Effects of storage conditions of dromedary camel ovaries on the morphology, viability and development of antral follicular oocytes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooling ovarian tissue on the morphology, viability and developmental ability of camel antral follicular oocytes. Ovaries were maintained in saline solution (0.9%) at 4 or 20°C for 6, 12, 18 or 24 h. After storage, COCs were recovered from dromedary ovaries and were evaluated for morphology and viability by trypan blue exclusion test. To assess the viability of stored oocytes, morphologically normal and live COCs isolated from ovaries stored at 4°C for 24 h and at 20°C for 6 h were in vitro matured (IVM) in TCM 199 + 10 μg/ml FSH + 10 IU hCG/ml + 10% FCS + 50 μg/ml gentamycin for 30 h at 38.5°C under 5% CO2 and 95% humidity. The percentage of morphologically normal and live oocytes was significantly reduced in ovarian tissue stored at 20°C for 12, 18 or 24 h. Follicular oocytes stored in 4°C for up to 24 h or 20°C for 6 h presented the same growth pattern as fresh follicular oocytes. We conclude that storage of camel ovaries at 4°C for up to 24 h or at 20°C for up to 6 h did not affect the morphology and viability of oocytes or their ability to mature in vitro. Keyword: camel, development, oocytes, storage conditions, viability.