Recovery of COCs from ovaries with high follicle numbers enhances in vitro embryo yield in sheep

The three categories did not differ in the blastocoel re-expansion (χ22 = 0.095, P = 0.95) and hatching rates (χ22 = 0.754, P = 0.68) after 72 h post-warming, in the total number of cells per blastocyst (ANOVA F = 1.12, P = 0.337) and in the (F = 0.46, P = 0.639) incorporation of amino acids. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per embryo was higher (ANOVA F = 4.32, P = 0.022) in the Low group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, high ovarian follicle number enhances in vitro embryo output in sheep, but has no effect on blastocyst quality.