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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Animal Reproduction and Gynecology × Author: KAU × Author: Magnus Paul, K × End date: 2005 × Start date: 2005 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of ovum retrieval methods and cumulus-oocyte complex morphology on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Magnus Paul, K; KAU; Sreekumaran, T
    This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different retrieval methods like aspiration, slicing and puncture on yield of different grades of oocytes and their in vitro maturation potential. The effect of cumulus oocyte complex morphology on in vitro maturation of bovine oocyte was also studied. Slaughterhouse derived bovine ovaries from South Indian breeds like Kangayam, Khillari, Hallikar and crossbred cattle of Kerala were subjected to three retrieval methods to yield different quality grades of oocytes. In this study, a total of one hundred and fifty ovaries were processed. Fifty ovaries were processed under each method of retrieval. Each quality grade of oocyte obtained through three retrieval method were subjected to maturation for 24 h in TCM-199 medium supplemented with LH, FSH, Estrogen, Pyruvate and Foetal calf serum. Culture environment was set as 38.5°C temperature, 5% carbondioxide tension and maximum humidity in standard CO2 incubator. Maturation changes were assessed by cumulus expansion, formation of M II plates and polar body extrusion. Total yield of COCs in slicing was 5.42 ± 0.56, which was significantly higher than aspiration and puncture which yielded 3.7 ± 0.43 and 3.66 ± 0.43 COCs respectively. This could be due to recovery of oocytes from a heterogeneous population of follicles in slicing method. Aspiration, slicing and puncture yielded A class oocytes at the rate of 44.86%, 37.2% and 43.17% respectively, wherein mean yield per ovary in same methods were 1.66 ± 0.25, 2.02 ± 0.25 and 1.58 ± 0.25 respectively. Yield of B class oocytes by aspiration, slicing and puncture were 32.97%, 29.89% and 31.69% respectively. Mean yield of B class oocytes per ovary was 1.22 ± 0.12, 1.62 ± 0.20 and 1.16 ± 0.16 respectively. Proportionate yield of D class oocytes by aspiration, slicing and puncture was 3.7%, 12.10% and 6.01% respectively. Aspiration, slicing and puncture did not differ significantly in yield of A, B and C class oocytes. But D class oocytes were proportionately more in slicing method. This finding could be attributed to the fact that the slicing recovered oocytes from a heterogeneous population of follicles, which included all kinds of growing follicles. When percentage yield of different classes of oocytes in same retrieval method was compared aspiration yielded A and B class oocytes in significantly higher proportion than C and D class oocytes. The same trend was observed in slicing and puncturing. In all the methods, the yield of D class oocytes was least. Cumulus expansion rate of A class oocytes were 83.08 per cent, 69.70 per cent and 70.37 per cent in aspiration, slicing and puncture method respectively. B class oocytes exhibited cumulus expansion rate of 68.29 per cent, 53.0 per cent and 62.07 per cent in aspiration, slicing and puncture method respectively. Retrieval method was found to have no significant effect on cumulus expansion potential of bovine COCs. Oocytes with more than three layers of cumulus cells exhibited better cumulus expansion rate than oocytes with less cumulus cell layers. Nuclear maturation rate of A class oocytes in aspiration, slicing and puncture was 81.08, 78.84 and 80.0% respectively, whereas in B class oocytes under same methods the percentage of nuclear maturation was 57.10, 41.67 and 52.63% respectively. D class oocytes failed to mature in all methods of retrieval except one oocytes in aspiration method. Aspiration, slicing and puncture did not differ significantly in the maturation percentage of oocytes. Polar body extrusion rate of A class oocytes in aspiration, slicing and puncture method was 45.5 per cent, 42.1 per cent and 44.0 per cent respectively. B class oocytes exhibited polar body extrusion rates of 28.6 per cent, 25.0 per cent and 26.3 per cent respectively in aspiration, slicing and puncture method respectively. Oocytes with more than three layers of cumulus cells exhibited better polar body extrusion rate irrespective of their retrieval method. Staining of 18 oocytes with fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342 as a method of cross checking, revealed 66.67 per cent Metaphase II rate. Ten oocytes tested for viability with FDA stain revealed 80 per cent viability after maturation. TCM-199 medium with 5 µg FSH/ml, 0.5 µg LH/ml, 1 µl Estradiol/ml, 0.2 mM pyruvate and 10 per cent serum was found to be ideal medium for maturation of bovine oocytes in vitro.. Oocytes with more than three layers of cumulus cells matured better than oocytes with less number of cumulus cell layers or denuded oocytes. These experiments proved that cumulus oocytes complex morphology have a very significant role in maturation of oocytes rather than retrieval methods.