Effect of gonadotropins on the maturation and embryo development of bovine oocytes cultured in vitro

Objective. To evaluate the effect of FSH and LH on the maturation rates, fertilization and embryo development in vitro. Materials and methods. 1309 oocytes were used slaughterhouse ovaries, where the basal medium was TCM-199 plus (FSH and LH) and four treatments were randomized: T1: no hormones, T2: 50 g / ml FSH + 150 g / ml LH; T3: 100 ng / ml FSH + 100 ng / ml LH and T4: 150 g / ml FSH + 50 g / ml LH. Results. No effect was found (p>0.05) from treatments supplemented with FSH and LH on the rate of maturation, by contrast, T1 was different (p<0.05) than the other treatments. Effect was presented (p<0.05) among treatments supplemented with FSH and LH on the rates of fertilization. The rate of early divisions, had no effect (p> 0.05) when maturation medium was supplemented with FSH and LH. Conclusions. The addition of LH to a greater extent with respect to FSH in maturation medium induces a higher rate of maturation, fertilization and embryo development in vitro from bovine oocytes recovered postmortem.