title: A simple ultrasound test to predict the superstimulatory response in cattle.
abstract: We tested the hypotheses that: (1) the superstimulatory response is related to the intrinsic number of follicles recruited into a follicular wave; and (2) the number of follicles recruited into a wave is correlated to the number of follicles recruited into the successive wave. A positive correlation will form the basis of a test for predicting the superstimulatory response. Cows (n = 141) were treated with estradiol and progesterone to synchronize follicular wave emergence (first synchronization) and ranked according to the number of follicles > or =2mm at wave emergence to select the upper and lower 10% of the herd. Follicular wave emergence was synchronized again in the high-end (n = 16) and low-end (n = 20) groups (second synchronization), and cows were treated with FSH twice daily for 3 days. High-end cows had a greater number of follicles (P < 0.001) than low-end cows at the time of wave emergence after both the first and second synchronizations in the 2-3 and 4-6mm categories. The numbers of 2-3 and 4-6mm follicles at wave emergence after the first and second synchronizations were positively correlated (P < 0.001; r = 0.77 and 0.71, respectively). Endogenous FSH peak at the time of wave emergence was higher in the low-end group than in the high-end group. Superstimulatory treatment resulted in more than double the number of follicles (P < 0.003) in the 5-7mm and > or =8mm categories in the high-end group than in the low-end group (16.8 +/- 2.2 versus 8.1 +/- 0.9 and 22.7 +/- 4.1 versus 9.7 +/- 1.6, respectively). The number of follicles > or =5 and > or =8mm at the end of superstimulation was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with the total number of follicles > or =2mm at the time of wave emergence after both the first (r = 0.64 and 0.54, respectively) and second ( r = 0.65 and 0.5, respectively) synchronizations. Based on the results of this study, the superstimulatory response can be predicted by the number of follicles > or =2mm at wave emergence. For practical purposes, practitioners can expect the number of follicles > or =5mm after ovarian superstimulation to be approximately 71% of the number of follicles > or =2mm at the time of wave emergence. Results validated the proposed simple ultrasound-based test for predicting the superstimulatory response of individual cows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B4. jaswant.singh@usask.ca
authors.forename: Jaswant
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
authors.forename: Gregg P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004973:Estrus Synchronization; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone