title: Effect of the luteinizing hormone on embryo production in superovulated rabbit does.
abstract: For most domestic animals, the responses to superovulation treatments are not controlled as a consequence of the lack of knowledge on exogenous gonadotrophins effects on the ovarian function. The role of luteinizing hormone (LH) on the number and quality of embryos produced was evaluated on rabbit does superovulated with porcine FSH (pFSH). Parameters of embryos recovery, in vitro and in vivo embryo development rates after freezing/thawing were compared. We used three experimental groups: (1) control group without superovulation treatment, (2) "pFSH+pLH" and (3) "pFSH" groups where females were treated with pFSH, respectively, with (20%) or without (0%) porcine LH supplementation. The number of corpora lutea and the number of embryos produced were significantly higher (p<0.001) in superovulated does than in control group (27.1, 26.7 versus 11.9 corpora lutea and 20.3, 21.2 versus 9.6 embryos produced for pFSH+pLH, pFSH and control group, respectively). However, both gonadotrophins administrations (groups 2 and 3) led to defaults of ovulation when compared with untreated does. No significant difference was observed between the number and quality of the embryos produced by does treated with pFSH+pLH or with pFSH alone. Moreover, we observed no significant difference between results of in vivo and in vitro viability assays after thawing. We concluded that pFSH alone seems to be sufficient to stimulate the follicles growth and that exogenous pLH administrated has no effect on the quantity and quality of embryos. Further studies are needed to evaluate the hormonal patterns before and after the gonadotrophins injections in the rabbit species.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, ENVL/ISARA Lyon, Unité CRYOBIO, 23 rue Jean Baldassini, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France. psalvetti@isara.fr
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theau-Clément
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hurtaud
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guérin
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Jacky
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falières
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Joly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D013480:Superovulation
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone