Effect of luteinizing hormone and estradiol on in vitro maturation of follicular oocytes in goat (Capra hircus).

In vitro maturation of goat follicular oocytes in TALP medium supplemented with variable concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) [5-20 micrograms/ml] and estradiol [1 microgram/ml] was studied. Incubation of viable oocytes was carried out at 38.5 degrees C under liquid paraffin in 5% carbon dioxide/air mixture for 24 h. At 0 h all the oocytes were in germinal vesicle (GV) stage, each with a good cumulus. The cumulus expansion increased linearly with increasing concentrations of LH and a fixed concentration of estradiol [1 microgram/ml] at 24 h of incubation. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was observed in 28% of the oocytes at 5 micrograms/ml concentration of LH and the same increased to 87% at 10 micrograms/ml of LH with 13% oocytes at metaphase II. At 20 micrograms/ml of LH, 45% of the oocytes were at metaphase II and the rest were at metaphase I. LH and estradiol seem to be important for acquisition of maturation competence in goat follicular oocytes.