Follicular Fluid

A study was conducted in cross-bred (CB) Malabari goats of Southern
India, Kerala to assess the pattern of change in biochemical constituents
of follicular fluid during final stages of follicle development.
One hundred and twenty goat ovaries were collected from local
slaughter houses. After classifying the antral follicles based on size
i.e. small (1–3 mm) and large (3–6 mm), the follicular fluid was
aspirated and analysed to estimate the concentration of various
biochemical constituents including total protein, albumin, globulin,
glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and
steroid hormones. The results showed that the concentration of
glucose in follicular fluid was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in small
follicles compared the large ones. However, the level of HDL and
oestrogen was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in large follicles.
Follicular fluid protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, cholesterol,
and progesterone did not differ significantly between the small and
large follicles. The results of the present study suggest that the
biochemical constituents in the antral follicular fluid vary with the
follicular size and the data would contribute to better understanding
of the follicular fluid metabolite dynamics of goat ovarian follicles
which imparts oocyte competence for fertilization during later developmental
stages.