Effect of gonadotrophins, oestradiol and insulin on cumulus expansion of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes

The objective of the present study was to investigate the cumulus expansions of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes during cultured in TCM -199 supplemented with 2 μg/ml oestradiol (E2), 0.05 IU/ml recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH), 2IU/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and 0.12 IU/ml insulin (I). The cumulus oocytes complexes (COCs) were collected from 2-8mm follicles from local abattoir ovaries. Supplementation of medium with single hormones showed significant (P 0.0001) increase in mean diameter of COCs with rhFSH except E2, hCG and insulin after 24 hours compared to the increase in the mean diameter of COCs matured in TCM-199 without any hormonal supplementation. With rhFSH even at 8th hour, significant increase (P 0.001) in cumulus expansion was observed. In combination of hormones the significant (P 0.0001) cumulus expansion was achieved in E2+rhFSH treatment group. The non significant (P 0.05) cumulus expansion was observed in treatment groups viz. E2+hCG, E2+Insulin, rhFSH+hCG, rhFSH+Insulin, hCG+Insulin, E2+rhFSH+hCG and E2+rhFSH+hCG+Insulin after 24 hours. In conclusion, supplementation of rhFSH alone and in combination with E2in TCM-199 has highly significant effect on cumulus expansion.