Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Supplementation During Different Culture Periods on in vitro Maturation of Canine Oocytes

Despite many attempts to improve in vitro maturation (IVM) of canine oocytes using different culture conditions, the efficiency of canine IVM remains very low compared to IVM of other domestic animals. The molecules involved in maturation and culture time to induce meiotic resumption remain unclear . Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in IVM media on IVM of canine oocytes. The study was approved by the Institution’s Animal Care and Experimentation Ethics Committee (protocol number 176/2011). The ovaries were collected from 40 bitches in anestrus or diestrus after ovariohysterectomy, transported in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at 4oC to the laboratory and sliced to recover the cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs). Only grade I COCs were used in this study. [...]