Porcine follicular fluid does not inhibit maturation of rat oocytes in vitro

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Abstract
Follicular fluid from small- (1-2 mm) or medium- (3-8 mm) sized pig follicles was collected under conditions designed to minimize possible alteration or degradation of native fluid components. The effects of follicular fluid with or without benzamidine, an inhibitor of proteolytic activity, on oocytes collected 20 or 44 h after PMSG [pregnant mare serum gonadotropin] treatment of rats were examined. A follicular fluid fraction of MW > 10,000 (PM-10 membrane filter) was also tested. Follicular fluid from small- and medium-sized follicles and control medium alone supported maturation of oocytes collected 20 or 44 h after PMSG, but follicular fluid (50%) from medium-sized follicles containing 5.0 mM benzamidine significantly inhibited oocyte maturation. Comparable inhibition was also observed with medium containing 5.0 mM benzamidine. The PM-10 filtrate failed to inhibit oocyte oocyte maturation as assessed by germinal vesicle breakdown but did significantly inhibit 1st polar body formation and therefore restricted the extent of maturation. Native pig follicular fluid evidently is unable to inhibit the initiation of maturation of rat oocytes in vitro.