title: Decreased superovulatory responses in heifers superovulated in the presence of a dominant follicle.
abstract: Dairy heifers were superovulated in the presence (dominant group, N = 8) or absence (non-dominant group, N = 6) of a dominant follicle at the start of a a superovulatory treatment on Days 7-12 of the oestrous cycle (Day 0 = oestrus). Daily ultrasonographic observations of ovaries (recorded on videotape) starting on Day 3 were used to assess the presence or absence of a dominant follicle (diameter greater than 9 mm, in a growing phase or at a stable diameter for less than 4 days) and to monitor follicular development before and during treatment. The number of CL estimated by ultrasonography (7.1 +/- 1.8 vs 13.5 +/- 1.4) or by rectal palpation (6.9 +/- 2.0 vs 16.3 +/- 1.6) and mean progesterone concentrations (32.5 +/- 19 vs 80.7 +/- 16 ng/ml) after treatment were lower (P less than 0.01) in the dominant than in the non-dominant group. Based on number of CL, two populations of heifers were identified in the dominant group, i.e. those that had a high (dominant-high, N = 4; greater than 7 CL) or a low (dominant-low, N = 4; less than 7 CL) response to treatment. During treatment, the increases in number of follicles 7-10 mm and greater than 10 mm in diameter occurred sooner and were of higher magnitude in the non-dominant than in the dominant-high or dominant-low groups (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Canada Research Station, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Guilbault
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lussier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rouillier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone