title: Ovarian follicle development in wapiti (Cervus elaphus) during the anovulatory season.
abstract: The ovaries of 12 mature wapiti hinds were studied by transrectal ultrasonography during the anovulatory season to characterize follicular dynamics and to test the hypothesis that follicle development occurs in a wave-like fashion. The hinds were examined daily, standing without sedation. Follicle size and numbers were recorded, and individual follicles were identified serially. Follicle development was considered wave-like if periodic changes in follicle numbers could be associated temporally with the development of a dominant follicle. There were non-random changes (P<0.01) in the number of follicles > or =4 mm in diameter detected per day. Each peak in follicle numbers was associated with the development of a single dominant follicle. The dominant follicle of the cohort was larger (P<0.05) than the other follicles 1 day after its emergence. Intervals between successive peaks (6.8 +/- 0.4 day) and troughs (6.8 +/- 0.4 day) in follicle numbers, and emergence of sequential dominant follicles (7.1 +/- 0.5 day) were not different (P=0.86). Results confirmed the hypothesis that ovarian follicles develop in a wave-like fashion in wapiti during the anovulatory season.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada S7N 5B4.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: McCorkell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacDougall
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000858:Anovulation; D005260:Female; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012418:Ruminants / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D014463:Ultrasonography