SUPEROVULATION RESPONSES IN RABBITS TO DIFFERENT DOSES OF FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to study the number of oocytes recovered, their quality and the recovery rate after superovulation, in order to use the oocytes, as a cytoplasm recipient in a nuclear transfer program. A total of 38, New Zealand White mature, doe rabbits were divided into 3 groups, according to the chosen dose of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH); 21 mg (group A), 28 mg (group B) and 40 mg (group C). Five IM injections of FSH were given at 12 hr interval by increasing doses for group A and B and a constant dose for group C. The ovulation was induced by giving 100 iu
human chrorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and mating by a vasectomized buck. The oocytes were collected following ovariectomy and direct flushing. The number of corpora lutea (CL), non hemorrhagic and hemorrhagic follicles were counted. The number of CL were 24.5±8.8, 21.3±11.6 and 20.4±8.6 (P>0.05) respectively. The recovery rate in group A, (77.7%) was higher than those of group B, (55.7%) and C, (50.9%) (P<0.001). A higher number of recovered oocytes was found in group A, (19.1±8.0) than those of group B, (11.8±7.0) (P<0.01) and group C, (10.4±8.3) (P<0.001) respectively. More than 90% of recovered oocytes in every group were morphologically normal. This study showed that the dose of FSH influenced the oocyte recovery rate and the number of oocyte per female.