Effect of coconut water and Braun-Collins solutions at different temperatures and incubation times on the morphology of goat preantral follicles preserved in vitro

Preservation of preantral follicles becomes very important to ensure follicle quality at the onset of cryopreservation or in vitro culture. However, for domestic animals, the ovarian donor of preantral follicles for in vitro studies is commonly encountered far away from reproduction laboratories. We investigated the effectiveness of coconut water and Braun- Collins solutions on the preservation of goat preantral follicles. At the slaughterhouse, the ovarian pair of each animal was divided into 19 fragments. One ovarian fragment was immediately fixed (Control — Time 0). The other 18 fragments were randomly distributed into tubes containing 2 mL of coconut water or Braun-Collins solution at 4 °, 20 ° or 39 °C and then stored for 4, 12 or 24 h. Histological analysis showed that the storage of ovarian fragments in coconut water and Braun-Collins solutions at 20 ° or 39 °C for 12 or 24 h significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the percentage of morphologically normal preantral follicles when compared with the control. However, storage in coconut water at 20 °C for 4 h and in both solutions at 4 °C kept the percentage at control values. Ultrastructural analysis of follicles exposed to the stated conditions confirmed the integrity of preantral follicles stored at 4 °C in Braun-Collins and coconut water solutions for up to 12 and 24 h, respectively. Reduced cellular metabolism at 4 °C may explain why the best preservation of preantral follicles was at 4 °C, which may suggest a useful method for ovary transport in the future

Preservation of goat preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue in saline or TCM 199 solutions

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of saline and TCM 199 solutions at different temperatures and incubation times on the morphology of goat preantral follicles. At the slaughterhouse the ovaries from does (n = 5) was divided into 18 fragments. The ovarian samples were randomly allocated to a saline or TCM 199 solution and stored at 4, 20 or 39°C for 4, 12 or 24 h. The histological analysis showed that of normal follicles stored in a saline solution at 4°C for up to 24 h was similar to that of TCM 199. However, the average number of morphologically normal preantral follicles stored in saline solution at 20°C for 12 and 24 h and at 39°C for all incubation periods was significantly (P < 0.05) lower when compared to those in TCM 199. Saline solution or TCM 199 can be used with the same effectiveness in preserving goat preantral follicles at 4°C for storage periods of up to 24 h. However, for the preservation of goat preantral follicles at higher temperatures, TCM 199 is recommended. © 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V