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The numbers of primordial follicles in ovaries of ewe lambs, from two groups of Peppin Merinos that had been selected for (T group) and against (0 group) mUltiple births, were estimated at birth, 7 days and 5 months of age. Peripheral plasma and anterior pituitary levels of LH and FSH were determined by radioimmunoassay in the lambs at 5 months of age. These lambs were either entire or unilaterally ovariectomized (hemispayed) at 7 days of age.There was no difference in primordial follicle numbers between lambs at birth and 7 days of age, but when paired ovaries of hemispayed lambs at 7 days and 5 months of age were compared there was a significant increase in follicle numbers with age (34903 v. 48047). O-group lambs had more primordial follicles than T-group lambs at birth and 7 days of age (65501 v. 37797) and there was a similar but not significant difference at 5 months of age (53934 v. 44057).Peripheral plasma LH was higher in T-group than in O-group lambs and plasma LH levels were correlated to pituitary LH content (r = o· 75). Vesicular follicles larger than 2 mm in diameter were present only in ovaries of lambs with plasma LH levels above 3· 0 ng/m!. Pituitary FSH levels were considerably higher in hemispayed lambs than in entire lambs and there was a trend to higher levels in T-group lambs when compared with O-group lambs.It is concluded that genetic selection for the incidence of multiple births has resulted in changes in the number of ovarian primordial follicles of the post-natal lamb and it is suggested that these changes may be related to the levels of pituitary gonadotrophins.

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