In vitro Fertilization of Tubal Rabbit Ova Partially or Totally Denuded of Follicular Cells

Abstract

Removal of cumulus cells with hyaluronidase and corona cells by mechanical agitation from tubal rabbit eggs does not lower their fertilizability in an in vitro system. There is no significant difference in the fertilization rate of the three groups of eggs: corona-devoid, 97%; cumulus-devoid, 91%; intact, 92%. Transfer of in vitro fertilized embryos from all groups to recipient does has resulted in normal implantation, indicating that the in vitro technique does yield viable embryos. From these results it is concluded that in order to achieve in vitro fertilization the sperm need not interact with the cumulus and corona cells prior to penetration of the zona pellucida and the egg.