• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2001

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 1997

The present study was carried out to produce in vitro fertilized embryos with immature follicular oocytes collected by transvaginal aspiration from Holstein cows. A simple aspiration apparatus consists of two stainless steel tubes, an inner tube (needle holder; 1.2cmdiameter, 55cm long) and an outer tube (1.5cm diameter, 4Scm long), and a hand-operated vacuum pump was used. Under epidural anesthesia, the needle guide was passed into the vagina of the cow to a point next to the cervix. An ovary was placed against the wall of the vagina over the end of the aspiration needle by rectal manipulation. As the needlepassed into the ovary, an assistant was asked to apply vacuum(l00mrnHg) and the ovary was manipulated back and forth in all directions over the needle. When all sites of the ovary was aspirated, the needle was withdrawn and the needle guide was moved to the other side of ovary and the procedure was repeated. When the oocyte aspiration procedure was finished, collected fluid was transported to laboratory. Oocytes surrounded with at least 1 layer of cumulus cells were matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro. The results were as follows; Ninety seven oocytes were collected by transvaginal aspiration from seventeen Holstein cows(5.7 /head). The number of oocytes surrounded with at least 1 layer of cumulus cells were 60(61.9%). Following in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture, the cleavage and development rate to morula+blastocyst were 83.3% and 30.0%, respectively. From this study, transferable in vitro fertilized embryos could be produced with imma- ture follicular oocytes collected by transvaginal aspiration from Holstein cows using a simple aspiration apparatus.