Ovarian follicle development in wapiti (Cervus elaphus) during the anovulatory season

The ovaries of 12 mature wapiti hinds were studied by transrectal ultrasonography during the anovulatory season to characterize follicular dynamics and to test the hypothesis that follicle development occurs in a wave-like fashion. The hinds were examined daily, standing without sedation. Follicle size and numbers were recorded, and individual follicles were identified serially. Follicle development was considered wave-like if periodic changes in follicle numbers could be associated temporally with the development of a dominant follicle. There were non-random changes (P<0.01) in the number of follicles > or =4 mm in diameter detected per day. Each peak in follicle numbers was associated with the development of a single dominant follicle. The dominant follicle of the cohort was larger (P<0.05) than the other follicles 1 day after its emergence. Intervals between successive peaks (6.8 +/- 0.4 day) and troughs (6.8 +/- 0.4 day) in follicle numbers, and emergence of sequential dominant follicles (7.1 +/- 0.5 day) were not different (P=0.86). Results confirmed the hypothesis that ovarian follicles develop in a wave-like fashion in wapiti during the anovulatory season.