The pathological evaluation of ovaries is a critical endpoint in reproductive toxicology assessments. Currently, there is no standardized method for the quantification of oocytes and follicles in preclinical drug safety evaluations. This study developed a simplified quantitative method based on stereological principles to efficiently assess the number of oocytes in experimental rabbits. The quantitative results obtained with this method are consistent with those from traditional counting methods.

Surgeons new to oocyte retrieval should initially focus on patient safety and the number of oocytes retrieved. This monograph reviews the basis for minor changes in technique that may limit loss of an oocyte into the abdomen or ovarian parenchyma. More significantly, it discusses the importance of maintaining fluid flow in obtaining optimally functional oocytes.