Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and the control of ovulation rate by the FecB gene in Booroola ewes.
Booroola sheep carry a FecB gene that confers high fecundity. The aims of the present studies were to determine in homozygous carriers (BB) and non-carriers (++) of the Booroola FecB gene whether there are FecB differences in the secretory characteristics of GnRH in hypophyseal-portal blood of ovariectomized ewes (Expt 1) and whether differences in ovulation rate would occur following the administration of PMSG and pulsatile GnRH to ovary-intact Booroola ewes with hypothalamic-pituitary disconnection (HPD) (Expt 2). In Expt 1, no FecB gene-specific differences were noted for GnRH with respect to pulse frequency, pulse amplitude or overall secretion rate. Irrespective of genotype there were 1.9 +/- 0.2 GnRH pulses h-1 (n = 20 ewes; 10 BB and 10 ++ animals) and 1.9 +/- 0.1 pulses of immunoreactive (i) LH h-1. In Expt 2, ovulation was induced in the HPD ovary-intact animals on three occasions (e.g. 56, 393 and 423 days after HPD surgery) using a PMSG (200 or 400 iu)-GnRH pulse (250 ng i.v. for 96 h)-GnRH bolus (10 micrograms i.v.) regimen after pretreating the animals with GnRH pulses (250 ng i.v. for 14 days). On all occasions the ovulation rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in BB ewes (n = 6 or 7) than in ++ animals (n = 7). No differences between the genotypes were noted with respect to the mean concentrations of progesterone in plasma notwithstanding the differences in ovulation rates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
McNatty
K P
KP
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
Hudson
N L
NL
Lun
S
S
Heath
D A
DA
Shaw
L
L
Condell
L
L
Phillips
D J
DJ
Clarke
I J
IJ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone