Stimulation of follicular activity and estrous behavior in anestrous mares with light and temperature.

Abstract

SUMMARY Two groups of pony mares were housed for 120 days beginning October 17 in controlled environment rooms in the University Biotron. Temperature and daily photoperiod were programmed to simulate outdoor conditions in southern Wisconsin for either October 17 to February 15 (control group, six mares) or March 1 to July 1 (treated group, seven mares). All mares were given a maintenance diet of a commercial feed. Ovarian follicular development was monitored by rectal palpation and the incidence of estrus was monitored daily by teasing with a stallion. After 63 days of treatment, there were more (P 10 mm diameter) in the treated mares. By day 60, diameter of the largest follicle was greater (P 20 mm, and average follicle diameter) were significandy greater in treated mares than in controls. The changes for each ovarian end point in treated mares were best characterized by a significant cubic regression curve with a steep central portion (sigmoid curve). In treated mares, estrous behavior was shown in four of seven by the 94th day, and in seven of seven by the ll2th day. None of the control mares exhibited estrus during the entire project. Two of seven treated mares ovulated by the project termination date; no control mares ovulated.