Morphometry and granulosa cells number of preantral ovarian follicles from bovine (“Bos indicus”) preserved at 4ºC in saline solution for different periods of time

Abstract

The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of cooling at 4 ºC, at different periods of time, in the morphometry and number of granulosa cells of preantral ovarian follicles of bovines. Ovaries were gotten from slaughterhouse, divided in 4 parts and distributed in 4 groups: control (without cooling) and groups cooled for 12, 24 and 48 h in saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) at 4 ºC. After treatment, samples were fixed in Carnoy and forwarded to classic histology techniques. The follicles were analyzed with optic and ocular microscope with micrometric scale. Total of 340 follicles were analyzed, which 242 were primordial and 98 primary. Results indicated that the primordial and primary follicles when cooled in saline solution at 4 ºC did not present variation in oocyte and diameter and amount of cells of the granulosa when comparing the control group to 12, 24 and 48 h groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the temperature at 4 ºC does not influence the morphometry of the follicles and the amount of the granulosa cells.