Morphological Features of Porcine Oviductal Epithelial Cells and Cumulus-Oocyte Complex

Abstract

Porcine oviductal epithelial cells (POEC) and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were observed using inverted microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. At follicular phase, POEC contained a great number of long ciliated cells whereas those at luteal phase consisted mostly of round shaped nonciliated cells with short microvilli on the apical surface. This change in morphological features of POEC seemed to serve well on their functions as oocyte transporters at follicular phase. As for COCs, they were morphologically classified into 4 types based on the accumulation and arrangement of cumulus cells around the oocytes. These were intact cumulus cell layer, single cumulus cell layer, partial cumulus cell layer and completely denuded oocytes at the percentages of composition of 19.87%, 18.13 %, 28.88 % and 33.12 %, respectively. Cumulus cells attached on the surface of oocytes were teardrop-like shape having the conical ends pointed towards the oocytes membrane surface while free-floating cumulus cells in the follicular fluid and those at the outer layers were round in shape. These POEC and COCs were high potential feeder cells and could be further cultured for in vitro fertilization use.