Figure 4.
Effects of heat shock during in vitro growth (IVG) culture on the production of estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4) by oocyte–cumulus–granulosa complexes (OCGCs), and the E2/P4 ratio in culture media. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of OCGCs and replicates. The culture media for the hormone assays were derived from some OCGCs used to evaluate the nuclear status after in vitro maturation (three replicates). a–cDifferent letters indicate significant differences between culture periods in the same group (P < 0.05). Error bars indicate SEM.