Refined Porcine Follicle Stimulating Hormone Promotes the Responsiveness of Rabbits to Multiple-Ovulation Treatment

Abstract

Abstract:We investigated whether refined follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with only a little contaminating LH can promote the responsiveness of rabbits to multiple-ovulation treatment. One group of female rabbits was stimulated with refined porcine FSH (pFSH), an FSH source with low LH activity, and another group was treated with pFSH. The mean number of eggs recovered from donors stimulated with refined pFSH (27 ± 3) was significantly greater (P<0.05) than that with pFSH (20 ± 2). Furthermore, the mean number of remaining follicles of donors stimulated with refined pFSH (19 ± 4) was significantly greater (P<0.05) than that with pFSH (12 ± 1). To decrease the number of remaining follicles in donors treated with refined pFSH, the dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was increased from 75 to 150. However, there were no differences in the numbers of eggs and remaining follicles. The results of the present study suggest that refined pFSH with little contaminating LH promotes the responsiveness of rabbits to multiple-ovulation treatment compared with pFSH. Key words: follicle-stimulating hormone, multiple-ovulation increase the number of embryos. However, this multiple injection method is time and labor consuming, and also gives strong stress to donor rabbits. Recently, it has been reported that a single injection of FSH dissolved in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution given to rabbits induced multiple ovulation and was a practical alternative to 6 times injection of FSH dissolved in saline [10]. However, the yield and quality of embryos raised after multiple ovulation are variable and unpredictable owing to variations in ovarian response.

Efficiency of RepeatedIn VivoOocyte and Embryo Recovery After rhFSH Treatment in Rabbits

“…Superovulation treatments with FSH diluted in PVP solutions have been tested and acceptable superovulation responses have been reported in distinct species, including rabbits (Kanayama et al. 1994; Hashimoto et al. 2004; Mehaisen et al.…”

“…However, animal manipulation can be minimized if FSH is dissolved in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which permits longer intervals between treatments (one injection every 24 h) given its ability to prolong the clearance rate in vivo of many molecules by binding and stabilizing them. Superovulation treatments with FSH diluted in PVP solutions have been tested and acceptable super-ovulation responses have been reported in distinct species, including rabbits (Kanayama et al 1994;Hashimoto et al 2004;Mehaisen et al 2006). Nevertheless, results of superovulation treatments vary, and one of the reasons for this may be the variable LH : FSH ratio, when preparations isolated from the pituitary gland are used.…”

Establishment and characterization of CAG/EGFP transgenic rabbit line

“…They were fed pelleted rabbit chow (Oriental Yeast Co., Shizuoka, Japan) and filtered water ad libitum. Multiple ovulation treatments were performed as described previously (Hashimoto et al 2004). In brief, super-ovulation of female rabbits was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of 3-AU refined porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; Antrin R, Denka Pharmaceuticals Inc., Kanagawa, Japan) dissolved in 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone (168-03115, K-90, Wako Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan).…”

A single injection of corifollitropin alfa supplemented with human chorionic gonadotropin increases follicular recruitment and transferable embryos in the rabbit

“…The extra glycosylation sites give hCG a longer half‐life (Le Cotonnec, Porchet, Beltrami, & Munafo, ; Mannaerts, Geurts, & Odink, ). In rabbits, the effect of LH on superovulation has been studied using purified porcine FSH, obtaining highly variable results (Hashimoto et al, ; Salvetti et al, ). Our studies with recombinant human gonadotropins (rhFSH either alone or in combination with rhLH) suggested that the window of LH in rabbits is FSH dose‐dependent (Viudes‐de‐Castro, Pomares, Saenz de Juano i Ribes, Marco‐Jiménez, Vicente, ).…”