Induction of superovulation by inhibin vaccine in cyclic guinea-pigs.
Experiments were conducted to determine whether neutralizing endogenous inhibin affects follicular development and ovulation rate in guinea-pigs. Eighteen female guinea-pigs bearing 4 week progesterone implants were divided into three groups. At 1 week after removal of the progesterone implants, the animals were given a s.c. injection of 1 ml placebo (saline in oil emulsion; control), or 25 or 50 micrograms inhibin vaccine three times at 4 week intervals. Blood samples were collected once a week throughout the experiment for measuring inhibin antibody titres. After the third injection of inhibin vaccine, blood samples and ovaries were collected on the morning of day 8 after the day of oestrus. Inhibin vaccine increased the ovulation rate in a dose-dependent manner (placebo: 4.2 +/- 0.4; 25 micrograms inhibin vaccine: 6.2 +/- 0.9; 50 micrograms inhibin vaccine: 9.8 +/- 0.9) without any effects on the duration of the oestrous cycle. The results also showed that active immunization against inhibin increased the number of atretic follicles of 300-399 microns in diameter on day 8 after ovulation. The present study is the first to show that the active immunization against inhibin may be a useful method for inducing multiple ovulation in guinea-pigs.
Shi
F
F
Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan.
Ozawa
M
M
Komura
H
H
Watanabe
G
G
Tsonis
C G
CG
Suzuki
A K
AK
Taya
K
K
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013480:Superovulation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
D000906:Antibodies; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone