Effect of Artemisia absinthium L. and vitamin E supplementation on maturation and in vitro fertilization of local Iraqi sheep oocytes in different seasons

• Taha Yassin Khudair Al-Mashaykhi1*, Ali Shehab Ahmad1 and Yassen Taha Abdul-Rahaman2

  Author

The study was conducted from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024. Its aim was to determine the effect of adding Artemisia absinthium L. and Vit. E supplementation on maturation and in vitro fertilization in different seasons. 382 ovaries were collected from ewes slaughterhouses in Fallujah District, Anbar Governorate, yielding 472 ova. The obtained oocytes were divided into four groups: G1 control (DMEM culture medium without additives), G2 (DMEM culture medium + Artemisia absinthium L. 25 µmol/100 ml), G3 (DMEM culture medium + Artemisia absinthium L. 50 µmol/100 ml), and G4 (DMEM culture medium + Vit. E 100 µmol/100 ml). The study results showed significant differences (P≤0.05) in the distribution of ovarian follicles, with smaller follicles (58.1%) outnumbering larger follicles (41.8%). The right ovary also recorded a greater number of follicles and retrieved eggs compared to the left ovary. Furthermore, the results demonstrated a significant effect of seasonal factors on the number of retrieved oocytes, with autumn recording the highest average number, followed by spring, then winter and summer. G3 resulted in the highest rate of oocytes maturation, followed by G4, then G2, compared to the control G1. Autumn also recorded the highest maturation rate, followed by spring. G3 recorded the highest fertilization rate, followed by G4, then G2, while G1 had the lowest. Autumn and spring also had the highest fertilization rates. The study concludes that adding Artemisia absinthium L. (50 µmol/100 ml) and Vit. E 100 µmol/100 ml effectively contributes to improving the maturation and fertilization efficiency of cultured ova and the early embryonic development of laboratory-produced embryos by reducing oxidative stress. The results also confirm the importance of seasonal factors in improving reproductive efficiency, particularly during the autumn and spring seasons.

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