Aspiration of Follicles

Prove that tertiary follicles do contain oocytes. Aspirate the visible follicles on one or more bovine or porcine ovaries. You may have to use the ones on the tract you disected if no other ones are available. The picture below is an example of how this is done in the bovine or porcine using a 18 gauge needle and 3, 5 or 10 ml syringe. A similar approach is used in the pig. Be sure to only aspirate the small follicles less than 5 mm in diameter. Your instructor can help you if you ask.

Bovine Ovary	Porcine Ovary

Once the follicular fluid is in the syringe, place the fluid obtained in a petri dish provided for you, add some media provided and search, using a dissecting microscope, for any oocytes.

5. Draw a picture of what one of the oocytes look like under the dissecting microscope. In case you do not find an oocyte, here is an example of what one should look like and use this one to draw your picture.