Summary

The effect of season and hormones in the culture medium on the competence of camel oocytes to mature in vitro was conducted on 67 ovarian pairs. The ovaries were collected during breeding season (BS; n=24), at early non-breeding season (ENBS; n=20) and at late non-breeding season (LNBS; n=23). The follicles (2−8 mm) were aspirated, then oocytes were qualified into 4 grades: Q1 (very good), Q2 (good), Q3 (bad) and Q4 (very bad). The effect of follicle-stimulating hormone and equine chorionic gonadotropin (0.5 µg/mL FSH or 10 IU/mL eCG) on cumulus expansion and in vitro matu-ration of oocytes was assessed. The numbers of healthy follicles were significantly (P<0.01) higher during BS compared to both ENBS and LNBS. The left ovary showed a higher (P<0.01) activity than the right one regarding the number of healthy follicles. The number of Q1 to Q3 oocytes and recovery rate were significantly (P<0.01) higher during BS than NBS at early or late months. A significantly (P<0.01) higher number of Q1 to Q3 oocytes were obtained during the ENBS than in LNBS months. The left ovary had higher (P<0.01) number of Q1 and Q2 oocytes compared to the right one. Only during the BS, oocytes cultured in medium containing eCG exhibited a higher (P<0.05) percentage of expansion and maturation (metaphase-II) rates than the medium containing FSH. In conclusion, dromedary camels showed better ovarian activity and oocyte status during BS compared to NBS, and displayed ovarian activity during early as well as late non-breeding months. Further detailed studies are required to establish the reproductive efficiency of dromedary camels throughout the non-breeding season