Bovine oocytes matured in culture were denuded from cumulus
cells with hyaluronidase and by repeat pipetting trough a fine
pasture pipete and were inseminated with frozen-thawed
spermatozoa in a protein-free BO medium containing 5m
M-caffeine, l0 mg heparin/ml and with or without polyVinyl
pyrrolidone (PVP) and different concentrations of hyaluronic acid.
When oocytes were inseminated in the absence of polyvinyl
pyrrolidone, no penetration was observed in the absence of
hyaluronic acid. However, 9 to 15% penetration was observed in
the presence of 0.001 to 1 mg hyaluronic acid. Different
concentrations of hyaluronic acid did not significantly changed the
penetration rates of oocyes. When polyvinyl pyrrolidone was
added to the fertilization medium, higher penetration rates
(50-64%) were obsetved in different concentrations of hyaluronic
acid. In the presence of polyVinyl pyrrolidone, significant higher
penetration rates (p<0.05) were obsetved in the presence of 0.01
mg/ml hyaluronic acid in the control (no acid). The results of the
present study indicate that the presence of hyaluronic acid may
have positive effect on oocyte penetration in vitro by bovine
spermatozoa
)