Effects of melatonin treatment on follicular development and oocyte quality in Chios ewes - short communication.
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.
Tsiligianni
Theodora
T
University of Thessaly, Clinic of Obstetrics and Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, 224 Trikalon str. 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
Valasi
Irene
I
Cseh
Sándor
S
Vainas
Emmanuel
E
Faigl
Vera
V
Samartzi
Fotini
F
Papanikolaou
Thomas
T
Dovolou
Eleni
E
Amiridis
Georgios S
GS
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
D008550:Melatonin