外源激素组合控制青春期前奶山羊卵泡超数同步发育及其卵母细胞发育潜能的评价

本研究的目的是探索自青春期前奶山羊获取大量可用于体细胞核移植的卵母细胞的可能性。为此,本研究比较了几种不同组合的激素处理方法(对照、FSH、E2-P4和E2-P4-FSH)对出生39-60日龄的奶山羊卵巢大小、卵泡数量和卵泡大小的影响:同时将出生39-120日龄奶山羊按年龄分成三组来研究年龄对激素处理时招募起始生长卵泡数量的影响:然后,比较了来自E2-P4- FSH和FSH处理的早青春期前奶山羊卵巢上直径大于3mm卵泡中卵母细胞减数分裂能力;最后,通过SCNT方法验证E2-P4-FSH处理的早青春期前奶山羊卵巢上直径大于3mm卵泡中卵母细胞的发育能力。在四组激素处理的早青春期前奶山羊中,E2-P4-FSH处理组的卵巢最大、卵泡(直径大于3 mm)数量最多。在不同的年龄组中,39-60天组奶山羊卵巢上直径大于3mm的卵泡数量显著多于61-90天和91-120天组的。卵母细胞减数分裂能力的分析结果表明,来自E2-P4-FSH处理组的卵母细胞减数分裂能力显著高于FSH处理组的卵母细胞。与E2-P4-FSH处理后的成年奶山羊卵母细胞相比,早青春期前奶山羊卵母细胞发育能力较低:卵母细胞成熟后,作为受体用于体细胞核移植后的克隆囊胚发育率低于成年奶山羊(15.3%versus 22.1%,P<0.01)。然而,早青春期前的奶山羊经E2-P4-FSH处理后,自每头羊卵巢上直径大于3mm的卵泡数显著高于成年奶山羊(108±10.3 versus 28±5.0),因此,每头早青春期前奶山羊产生的克隆囊胚绝对数量显著高于成年奶山羊(7.1±2.7 versus 4.2±1.4)。由此,从本研究可以得出结论:E2-P4-FSH处理的早青春期前奶山羊能够为体细胞核移植研究提供相对多数量的具备一定发育能力的成熟卵。     

芹菜素对雌性大鼠生殖轴的影响

目的：探讨芹菜素在10-9mol/L浓度时对雌性大鼠生殖功能的影响。方法：应用侧脑室注射方法观察芹菜素对雌性大鼠生殖轴激素含量的影响。在侧脑室注射后第3天取血浆,采用放免技术测定血浆中促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）、雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）的含量。结果：在给药后第3天血浆中促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）的含量增加而雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）的含量降低,差异有显著性。结论：芹菜素抑制雌二醇（E2）合成中芳香化酶的活性实现对雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）分泌的抑制。芹菜素通过影响雌激素受体而使下丘脑的促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）和腺垂体的卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）分泌增加。     

池养美洲鲥卵巢周年发育和血清激素变化研究

采用形态测量、组织化学以及酶联免疫测定等技术方法,研究了淡水池养美洲鲥卵巢发育和促性腺激素(LH和FSH)和性类固醇激素(T和E2)的年周期变化规律。结果表明,美洲鲥产卵类型属非同步分批产卵,按组织学特点其卵母细胞发育可分为5个时相,依据形态特征其卵巢发育可划分为相应的5个时期。在性腺发育过程中,雌鱼性腺指数(GSI)和肝脏指数(HSI)没有出现明显的变化(p0.05);LH在第Ⅴ时期的表达量显著性低于第Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ时期的表达量(p0.05),其他各激素在不同时期均没有明显差异(p0.05)。不同激素间的两两相关性表明血清中LH水平和FSH水平存在显著正相关关系(r=0.613,p0.05),FSH水平和T水平显著负相关(r=-0.605,p0.05),LH水平和T水平显著负相关(r=-0.699,p0.05)。Person相关系数表明卵巢性腺指数和肝脏指数同几种激素之间没有显著的相关性(p0.05)。通过与野生美洲鲥以及其他一些硬骨鱼类卵巢发育规律比较表明:在目前养殖条件下美洲鲥雌鱼营养积累不足,其性腺发育调控受到影响。     

年龄和FSH在肉牛活体取卵过程中对卵泡和卵母细胞发育的影响

用B超活体取卵技术（TVFA）对莫累灰和婆罗门杂交肉取卵,探讨年龄和FSH诱导对青年牛,经产牛及老年牛卵泡和卵母细胞发育的影响。结果显示：青年牛（12月龄）和经产牛（7－8岁）平均卵泡数（≥2mm）及＞10mm卵泡数明显高于老年牛（≥14岁）（P＜0．01）。青年牛和经产牛平均卵母细胞数及平均COC数高于老年牛（P＜0．05）。1和2级卵母细胞比例青年牛高于或等于经产牛高于老年牛,3和4级卵母细胞比例老年牛高于经产牛高于或等于青年牛（P＜0．05）。青年牛和经产牛2级卵母细胞占优势,而老年牛3级卵母细胞居多。不同剂量外源性FSH诱导后,经产牛和老年牛平均卵泡数在各剂量组之间没有显著差异（P＞0．05）;但≥6mm卵泡数及2级卵母细胞比例明显增加,而2－5mm卵泡数相应减少及裸卵和老化卵比例降低（P＜0．05）。在10次取卵过程中,青年牛和经产牛发情当天平均卵母细胞数均以后各次的数量低（P＜0．05）。研究表明：利用TVFA可从肉牛获取卵母细胞,卵泡及卵母细胞发育受年龄的影响,这可能与生理状况有关;而适量FSH秀导可以促进牛卵泡发育,提高卵母细胞质量。     

米非司酮对恒河猴促性腺激素分泌水平的抑制作用

目的分析米非司酮（RU486）对恒河猴促性腺激素分泌水平的影响,探讨RU486影响恒河猴促性腺激素分泌的可能机制,为临床安全用药提供理论依据。方法采用生物测定法测定恒河猴促性腺激素,比较在不同情况下恒河猴促性腺激素的分泌水平。结果实验表明：不同时间（0、0.5、1、2、4、8、12、244、8 h）用药后,RU486对恒河猴促黄体激素（LH）、促滤泡激素（FSH）分泌水平的影响,在用药0.5、1、24、h后,对LH、FSH分泌均有抑制作用,其中在用药4 h时,LH、FSH分泌水平均有显著的降低,而用药81、2、244、8 h后,LH、FSH浓度没有显著差异。在月经周期的不同时期一次用药后发现,卵泡期：RU486对LH、FSH分泌水平影响较小;排卵期：RU486对LH、FSH峰的发生延迟现象;黄体期：观察到RU486对FSH、LH基础分泌水平及脉冲的幅度出现下降。结论RU486对恒河猴的LH、FSH分泌水平,在不同情况下有显著差异。     

抗真菌药物影响生殖细胞发育机理的研究

目的：探讨抗真菌药物对促性腺激素诱导的卵母细胞成熟的机理。方法：用小鼠卵母细胞体外培养模型,将小鼠卵母细胞培养在含有次黄嘌呤（ＨＸ,卵母细胞成熟抑制物）的培养注中,观察促卵泡生成素（ＦＳＨ）、两性毒素Ｂ、酮康唑对卵母细胞减数分裂恢复的影响。结果：①ＦＳＨ（１０￣２００ＩＵ／Ｌ）显著刺激卵丘－卵母细胞复合体（ＣＥＯ）克服ＨＸ的抑制而恢复减数分裂,该作用具有剂量依赖性（Ｐ〈０．０５）;②两性霉素Ｂ（０     

颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号通路在调控卵母细胞成熟和发育中的作用

动物体内卵泡排卵前促黄体素(luteinizing hormone, LH)诱导了卵丘颗粒细胞扩散,并启动卵母细胞恢复减数分裂。普遍认为,卵泡壁层颗粒细胞表达LH受体,卵母细胞及其周围卵丘细胞不表达LH受体,LH通过作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞产生信号分子,这些信号分子作用于卵丘颗粒细胞介导了LH生物作用。然而,一直以来,关于排卵前介导LH作用而诱导卵母细胞成熟的机制一直存在争议。目前研究认为,LH作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞后产生了EGF类因子,并与颗粒细胞的受体结合,促进了卵母细胞的成熟和发育。由于体外成熟的卵丘卵母细胞复合体来源于生长卵泡,其卵丘颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统不完善,目前的体外成熟培养体系难以模拟卵泡内的生理环境,导致卵母细胞体外发育能力较差,限制了这些卵母细胞的利用效率。本文综述了颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统、EGF类因子在调控卵母细胞成熟中的作用及对卵母细胞发育能力的影响,为优化卵母细胞体外成熟培养体系,完善卵丘颗粒细胞的EGF类因子的信号系统,进而提高卵母细胞体外成熟效率提供理论依据。     

卵泡内环境对猪卵泡卵体外成熟和发育的影响

研究卵泡内环境对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育的影响。主要结果如下：直径≥5mm、4－4.9mm、3－3.9mm和2－2.9mm的卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为90.5%、89.7%、85.4%和67.4%,体外受精后,卵母细胞的发育能力随卵泡直径的增大而增强,直径≥5mm和4－4.9mm卵泡卵的2－细胞、3－4－细胞发育率显著高于直径2－2.9mm的卵泡卵（P＜0.05或0.01）。体外成熟培养36h、42h和48h,直径2－2.9mm卵泡卵的体外成熟率,体外受精后的卵裂率差异不显著（P＞0.05）。在体外成熟培养液中添加5％或15％的不同直径卵泡的卵泡液,各组间卵母细胞的体外成熟率,受精卵的体外发育率均无显著差异,结果表明：卵泡大小对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育有重要影响。     

雌二醇和孕酮对小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

目的研究雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P4）对昆明小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟的影响。方法小鼠经注射孕马血清促性腺激素（PMSG）后48 h,摘取卵巢获得未成熟卵母细胞,分别在单独含不同浓度的E2或P4的成熟液中,或在同时含有不同浓度E2和P4的成熟液中,进行体外成熟,并对经过E2和P4处理成熟的卵母细胞进行体外受精。结果经15-16 h的成熟培养,各E2处理组的卵母细胞第一极体排出率虽然均略高于对照组,但它们之间无显著差异;各组卵母细胞体外受精48 h后,1000 ng/mL E2处理组的卵裂率显著低于其他各处理组和对照组,但各组的囊胚率之间无显著差异。各P4处理组的极体率和卵裂率,与对照组相比无显著差异,但是各处理组的囊胚率均极显著低于与对照组;两种激素协同处理组中[1000 ng/mL E2＋1000 ng/mL P4]组的极体率显著高于其他各处理组;而与对照组的极体率差异不显著。结论P4对小鼠卵母细胞的后期发育能力有一定的抑制作用,而E2却对小鼠卵母细胞的成熟及其发育潜力无明显作用。     

猪体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚率达到11．7％,囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞重构胚（P＜0．05）。本文还研究了卵母细胞的采集方法、激活程序和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导G0/G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33－44h,将卵丘细胞放至去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6d。研究表明,卵母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松驰素（CB）、激活程度并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,体外能发育至囊胚。     

Effect of alterations in pulsatile luteinizing hormone release on ovarian follicular atresia and steroid secretion on diestrus 1 in the rat estrous cycle

This study examined the importance of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) release on diestrus 1 (D1; metestrus) in the rat estrous cycle to ovarian follicular development and estradiol (E2) secretion. Single injections of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonist given at -7.5 h prior to the onset of a 3-h blood sampling period on D1 reduced mean blood LH levels by decreasing LH pulse amplitude, while frequency was not altered. Sequential injections at -7.5 and -3.5 h completely eliminated pulsatile LH secretion. Neither treatment altered the total number of follicles/ovary greater than 150 mu in diameter, the number of follicles in any size group between 150 and 551 mu, or plasma E2, progesterone, or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. However, both treatments with LHRH antagonist significantly increased the percentage of atretic follicles in the ovary. These data indicate that: 1) pulsatile LH release is an important factor in determining the rate at which follicles undergo atresia on D1; 2) reductions in LH pulse amplitude alone are sufficient to increase the rate of follicular atresia on D1; 3) an absence of pulsatile LH release for a period of up to 10 h on D1 is not sufficient to produce a decline in ovarian E2 secretion, most likely because the atretic process was in its early stages and had not yet affected a sufficient number of E2-secreting granulosa cells to reduce the follicle's capacity to secrete E2; and 4) suppression or elimination of pulsatile LH release on D1 is not associated with diminished FSH secretion.     

Hormonal requirements for the growth and differentiation of hamster preantral follicles in long-term culture

Preantral follicles from pro-oestrous and oestrous hamsters were isolated enzymically (Stages 1-5) and by microdissection (Stage 6) and cultured for up to 168 h in the absence or presence of 100 ng ovine FSH or LH separately or combined or 1 or 10 micrograms progesterone or estradiol-17 beta in serum-free defined medium and exposed to 1 muCi [3H]thymidine for 24 h before termination. In the presence of insulin and hydrocortisone but not gonadotrophins, the morphology of follicles from pro-oestrous animals at Stages 1-4 (1-4 layers granulosa cells; no theca) were unaffected for up to 48 h whereas for Stages 5 (5-6 layers granulosa cells and developing theca) and 6 (7-8 layers granulosa cells and theca), atresia was prominent by 24 h. FSH significantly reduced the percentage of atretic follicles in Stages 1-5 throughout the culture period; but was effective only up to 96 h for Stage-6 follicles. LH was also effective, albeit to a lesser extent. FSH increased follicular labelling indexes during every 24-h labelling period and, during a pulse-chase period, follicular DNA content and granulosa cell numbers. FSH, but not LH, induced differentiation by 96 h of preantral follicles at Stage 6 into small antral stages (Stages 7-8). FSH and LH together induced almost the same effect as FSH alone. However, neither progesterone nor oestradiol had any significant long-term effects on DNA synthesis and oestradiol induced atresia beyond 24 h. Both FSH and LH induced follicular maturation in vitro as evident from increases in progesterone, androstenedione and oestradiol production. Follicles (Stages 1-4) collected from oestrous hamsters responded to FSH to a lesser extent than did those from pro-oestrous animals, possibly because of in-vivo exposure to periovulatory changes in gonadotrophins; however, an antrum formed in Stage-6 follicles by 72 h.     

Follicular dynamics around the recruitment of the first follicular wave in the cow

The present study aimed to test the generally accepted view that a follicular wave starts with follicles newly recruited from the population smaller than 3 mm, which later compete for dominance. According to this view, subordinate follicles are expected to be too atretic to join the next follicular wave. Ten cows were ovariectomized shortly prior to the LH surge, thus around the start of the first follicular wave of the cycle. Per cow, on average, 14.4 follicles of >/=3 mm were dissected. Follicular health was determined on the basis of four parameters: 1) judgment of the degree of atresia by stereomicroscope, 2) incidence of apoptotic nuclei among the granulosa cells, 3) estradiol and progesterone concentrations, and 4) insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding proteins (IGFBPs)-2, -4, and -5 concentrations in the follicular fluid. In addition to the preovulatory follicle, 3.1 other follicles, mainly sized 3-4.5 mm, were found to be healthy based on the proportion of apoptotic nuclei, and concentrations of estradiol/progesterone, and IGFBPs. The ability of these follicles to respond with growth on the preovulatory and periovulatory FSH surges was supported by a comparison to the follicular population of four cows 31-68 h after the LH surge. The present results point to an alteration of the view on the follicular wave. The larger follicles during the first days of the follicular wave are, in general, derived from follicles that also joined the previous wave. A portion of these growing follicles are estradiol active and compete for dominance. Other growing follicles lack estradiol production and are probably derived from rather atretic follicles. The first newly recruited follicles do not reach the size of 3 mm before 31 h after the preovulatory FSH surge. At that time, the larger follicles are already competing for dominance.     

Bovine follicular development and its effect on the in vitro competence of oocytes

The current knowledge is reviewed concerning correlations between follicular development in the cow and the competence of matured oocytes to develop into an embryo following IVF and IVC. At the follicular size of 3 mm, some oocytes become competent and the proportion of competent oocytes does not increase during development up to 7 mm. The proportion of competent oocytes increases greatly in follicles > 8 mm in both untreated and gonadotropin-stimulated cows. The competence of in vitro-matured oocytes from these large follicles is lower than the competence of in vivo-matured oocytes. These observations lead to the following concept. Oocytes have acquired an intrinsic capacity to develop into an embryo after IVM-IVF-IVC at the follicular stage of 3 mm, but require an additional "prematuration" to express this competence. In vivo, this prematuration occurs during preovulatory development before the occurrence of the LH surge. In follicles of 3-7 mm, a low level of atresia appears to improve the in vitro competence of oocytes which may act via a prematuration-like effect. A thorough understanding, however, of the effect of atresia and other factors on the competence of this highly heterogeneous oocyte population is still missing. Two routes to improve the embryo yield in ovum pick-up (OPU) practice are discussed.     

Relationships between luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin secretion and ovarian follicular development in the weaned sow

Folliculogenesis was studied by assessing development of the largest 10 follicles obtained from 10 sows 48 h after weaning and by analyzing changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) for 24 h before weaning until 48 h after weaning. Follicular diameter, follicular fluid volume, and concentrations of estradiol and testosterone and granulosa cell numbers were determined in all follicles, and 125I-hCG binding to theca and granulosa and maximal aromatase activity in vitro was determined in five follicles/sow. Overall, a significant rise in LH, but not in FSH, occurred at weaning, although in individual sows an increase in LH was not necessarily related to subsequent estrogenic activity of follicles. In 9/10 sows, PRL fell precipitously after weaning. In lactation, LH was negatively, and after weaning, positively, correlated with FSH and PRL. Marked variability in follicular development existed within and between sows. Overall, most follicular characteristics were positively correlated to follicular diameter; however, in larger follicles the number of granulosa cells was variable and unrelated to estrogenic activity, which--together with theca and granulosa binding of hCG--increased abruptly at particular stages of follicular development. Differences in maturation of similarly sized follicles from different sows were related to estrogenic activity of the dominant follicles but not to consistent differences in LH, FSH or PRL secretion. Both the dynamics and the control of folliculogenesis in the sow, therefore, appear to be complex.     

Expression and regulation of mRNAs for insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), IGF-binding protein-2, and LH receptor in the process of follicular atresia

Expression of mRNAs for IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), and LH receptor (LHR) as well as their regulations during induced follicular atresia was determined. 26-day-old female rats received 15 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropins (PMSG). Through detection, it was demonstrated that apoptosis occurred in some small antral follicles after 48 h of PMSG treatment. At 96 h, apoptosis occurred in preovulatory follicles. At 120 h, numerous apoptotic cells appeared in preovulatory follicles. IGF-I was mainly expressed in preantral and small antral follicles from 48 to 120 h. At 48 and 96 h, the theca cells of preantral and antral follicles expressed high level of IGFBP-2 mRNA. At 48 h, there were strong signals of LHR mRNA in granulosa cells, but the LHR signals in granulosa cells significantly decreased at 96 and 120 h (p<0.001). Both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and IGF-I inhibited apoptosis in preantral and antral follicles. Meanwhile, it was observed that EGF promoted IGF-I mRNA expression, and in preovulatory follicles, IGF-I stimulated LHR mRNA expression. These results show that the interaction between ECF and IGF-I may be involved in the regulation of atresia of follicles at different stages of development.     

Expression and regulation of mRNAs for insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), IGF-binding protein-2, and LH receptor in the process of follicular atresia

Expression of mRNAs for IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), and LH receptor (LHR) as well as their regulations during induced follicular atresia was determined. 26-day-old female rats received 15 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropins (PMSG). Through detection, it was demonstrated that apoptosis occurred in some small antral follicles after 48 h of PMSG treatment. At 96 h, apoptosis occurred in preovulatory follicles. At 120 h, numerous apoptotic cells appeared in preovulatory follicles. IGF-I was mainly expressed in preantral and small antral follicles from 48 to 120 h. At 48 and 96 h, the theca cells of preantral and antral follicles expressed high level of IGFBP-2 mRNA. At 48 h, there were strong signals of LHR mRNA in granulosa cells, but the LHR signals in granulosa cells significantly decreased at 96 and 120 h (p<0.001). Both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and IGF-I inhibited apoptosis in preantral and antral follicles. Meanwhile, it was observed that EGF promoted IGF-I mRNA expression, and in pr     

A possible dual mechanism of the anovulatory action of antiprogesterone RU486 in the rat

The purpose of these experiments was to investigate the mechanism of the anovulatory action of antiprogesterone RU486 (RU486) in rats by studying its effects on follicular growth, secretion of gonadotropins and ovarian steroids, and ovulation. Rats with 4-day estrous cycles received injections (s.c.) of either 0.2 ml oil or 0.1, 1, or 5 mg of RU486 at 0800 and 1600 h on metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus. At the same times, they were bled by jugular venipuncture to determine serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17 beta-estradiol (E), and progesterone (P). On the morning of the day after proestrus, ovulation and histological features of the ovary were recorded. Rats from each group were killed on each day of ovarian cycle to assess follicular development. Rats treated similarly were decapitated at the time of the ovulatory LH surge and blood was collected to measure LH. The serum levels of LH increased and those of FSH decreased during diestrus in rats treated with RU486. Neither E nor P levels differed among the groups. Treatment with RU486 caused both a blockade of the ovulation and an increase in ovarian weight in a dose-dependent manner. At the time of the autopsy (the expected day of ovulation), rats treated with 1 mg RU486 had ovaries presenting both normal and post-ovulatory follicles and unruptured luteinized follicles. Rats treated with 5 mg RU486 presented post-ovulatory follicles without signs of luteinization. The number of follicles undergoing atresia increased in rats treated with RU486. Rats treated with 5 mg RU486 exhibited a significant decrease in ovulatory LH release. The mechanism by which RU486 produces the ovulatory impairment in rats seems to be dual: first, by inducing inadequate follicular development at the time of the LH surge and second, by reducing the amount of ovulatory LH released. The physiological events-decreased basal FSH secretion and follicular atresia-that result from use of RU486 cannot be elucidated from these experiments and should be investigated further.     

Evaluation of transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle puncture to collect oocytes and follicular fluids at consecutive times relative to the preovulatory LH surge in eCG/PG-treated cows

Holstein-Friesian cows (n=56) were synchronized with Syncro-Mate B, and those cows (n=47) developing a normal progesterone pattern were further treated im with 3,000 I.U. eCG at Day 10 and 22.5 mg PGF2alpha 48 h later. Blood samples were collected every hour from 30 until 49 h after PG administration. Cows (n=17, 36.2%) with fewer than 8 follicles larger than 8 mm in diameter at 28 to 30 h after PG treatment and animals without an LH peak (n=7, 23%) were excluded from the study. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the follicles was carried out two times per cow, at 30 h after PG injection (4 to 5 follicles) and again at 1 to 5 (n=6), 12 (n=8) or 22 h (n=9) after the LH peak. No differences in the concentrations of progesterone and LH were observed among the 3 groups. An average of 18 follicles per cow was punctured (total of 415 punctures, n=23); 116 cumulus-oocyte-complexes and 370 follicular fluid samples were obtained producing average recovery rates of 28.0% and 89.2%. The number of cumulus-oocyte-complexes varied between puncture times; shortly before ovulation, at 22 h after the LH peak, the recovery rate was significantly 5 times higher than immediately after the LH peak. Overall, in 75 punctures the cumulus-oocyte-complex was accompanied by a pure follicular fluid sample (3.3 per cow). In conclusion, the transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of preovulatory-size follicles can be used to collect follicular fluids to study changes in the microenvironment of maturing oocytes upon superovulation. However, further research is required in order to obtain an equivalent number of accompying cumulus-oocyte-complexes.     

Effects of FGA and PMSG on follicular growth and LH secretion in Suffolk ewes

The effects of fluorogestone acetate (FGA) and/or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on follicular growth and LH secretion in cyclic ewes were determined. Suffolk ewes (n = 40), previously synchronized with cloprostenol were divided into 4 experimental groups (n = 10 ewes per group). Group I served as the control, while groups II, III and IV received FGA, PMSG, FGA and PMSG respectively. Four ewes of each group underwent daily laparascopy for 17 d. All the ovarian follicles >/= 2 mm were measured, and their relative locations were recorded on an ovarian map in order to follow the sequential development of each individual follicle. Comparisons were made of the mean day of emergence and the mean number of small, medium and large follicles, the atresia rate and the ovulation rate. For each group, 3 waves of follicular growth and atresia were observed during the cycle. During luteal phase, FGA treatment accelerated the mechanisms of follicular growth but reduced the number of large follicles and increased the atresia rate. In the follicular phase, FGA treatment was detrimental to both the number of large follicles and the ovulation rate. By contrast, PMSG enhanced recruitment of small follicles and the ovulation rate. Serial blood samples were collected during the luteal and follicular phases to study LH secretion. None of the treatments had any effect on LH secretion patterns.