ORIGINAL_SCIENTIFIC_ARTICLE Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining is a method used for selection of developmentally competent porcine oocytes, in addition to the standard morphological classification. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between BCB staining in porcine oocytes with high and low morphological characteristics and its maturation rate. In the first part of the study, cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) (n=434) were aspirated from 60 ovaries. According to the morphological classification and BCB staining, they were divided in 4 groups: COC+/BCB+, COC-/BCB+, COC+/BCB-, and COC-/BCB-. In the second experiment, COCs (n=445) were categorized into 3 groups: control, BCB+, and BCB-. Significant differences in the maturation rate were observed between COC+/BCB+ and COC-/BCB- (66% vs. 23%), and between COC+/BCB+ and COC-/BCB+ (66% vs. 38%) (p<0.0001). Significant differences were also registered between COC-/BCB+ and COC-/BCB- (38% vs. 23%) and between COC+/BCB- and COC-/BCB- (53% vs. 23%) (p<0.01). Results from the second experiment showed that only BCB- oocytes had a significantly lower maturation rate (28%) compared to the control (63%) and BCB+ oocytes (59%) (p<0.001). These findings showed that COCs with high morphological characteristics had higher developmental ability compared to COCs with low morphology. The BCB-staining in high-quality oocytes did not have a significant impact on their maturation ability compared to a control group, but it might be useful for selecting developmentally competent oocytes with low morphology characteristics. https://macvetrev.mk/LoadArticlePdf/366 2023-5-29 137 145 https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2023-0019 morphological classification brilliant cresyl blue in vitro maturation porcine oocytes Monika Dovenska false 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Branko Atanasov false 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Michal Benc false 3 Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nabrezie Mladeze 91, 94974 Nitra, Slovakia AUTHOR Martin Nikolovski false 4 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Lazo Pendovski false 5 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Jozef Laurincik false 6 Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nabrezie Mladeze 91, 94974 Nitra, Slovakia AUTHOR Toni Dovenski false 7 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Nikola Adamov false 8 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia AUTHOR Florina Popovska-Percinic florinap@fvm.ukim.edu.mk false 9 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Lazar Pop-Trajkov 5-7, 1000 Skopje, N. Macedonia LEAD_AUTHOR Dovenski, Т., Trojacanec, P., Petkov, V., Popovska-Percinic, F., Kocoski, Lj., Grizelj, J. (2012). Laparoscopy-promising tool for improvement of рeproductive efficiency of small ruminants. Mac Vet Rev. 35(1): 5-11. 1 Lee, S., Kang, H.G., Jeong, P.S., Nanjidsuren, T., Song, B.S., Jin, Z.B., Lee, S.R., Kim, S.U., Sim, B.W. (2020). Effect of oocyte quality assessed by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining on cumulus cell expansion and sonic hedgehog signaling in porcine during in vitro maturation. Int J Mol Sci. 21(12): 4423. 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