Oocyte recovery and in vitro embryo production in cows treated with a single dose of follicle-stimulating hormone

Thiago Marquez Fernandes,Samuel Guemra,Paulo Roberto Adona,Moysés Dos Santos Miranda,Tiago Henrique Camara De Bem

doi:10.3906/vet-1907-109

Abstract

Cows were treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a single dose and then subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU) for evaluation of oocyte recovery and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Cows underwent OPU followed by application of FSH (200 mg) on day 2 and new OPU on day 3. This methodology was repeated 3 times sequentially. In FSH-free the cows (control), OPU was performed at intervals of one week. The number of oocytes recovered was higher in the control cows (22.2 ± 1.5) compared to the treated cows (16.9 ± 1.4; P 0.05). There was no difference between the control cows (47.1 ± 4.2%) and the treated cows (45.3 ± 7.7%) with respect to the percentage of embryos (P > 0.05). There were no differences in pregnancy for the blastocysts between the control and the treated cows (50.0 ± 2.1 and 47.3 ± 2.5%; P > 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, the single-dose FSH protocol did not significantly alter the evaluated results of viable oocytes, in vitro production of embryos, or pregnancy percentage. However, there is a possibility of several consecutive OPU/IVF sessions every three days.

Highlights

Ovaries are structures related to the production and secretion of hormones and other molecules that are essential to reproductive performance [1,2,3]
During the formation of the granulosa cell layer, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors are expressed in the oocyte-cumulus complex, and the follicular development becomes dependent on the presence of FSH [1,6]
Because of its importance and the need to develop a simplified follicular overstimulation protocol, the objective of the present study was to examine oocyte-donor Nelore cows treated with single doses of FSH and subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU) after 24 h in three consecutive procedures every three days, to evaluate the effects of FSH on oocyte recovery, in vitro embryo production, and pregnancy rates

Summary

Introduction

Ovaries are structures related to the production and secretion of hormones and other molecules that are essential to reproductive performance [1,2,3]. Because of its importance and the need to develop a simplified follicular overstimulation protocol, the objective of the present study was to examine oocyte-donor Nelore cows treated with single doses of FSH and subjected to OPU after 24 h in three consecutive procedures every three days, to evaluate the effects of FSH on oocyte recovery, in vitro embryo production, and pregnancy rates.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion