The OPU, "Ovum Pick-Up", is a method directly derived from that used routinely in the clinic. It is to harvest oocytes from live animal ultrasound-guided puncture of ovarian follicles. I want more illustration of this topic?
Dear Gaci,
We collected oocytes (cumulus oocyte complexes, COCs) from live donors with USG guided ovum pick-up method in cattle. Firstly, we determine equipments you will need during this procedure.
As you know the fundamental equipment is USG with convex probe its MHZ range is 7,5-10 MHZ to determine follicles. And we need a special gun (we call so, the probe of USG and catheter with spinal needle embedded to this gun) for vaginal application.
Also you need aspiration pomp to suck the follicular fluid containing COC. I advise also embryo filter to increase gain of COCs. And 2 m Teflon tube (3-5mm diameter), its diameter must be adjusted to catheter and also needle (spinal needles used for epidural anesthesia, it's long and ideal). Teflon tube is connected with 50 ml collection tubes. And you create a closed atmosphere for negative pressure to suck the follicular fluid with COC.
You must apply to cows epidural anesthesia and you have to fix it as standing position. We used special padox for this.
Firstly you have to find ovarium with your hand in the rectum. And the gun is placed to vagina and ovarium is moved to front of tip of gun (containing prob and catheter with needle connected to 15ml tubes with 2m Teflon tube) towards fornix vagina. Then you determine follicles on the ovarium and you have to sellect 2-8 mm diameters. And you puncture the follicle with needle of gun (we hide the needle in a special mechanism until puncture in case of vaginal injury) then start the aspiration when you see the tip of the needle in the follicle. You have to see collapse of follicle with aspiration. You aspirate the all 2-8 mm follicle on both ovarium.
You dont forget the flush of tube with PBS sollution (you immerse your needle in PBS solution and aspirate again) after follicle aspiration of each ovarium otherwise the COCs remains in Teflon tube.
I hope this information is helpful. I send our literature about OPU and some pictures from OPU procedure.
My best wishes.
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Hi.
I agree with really nice answer from Umut.
I think you can also simply use a siringe instead of vacuum pump (of course vacuum pump is better but in case you don't have budget is ok).
When I started with OPU in cows I was in situation with no budget (just USG, convex probe). I found people, who were able to manufacture the rest of the necessary equipment (I used syringe for aspiration at first, after some years I bought vacuum pump). So try to by innovative and I think you have good chance to set the necessary equipment together.
Good luck!
Jiri
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