100 mmHg pressure and an aspiration pump, or a needle (20-G) and syringe (2.5 ml) and subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture to determine the effect of aspiration pressure on the number and quality of oocytes recovered, and early embryonic development. Oocyte recovery rate was similar between groups (range: 57.1-73.1%; p > 0.05). The number and percentage of grade I and II oocytes recovered was reduced for 100 mm (24.5 +/- 3.6 and 31.1 +/- 6.1%) compared with 25 mm (51.4 +/- 7.0 and 60.2 +/- 7.8%) and 50 mm pressure (40.8 +/- 5.6 and 50.3 +/- 4.4%) and a syringe (40.3 +/- 12.0 and 45.2 +/- 2.1%; p < 0.05). Oocyte cleavage was similar for all groups at 24 (range: 30.9-49.6%) and 48 h post-insemination (49.7-65.5%), but blastocyst formation (% cleaved oocytes) was lower for oocytes aspirated with 25 mm (37.8%) than 50 (69.2%) or 100 mm (67.2%) pressure, and a syringe (72.0%; p < 0.05). Embryo production efficiency (% of oocytes cultured developing to the blastocyst stage) was higher for oocytes aspirated with 50 mm (45.4%) and 100 mm pressure (43.8%) and a syringe (45.0%) than 25 mm pressure (18.8%; p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the aspiration of ovine oocytes with an aspiration pressure of 50 mm, or aspiration with a needle and syringe are equally efficacious for the in vitro production of embryos.