FSH is superior to eCG for promoting ovarian response in Chinese Bamei gilts

Experiences with transvaginal Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) in sows

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) is an established technique in other species. Due to several challenges, there are few publications addressing the procedure in sows. An efficient OPU technique may allow for the collection of numerous oocytes from valuable sows for porcine in vitro embryo production, gene editing and cloning programmes, or cryopreservation. We aimed to improve transvaginal OPU and equipment for this technique in sows. In experiment 1, we conducted 13 OPU sessions on three Landrace x Large White hybrid sows under general anaesthesia, while the second experiment explored OPU in non-sedated animals (N = 6) physically restrained in a commercial claw trimming chute. The experiments resulted in 6.6 ± 5.6 (mean ± SD) and 7.7 ± 8.9 recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes per session, respectively. Post-mortem examination of the pelvic and abdominal cavities of the three sows subjected to repeated OPU sessions did not reveal major acute or chronic pathological lesions. The only sow which was inseminated after the experiment delivered 16 liveborn piglets at term. Salivary cortisol levels increased during the procedure in non-sedated and physically restrained sows but returned to baseline 1 h later (n = 5), indicating a short-term stress response. The described OPU technique and equipment have the potential to retrieve considerable numbers of oocytes by repeated procedures on valuable mature sows. Follow-up studies are needed to optimize the efficiency of the aspiration of high-quality oocytes and to describe the developmental competence of these OPU-derived oocytes. It is also essential to further investigate sow welfare during and after the procedure before recommending porcine transvaginal OPU as a sustainable and welfare-friendly procedure.

Porcine embryo collection using single subcutaneous administration of follicle-stimulating hormone in a large volume of saline

The effects of a single subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on follicular growth and expression of estrous behavior and its single subcutaneous administration on the number of corpora lutea (CL) and embryos were investigated in pigs. All four sows that were subcutaneously administered 5 AU FSH expressed normal estrus and had no ovarian cysts. Two of the four sows that were administered 5 AU FSH intramuscularly did not exhibit estrus, and another sow had a short estrus period. All four sows had ovarian cysts. The mean numbers of CL, embryos, and blastocysts following the subcutaneous administration of 5 AU FSH (16.8, 16.0, and 13.8, respectively) did not differ significantly from those for the control animals treated intramuscularly with 1000 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (18.5, 16.5, and 14.3, respectively). In conclusion, embryo recovery was possible using a single subcutaneous administration of FSH.

Effectiveness of a recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone on the ovarian follicles, peripheral progesterone, estradiol-17β, and pregnancy rate of dairy cows

Aims:

This study aimed at elucidating the effects of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) on the ovarian follicular dynamics, progesterone, estradiol-17β profiles, and pregnancy of dairy cows.

Materials and Methods:

Three groups (G, n=5 cows) of multiparous dairy cows were used. G1 (C) control cows were given controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and prostaglandin F2α; G2 (L) cows were given low dose (525 IU and G3 (H) cows were given high dose (1800 IU) of r-hFSH on twice daily basis at the last 3 days before CIDR removal. All cows were ultrasonically scanned for follicular growth and dynamics, and blood samples were collected every other day for two consecutive estrus cycles for the determination of estradiol-17β and progesterone.

Results:

Estrus was observed in all C and L but not in H cows. Dominant follicle was bigger in L compared to C and H cows. Dominant follicle in C (16.00±2.5 mm) and L cows (17.40±2.3 mm) disappeared at 72 h after CIDR removal. However, in H cows, no ovulation has occurred during 7 days post-CIDR removal. Progesterone was not different (p>0.10) among groups, whereas estradiol-17β revealed significant (p<0.01) reduction in H (15.96±2.5 pg/ml) cows compared to C (112.26±26.1 pg/ml) and L (97.49±15.9 pg/ml) cows. Pregnancy rate was higher in L cows (60%) compared with C cows (20%). However, H cows were not artificially inseminated due to non-ovulation. Only a cow of C group has calved one calf, however, 2 of the L cows gave birth of twins and a cow gave single calf.

Conclusion:

Administration of a low dose (525 IU) of r-hFSH resulted in an optimal size of dominant follicle, normal values of progesterone and estradiol-17β, and 40% twinning rate, howeverusing 1800 IU of r-hFSH, have adverse effects on ovarian follicular dynamics and hormonal profiles with non-pregnancy of dairy cows raised under hot climate.