Superstimulation prior to the ovum pick-up to improve in vitro embryo production in lactating and non-lactating Holstein cows.
The present study evaluated the efficacy of superstimulation with p-FSH (Folltropin) before the ovum pick-up (OPU) on IVP in lactating and nonlactating Holstein donors. A total of 30 Holstein cows (15 lactating and 15 nonlactating) were blocked by lactation status to one of two groups (control or p-FSH), in a cross-over design. On a random day of the estrous cycle, all cows received an intravaginal progesterone device and 2.0 mg IM of estradiol benzoate (Day 0). Cows in the control group received no further treatment, whereas cows in the p-FSH group received a total dosage of 200 mg of p-FSH on Days 4 and 5 in four decreasing doses 12 hours apart (57, 57, 43, and 43 mg). On Day 7, the progesterone device was removed, and OPU was conducted in both groups (40 hours after the last p-FSH injection in the p-FSH-treated group). There was no difference between groups (P = 0.92) in the numbers of follicles that were aspirated per OPU session (17.2 ± 1.3 vs. 17.1 ± 1.1 in control and p-FSH-treated cows, respectively); however, p-FSH-treated cows had a higher (P < 0.001) percentage of medium-sized follicles (6-10 mm) at the time of the OPU (55.1%; 285/517) than control cows (20.8%; 107/514). Although recovery rate was lower (60.0%, 310/517 vs. 69.8%, 359/514; P = 0.002), p-FSH-treated cows had a higher blastocyst production rate (34.5%, 89/258 vs. 19.8%, 55/278; P < 0.001) and more transferable embryos per OPU session were produced in the p-FSH group (3.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.8 ± 0.4; P = 0.02). Regardless of treatment, non-lactating cows had a higher blastocyst rate (41.9%, 106/253 vs. 13.4%, 38/283; P = 0.001) and produced more transferable embryos per OPU session (3.5 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.3; P = 0.003) than lactating cows. Thus, superstimulation of Holstein donors with p-FSH before OPU increased the efficiency of IVP. In addition, non-lactating donors had higher percentage of in vitro blastocyst development and produced more embryos per OPU session than lactating cows.
Departamento de Reprodução Animal, FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: lavieira@usp.br.
L M
LM
Vieira
Clínica Veterinária Samvet São Carlos, São Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
C A
CA
Rodrigues
Bioembryo, Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A
A
Castro Netto
Departamento de Reprodução Animal, FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
B M
BM
Guerreiro
Clínica Veterinária Samvet São Carlos, São Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
C R A
CR
Silveira
União Química Farmacêutica Nacional S/A, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
R J C
RJ
Moreira
Departamento de Reprodução Animal, FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
M F
MF
Sá Filho
Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba, Argentina.
G A
GA
Bó
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
R J
RJ
Mapletoft
Departamento de Reprodução Animal, FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
P S
PS
Baruselli
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000662:veterinary; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary*
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Bovine; Holstein; In vitro embryo production; Oocyte competence