title: Effects of melatonin treatment on follicular development and oocyte quality in Chios ewes - short communication.
abstract: Follicular development and oocyte quality were assessed by laparoscopic observation and in vitro fertilisation, respectively, in melatonin-treated (Group M) and control (Group C) anoestrous Chios ewes (n = 10 in each group). Fourteen days after melatonin insertion, all ewes had laparoscopic evaluation of the follicular population followed by oocyte pick-up (OPU); on day 22 intravaginal progestagen sponges were inserted for 14 days. Two days after sponge removal the follicular population was re-evaluated and a second follicular aspiration was performed. Collected oocytes from the second OPU underwent in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture. The number of large follicles was higher in Group M than in the control ewes during the first OPU and tended to be so (P = 0.06) at the second. Morphologically, oocytes collected from controls were of better quality than those from Group M; however, more oocytes collected from melatonintreated animals fertilised and developed in vitro . These results indicate that melatonin is a potent regulator of follicular development and oocyte competence during the anoestrous period of the ewe.
authors: University of Thessaly, Clinic of Obstetrics and Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, 224 Trikalon str. 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: Theodora
authors: T
authors: Tsiligianni
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Valasi
authors: Sándor
authors: S
authors: Cseh
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Vainas
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Faigl
authors: Fotini
authors: F
authors: Samartzi
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Papanikolaou
authors: Eleni
authors: E
authors: Dovolou
authors: Georgios S
authors: GS
authors: Amiridis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004973:Estrus Synchronization; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin