367 INFLUENCE OF SUPERESTIMULATION AND HORMONAL DEPRIVATION PROTOCOLS ON IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF NELORE EMBRYOS (BOS TAURUS INDICUS)

Abstract

There are indications in the literature that delaying the period between ovarian superestimulation and ovum pickup (OPU) will induce follicles to a condition of initial atresia, which could be beneficial to oocyte development. Blondin et al. (2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 38–43) superstimulated (FSH) Holstein heifers and delayed OPU for 48 h, i.e. they induced initial atresia in these follicles deprived of FSH (starvation) for 48 h. Additionally, 6 h before OPU, LH was administered to accelerate follicular maturation. This protocol yielded a surprisingly high blastocyst rate (80.4 ± 9.4%). In the present work, Blondin’s protocol was simultaneously compared to other protocols used for OPU and in vitro production of embryos (IVP), in Nelore cattle. Nelore cows (n = 18) were randomly allocated in three groups: Group 1 (just OPU), Group 2 (superestimulation and OPU), and Group 3 (superestimulation associated with FSH deprivation and OPU). Three OPU were performed, and the animals were switched to a different group each time in such a way that at the end of the experiment all cows received the three protocols. At a random stage of the estrous cycle (D2), follicles ≥6 mm were aspirated to induce a new follicular wave 2 days afterward (D0). In Group 1, OPU was performed on D2 and oocytes were processed to IVP. In Group 2, starting on D0, cows were superestimulated (pFSH, Folltropin®, 30 mg administered daily, IM, during 3 consecutive days; Bioniche Animal Health, Belleville, Ontario, Canada), and 6 h after the last FSH dose they received exogenous LH (12.5 mg, Im, Lutropin®, D3; Bioniche Animal Health). OPU was performed 6 h after LH administration, i.e. 12 h after the last dose of FSH. Animals in Group 3 received the same treatment as in Group 2, except that LH was administered 36 h after the last dose of FSH, and OPU occurred 6 h later. Therefore, in this Group, follicles were deprived of FSH during 48 h. Both cleavage and blastocyst rates were similar (P > 0.05, logistic regression) among oocytes from Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively: 77.4% (144/185) and 42.70% (79/185); 75.54% (105/139) and 31.65% (44/139); 63.52% (101/159) and 33.33% (53/159). However, hatched blastocyst rate was higher (P < 0.01) in Group 1 (30.27%, 56/185) when compared to Group 2 (11.51%, 16/139) or 3 (15.72%, 25/159). It is concluded that, contrary to previous work on European breeds (taurus), ovarian superestimulation associated with deprivation of FSH and OPU (Group 3) do not increase IVP of Nelore embryos (indicus). Additionally, the highest hatched blastocyst rates were observed in oocytes from non superstimulated cows (Group 1).