title: Follicular fluid is not a compulsory carrier of the oocyte at ovulation in the mare.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the possibility that ovulation can occur from a preovulatory follicle emptied of its follicular fluid. Transport of the oocyte into the oviduct and fertilisation in 29% of cases demonstrated that ovulation can occur in the absence of follicular fluid but the higher fertility achieved in control mares (62.5%) suggested that follicular fluid does serve a role during ovulation, fertilisation and oviductal transport. Injection of horse oocytes into preovulatory follicles in mules after removal of the follicular fluid, followed by insemination of the mules with horse semen, resulted in the production of one horse x horse embryo.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Reproduction Equine, Haras Nationaux-INRA, Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duchamp
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Cribiu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyazoglu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bézard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018397:Equidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000494:pharmacology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary