title: Evidence of intraovarian follicular dominance effects during controlled ovarian stimulation in a sheep model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate intraovarian dominance effects in a sheep model and to determine whether local factors, independent of FSH-mediated pathways, are capable of interfering with the final development of subordinate follicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, model study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public research unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred sixty-four adult Manchega ewes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Synchronization of estrous cycle with intravaginal progestogens and ovarian stimulation with FSH; ovarian ultrasonography, laparoscopies, and embryo recoveries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Determination of morphological characteristics and developmental competence of ovarian follicles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of a dominant follicle affects number and viability of embryos from the ipsilateral ovary in females that are treated with high FSH doses; this effect, modulated by season and phase of the estrous cycle, highlights the role of LH in follicular dominance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study confirms, in a sheep model, the existence of local effects from dominant follicles over neighboring follicles, by direct action and independently from systemic pathways through FSH modulation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproduccion Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agraria y Tecnologia Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain. bulnes@inia.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Bulnes
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veiga-Lopez
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D008954:Models, Biological; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012756:Sheep