title: Factors that influence follicle recruitment, growth and ovulation during ovarian superstimulation in heifers: opportunities to increase ovulation rate and embryo recovery by delaying the exposure of follicles to LH.
abstract: The outcome of ovarian follicular superstimulation protocols in heifers is influenced by the number of follicles that are stimulated to grow and the number induced to ovulate. At present, only a proportion of the follicles that are stimulated to grow progress to ovulation. The argument is developed in this review that failure of some of these follicles to ovulate may be due not to an intrinsic deficiency but rather to their relatively small size when the FSH treatment is initiated. Consequently, these follicles do not have the opportunity to undergo full maturation within the time frame of a conventional superstimulation protocol Based on this argument, we propose that delaying the LH surge would allow for completion of maturation by a greater number of follicles, resulting in an increased ovulation rate and in recovery of a greater number of viable embryos.
authors.affiliation: Animal Sciences and Production Group, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia. m.docchio@cqu.edu.au
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: D'Occhio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jillella
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lindsey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D010060:Ovulation; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011372:Progestins; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone