The effects of protein sources added to the medium for maturation of bitch oocytes were investigated. Ovaries from spayed bitches were transported to the laboratory in PBS at 38 ºC within an hour. Recovered oocytes were divided into three groups and left for 72 h maturation at 38.5 ºC under an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and high humidity. Group 1 (Control): TCM 199 medium, Group 2 (BSA): TCM 199 medium supplemented with 0.3% BSA, Group 3 (FCS): TCM 199 medium supplemented with 5% FCS. At the end of the maturation period, all oocytes were denuded from cumulus cells by pipetting and fixed in 1:3 acetic acid: ethanol solution for 48 h. The oocytes were then stained with 2% aceto-orcein and examined under a phased-contrast microscope at x400 magnification for maturation criteria. It was observed that 16.58% (34/205), 37.08% (79/213) and 22.81% (47/206) of the oocytes resumed meiosis in the control, BSA and FCS groups, respectively; a total number of 624 oocytes were used. In the BSA group, the rate of oocytes that resumed meiosis was significant (p < 0.05) compared to the FCS and control groups. This rate was also significant (p < 0.05) in the FCS group compared to the control group. According to these results, it can be suggested that addition of protein sources to the medium for in vitro maturation of bitch oocytes is necessarily important, and BSA gives better results than FCS does.

The effects of protein sources added to the medium for maturation of bitch oocytes were investigated. Ovaries from spayed bitches were transported to the laboratory in PBS at 38 ºC within an hour. Recovered oocytes were divided into three groups and left for 72 h maturation at 38.5 ºC under an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and high humidity. Group 1 (Control): TCM 199 medium, Group 2 (BSA): TCM 199 medium supplemented with 0.3% BSA, Group 3 (FCS): TCM 199 medium supplemented with 5% FCS. At the end of the maturation period, all oocytes were denuded from cumulus cells by pipetting and fixed in 1:3 acetic acid: ethanol solution for 48 h. The oocytes were then stained with 2% aceto-orcein and examined under a phased-contrast microscope at x400 magnification for maturation criteria. It was observed that 16.58% (34/205), 37.08% (79/213) and 22.81% (47/206) of the oocytes resumed meiosis in the control, BSA and FCS groups, respectively; a total number of 624 oocytes were used. In the BSA group, the rate of oocytes that resumed meiosis was significant (p < 0.05) compared to the FCS and control groups. This rate was also significant (p < 0.05) in the FCS group compared to the control group. According to these results, it can be suggested that addition of protein sources to the medium for in vitro maturation of bitch oocytes is necessarily important, and BSA gives better results than FCS does.