Effect of Three pFSH Doses on Superovulation and Embryo Quality in Goats During Two Breeding Seasons in North‐eastern Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of three pFSH doses (80 mg; 145 mg and 215 mg) on ovarian response and on quantity and quality of transferable embryos of goats during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. Ovary structures were exposed (laparatomy under general anaesthesia) and numbers of follicles and corpora lutea were registered. Surgical embryo flushing was conducted to count and classify embryos. There were more follicles (3.4 ± 1.1) in does administered 80 mg of pFSH (p < 0.05) than in goats administered 145 mg of pFSH (2.2 ± 1.1) and 215 mg of pFSH (0.9 ± 0.6). Numbers of corpora lutea, blastocysts, and recovered and transferable embryos of goats administered 145 mg pFSH (13.4 ± 3.7, 2.42 ± 1.0, 3.4 ± 1.2 and 3.2 ± 1.1, respectively) and those of goats administered 215 mg pFSH (11.6 ± 2.6, 3.2 ± 0.9, 5.7 ± 1.5, and 5.6 ± 1.5) were greater (p < 0.05) than values obtained from goats administered 80 mg pFSH (4.0 ± 1.5, 0.5 ± 0.3, 1.0 ± 0.5, and 0.8 ± 0.5). Numbers of morula of does administered 80 and 145 mg pFSH (0.4 ± 0.4 and 0.8 ± 0.3) were lower (p < 0.05) than those obtained from animals treated with 215 mg pFSH (2.4 ± 0.9). There was no effect of season upon the analyzed variables. In conclusion, under the prevalent conditions in north-eastern Mexico, administration of 145 or 215 mg pFSH in a decreasing dose schedule over 3.5 days to bred goats provided a satisfactory superovulatory result.

Early luteal development in Santa Inês ewes superovulated with reduced doses of porcine follicle‐stimulating hormone

“…Brasil et al () observed a similar number of CLs to that obtained in this study using 133 mg of total dose of pFSH in Santa Inês ewes. Sanchez‐Dávila et al () reported similar number of CLs in response to 145 and 215 mg of total dose of pFSH for superovulation in goats whereas lower ovarian response was recorded when 80 mg was used; the same was recorded to produce transferable embryos. The number of CLs observed in this experiment was greater than observed by Oliveira et al () with the same protocol of superovulation in Santa Inês ewes using 200 mg of total dose of pFSH.…”

“…In small ruminants superovulatory protocols, the total doses of pFSH (Folltropin®, Bioniche, Canada) more frequently used are 256 mg (Oliveira et al, ), 215 mg (Sánchez‐Dávila et al, ) or 200 mg (Loiola Filho et al, ; Oliveira et al, ) while in cows good results are achieved with lower doses (100–133 mg) (Baruselli et al, ). Therefore, studies addressing the efficacy of lower doses of FSH in sheep are needed.…”

“…Although the mechanisms determining the PRCL are not yet fully understood, the gonadotrophin used, commercial product, manufacturing batch, FSH:LH ratio of the preparation, protocol of injection and/or use of high exogenous FSH doses may influence on this incidence (Kafi & McGowan, ; Quan et al, ). There are few reports in the literature regarding studies with lower doses of FSH in sheep (Loiola Filho et al, ; Sánchez‐Dávila et al, ; Wu et al, ), moreover there is no disclosure of results concerning the effects on luteal development dynamics, as well as about the occurrence of PRCL. We hypothesized that the incidence of PRCL decreases when lower doses of exogenous pFSH are used in embryo donor sheep.…”

Reproduction in Goats

“…This implies that glucose participates in the control of ovarian function, where the levels are regulated by insulin, which plays an important role in follicular growth in goats [35].…”

“…It has been evaluated that the goats must maintain a body condition of 3 so that the reproduction is not affected negatively; here, the visual aspect of the goat would be the backbone is not prominent, ribs are barely discernible, and an even layer of fat covers them. Intercostal spaces are felt using pressure [35].…”