[en] Variability in ovulation rate and number of embryos in response to superovulation is the main limiting factor in small ruminants transfer programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ovarian follicular status and in vivo embryo production in Ouled djellal ewes following a pre-treatment with a Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonist. Twenty (n = 20) cycling ewes were allotted into two groups, the first (n = 10) received subcutaneously a daily injection of 40 micrograms buserelin for 14 days prior to superovulatory treatment (pretreated group) while the second group (n = 10) did not receive GnRH agonist before superovulatory treatment (control group). Before batching, the ovarian follicular population was assessed by laparoscopy numbering of the ovarian follicles. In the pretreated ewes, a significant increase in small follicles (8.50±1.64 vs. 15.50±2.74, p<0.01) and a suppression of large follicles (≥4 mm) (4, 3±0.76 vs. 0.0, p<0.001) was observed after treatment with Buserelin. In addition to the pretreated group, the number of small follicles prior to porcine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (pFSH) treatment was higher and the number of large follicles smaller than the control group. The ovulatory response and the number of transferable embryos per ewe treated was significantly higher in ewes pretreated than in control ewes (ovulatory response: 17,8±1,56 vs. 9,1±1,11; p<0.001) (transferable embryos: 10.2±1.87 vs. 4.1±0.40, p≤0.01). Compared to the pretreated group a higher percentage of degenerated embryos was recorded in the control group (control: 20.40 vs. 7.27 pretreated, p<0.05). The pre-treatment with a GnRHa to the superovulation protocol improve embryo production in Ouled Djellal ewes, in allowing the terminal follicular growth inhibition and increasing of small follicles number at the start of p FSH treatment.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Gharbi, I; Université Saad Dahlab de Blida, Algérie > Department of Veterinary Sciences
Ferrouk, M; Université Saad Dahlab de Blida - Department of Veterinary Sciences, Algérie
Dechicha, A; Centre Universitaire El Tarf - Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Algérie
Baril, G; Institut Scientifique de Recherche Agronomique - INRA > UMR 0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements
Beckers, Jean-François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences fonctionnelles > Physiologie de la reproduction
Guetarni, D; Université Saad Dahlab de Blida - Department of Veterinary Sciences, Algérie
Language :
English
Title :
Follicular status and embryo production in Ouled Djellal (Algeria) ewes breed pretreated with a GnRH agonist
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