Effects of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin treatment on follicular populations and ovulation rates in prepuberal gilts with two morphologically different ovarian types

The impact of FSH stimulation and age on the ovarian and uterine traits and histomorphometry of prepubertal gilts

This study investigated the effect of age and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment on the estradiol (E2) plasma concentration, ovarian follicle development, endometrial histomorphometry, and ultrasonographic parameters of the ovaries and uterus in prepubertal gilts. Thirty-five prepubertal gilts were grouped according to age (140 or 160 d), and within each age, gilts were allotted to receive 100 mg of FSH (treated; G140 + FSH [n = 10] and G160 + FSH [n = 7]) or saline solution (control; G140 + control [n = 10] and G160 + control [n = 8]). The total dose of FSH was divided into 6 similar doses administered every 8 h (days 0-2). Before and after FSH treatment, blood sample was collected, and transabdominal scanning of the ovaries and uterus was performed. Twenty-four hours after the last FSH injection, the gilts were slaughtered and their ovaries and uterus were processed for histological and histomorphometric analysis. The histomorphometric parameters of the uterus differed (P < 0.05) between prepubertal gilts at 160 d and 140 d of age. Moreover, changes (P < 0.05) in uterine and ovarian ultrasound images occurred between 140 and 160 d of age. Age and FSH treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) E2 plasma concentrations. Follicle stimulating hormone treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the early stage of folliculogenesis in the prepubertal gilts; however, the number of early atretic follicles decreased (P < 0.05) after the FSH treatment. Follicle stimulating hormone administration increased (P < 0.05) the number of medium follicles and decreased (P < 0.05) the number of small follicles in 140 and 160 d old gilts. In the endometrium, luminal/glandular epithelium height and glandular diameter increased (P < 0.05) after FSH treatment. Thus, injections of 100 mg of FSH stimulate the endometrium epithelium and induce follicular growth to a medium follicle size without affecting the preantral stages in prepubertal gilts; also, the uterine macroscopic morphometry does not change from 140 to 160 d of age.

Equine chorionic gonadotropin pretreatment 15 days before fixed-time artificial insemination improves the reproductive performance of replacement gilts

Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) technology uses exogenous reproductive hormones to regulate the sexual cycle and ovulation of sows without oestrus identification, which improves the sow breeding utilisation rate, reduces the number of non-productive days, and elevates the efficiency of pig farm management. In this study, we aimed to optimise FTAI procedures. Healthy 190-day-old and about 90 kg Large White × Landrace crossing breed replacement gilts (n = 166) which were of unknown reproductive status were randomly selected and divided into three groups: a control group (n = 62), an eCG-15D group in which the gilts were pretreated with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) injection 15 days before starting FTAI (n = 50), and an eCG-20D group pretreated with eCG injection 20 days before starting FTAI (n = 54). All three groups were then subjected to the same conventional FTAI procedure. Pigs were orally administered Altrenogest (ALT, 20 mg per pig per day) for 18 days and then 42 h after ALT feeding was stopped, they were injected with 1 000 IU eCG followed by 100 μg GnRH 80 h later. The gilts were inseminated for the first time 24 h after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection and then again 16 h later. After 42 h of ALT feeding, gilts in the eCG-15D group displayed a higher follicular diameter until artificial insemination (AI) than those from the other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the ovulation times were the most synchronised in the eCG-15D group, with 100% of the gilts ovulating before the second AI on day 25 of FTAI. Furthermore, the gilts in the eCG-15D group achieved the highest pregnancy rate (92%), farrowing rate (90%), total pigs born (11.59), and pigs born alive (11.18). Together, the findings of this study demonstrate that reproductive performance can be optimised by pretreating gilts with eCG 15 days before conventional FTAI.

Recent advancements in the hormonal stimulation of ovulation in swine

Induction of ovulation for controlled breeding is available for use around the world, and conditions for practical application appear promising. Many of the hormones available, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its analogs, as well as porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH), have been shown to be effective for advancing or synchronizing ovulation in gilts and weaned sows. Each of the hormones has unique attributes with respect to the physiology of its actions, how it is administered, its efficacy, and approval for use. The timing for induction of ovulation during the follicle phase is critical as follicle maturity changes over time, and the success of the response is determined by the stage of follicle development. Female fertility is also a primary factor affecting the success of ovulation induction and fixed time insemination protocols. Approximately 80%-90% of female pigs will develop mature follicles following weaning in sows and synchronization of estrus in gilts. However, those gilts and sows with follicles that are less developed and mature, or those that develop with abnormalities, will not respond to an ovulatory surge of LH. To address this problem, some protocols induce follicle development in all females, which can improve the overall reliability of the ovulation response. Control of ovulation is practical for use with fixed time artificial insemination and should prove highly advantageous for low-dose and single-service artificial insemination and for use with frozen-thawed and sex-sorted sperm.

Effect of hCG treatment on the oestrous and ovulation responses to FSH in prepubertal gilts

To ensure sufficient numbers of pregnant females, particularly at hotter times of the year, hormonal induction of gilt oestrus may be necessary. However, the gilt oestrus and ovulation responses to gonadotrophin treatment have often proven unpredictable. The objective of this study was to examine possible reasons for this unpredictability. Prepubertal gilts (approximately 150 days of age, n = 63) were assigned to one of three treatments: injection of 300 IU hCG (n = 15); pre-treatment with 100 mg FSH in polyvinylpyrrolidinone administered as 2 x 50 mg injections 24 h apart, followed by 600 IU eCG at 24 h after the second FSH injection (n = 23); or FSH pre-treatment as above followed by 300 IU hCG at 24 h after the second FSH injection (n = 25). To facilitate oestrus detection, gilts were exposed to a mature boar for 15 min daily for 7 days. Blood samples were obtained on the day of eCG or hCG injection and again 10 days later and gilt ovulation responses determined based on elevated progesterone concentrations. The oestrus responses by 7 days were 6.7%, 17.5% and 64.0% for gilts treated with hCG, FSH + eCG and FSH + hCG, respectively (p < 0.001). The oestrous gilt receiving hCG alone and one oestrous FSH + hCG gilt did not ovulate, all other oestrous gilts ovulated. A further two anoestrous FSH + eCG-treated gilts ovulated. These data suggest that FSH pre-treatment facilitated the development of ovarian follicles to the point where they became responsive to hCG, but had little effect on the response to eCG.

Physiological mechanisms of ovarian follicular growth in pigs--a review

Follicular growth after antrum formation is determined by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Only two ways are possible for recruited follicles, continuing development or atresia. In gilts, intensive ovarian follicular growth begins between 60 and 100 days of age, and fluctuations of the ovarian morphological status last about 20 days; however, at that time there are no really large follicles. Final follicular development is under luteinising hormone (LH) control; this is why the attainment of puberty is related to an increase in serum oestradiol to a level that causes a preovulatory surge of this gonadotropin. The pool of follicles at the beginning of the oestrous cycle is about 30-40, most of which are small (< 3 mm) and growing. Then, the pool of follicles increases to about 80 in the mid-luteal phase but about 50 of them are small and 30 are medium sized (3-6.9 mm). Some of these follicles are in the growing phase, but some are atretic. Between days 7 and 15 of the oestrous cycle the percentage of atretic follicles fluctuates between 12 and 73%. At that time there are no large (> 7 mm) follicles because of the suppressing effect of progesterone. The number of small follicles declines after luteolysis. From the pool of medium follicles, large follicles are selected under the influence of LH, but about 70% of the medium-sized follicles become atretic. Because of the long-lasting selection process there is a significant heterogeneity in the diameter of large follicles in oestrus. However, the number of follicles correlates with the number of corpora lutea after ovulation. Individual follicular development and the relationship between follicles are still poorly known. The use of ultrasonography may give a closer insight into these phenomena.

Recruitment and selection of ovarian follicles for determination of ovulation rate in the pig

Gonadotropins determine the follicle selection and ovulation rate. Follicle growth is independent of gonadotropins until antrum formation, at which time recruitment occurs. Once recruited, follicles will continue to grow or degenerate. In gilts, visible surface follicles are classified as small (<3mm), medium (3-6.9 mm) and large (> or =7.0mm). At estrus (day 0), there are approximately 15 small and medium follicles, and approximately 15 large follicles. By day 3, there may be approximately 30 small, 5 medium and no large follicles. During the remainder of the luteal phase, the pool of follicles increases and peaks at day 11-13 with approximately 50 small, and 30 medium, but with no large follicles observed. By the start of the follicular phase at day 15, numbers of small and medium follicles rapidly decline, while a pool of medium follicles is selected for the ovulation. The size of large follicles at estrus is heterogeneous (6.5-10.0 mm) but their number is reflective of the subsequent number of corpora lutea found following the ovulation. However, the time of medium follicle selection for ovulation is variable during the late luteal and early follicular phases. Suppression of FSH before and at the time of luteolysis reduces medium and large follicles but does not reduce the ovulation rate. In contrast, suppression of FSH for 3 days or unilateral ovariectomy after 3 days of the follicular phase prevents full ovulatory compensation. Therefore, FSH appears to be involved in the maintenance of a pool of medium follicles that can be selected by LH to mature and ovulate.

Effect of age and physical or fence-line boar exposure on estrus and ovulation response in prepubertal gilts administered PG600

Boar exposure has been used for estrus induction of prepubertal gilts, but has limited effect on estrus synchronization within 7 d of introduction. In contrast, PG600 (400 IU of PMSG and 200 IU of hCG; Intervet, Millsboro, DE) is effective for induction of synchronized estrus, but the response is often variable. It is unknown whether boar exposure before PG600 administration might improve the efficiency of estrus induction of prepubertal gilts. In Exp. 1, physical or fence-line boar contact for 19 d was evaluated for inducing puberty in gilts before administration of i.m. PG600. Exp. 2 investigated whether 4-d boar exposure and gilt age influenced response to PG600. In Exp. 1, 150-d-old prepubertal gilts were randomly allotted to receive fence-line (n = 27, FBE) or physical (n = 29, PBE) boar exposure. Gilts were provided exposure to a mature boar for 30 min daily. All gilts received PG600 at 169 d of age. Estrous detection continued for 20 d after injection. In Exp. 2, prepubertal gilts were allotted by age group (160 or 180 d) to receive no boar exposure (NBE) or 4 d of fence-line boar exposure (BE) for 30 min daily before receiving PG600 either i.m. or s.c. Following PG600 administration, detection for estrus occurred twice-daily using fence-line boar exposure for 7 d. Results of Exp. 1 indicated no differences between FBE and PBE on estrus (77%), age at puberty (170 d), interval from PG600 to estrus (4 d), gilts ovulating (67%), or ovulation rate (12 corpora lutea, CL). Results from Exp. 2 indicated no effect of age group on estrus (55%) and days from PG600 to estrus (4 d). A greater (P < 0.05) proportion of BE gilts expressed estrus (65 vs. 47%), had a shorter (P < 0.05) interval from PG600 to estrus (3.6 vs. 4.3 d), and had decreased (P < 0.05) age at estrus (174 vs. 189 d) compared with NBE. Ovulation rate was greater (P < 0.05) in the BE group for the 180-d-old gilts (12.7 vs. 11.9 CL) compared with the NBE group. However, age group had no effect on ovulation (77%) or ovulation rate (12 CL). Collectively, these results indicate that physical boar contact may not be necessary when used in conjunction with PG600 to induce early puberty. The administration of PG600 to 180-d-old gilts in conjunction with 4 d prior fence-line boar exposure may improve induction of estrus, ovulation, and decrease age at puberty.

Ovulation and follicular growth in gonadotropin-treated gilts followed by in vitro fertilization and development of their oocytes

We investigated whether porcine ovaries derived from FSH-pituitary (FSH-P) or hCG-treated animals can produce oocytes with better in vitro cytoplasmic maturation and in vitro embryonic development relative to those derived from saline-treated animals. The size of the follicle producing the oocyte was also studied. Each of 25 prepubertal gilts received 1 of 6 treatments by intramuscular injection: 1) saline (3 mL, once, n = 5); 2) FSH-P8-3 (8 mg, 3 times, with a 24-h interval, n = 4); 3) FSH-P16-3 (16 mg, 3 times, with a 24-h interval, n = 4); 4) FSH-P16-1-P4-2 (16 mg, once, 4 mg, twice, with a 24-h interval, n = 4); 5) FSH-P16-1 (16 mg, once, n = 4); or 6) hCG (100 IU, 3 times, with a 24-h interval, n = 4). The ovaries were removed by mid-ventral laparotomy 72 h after the first injection. The numbers of corpora hemorrhagica (CH) with each FSH-P treatment were similar (P > 0.05). However, compared with gilts treated with saline or hCG, those treated with FSH-P8-3 had a greater (P < 0.05) number of CH. Treatment with FSH-P8-3 or FSH-P16-3 induced significant growth of medium/large follicles (4 to 8 mm in diameter) compared with saline or FSH-P16-1. The same results were observed when FSH-P8-3 was compared with FSH-P16-P4-2 or hCG. After in vitro fertilization, the rates of male and female pronuclei in oocytes derived from medium/large follicles did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments, but in oocytes derived from small follicles they were lower (P < 0.05) in saline-treated than in FSH-P16-1-P4-2-treated gilts. After 120 h in culture, the percentages of the inseminated oocytes from 1 to 3 mm or 4 to 8 mm follicles developing to > or = 2-cell did not differ (P > 0.05) between saline- and gonadotropin-treated gilts. However, a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of the inseminated oocytes from 4 to 8 mm follicles had developed to the morula stage or beyond, than those from the 1 to 3 mm follicles. In conclusion, administration of single or multiple doses of FSH-P induced ovulation, but only 8 or 16 mg FSH-P injected 3 times with 24-h intervals for 72 h induced growth of 4 to 8 mm follicles. The size of follicle from which the oocyte derived also had a significant effect on its development in vitro.

Effects of gonadotropin treatment on ovarian follicle growth, oocyte quality and in vitro fertilization of oocytes in prepubertal gilts

This study was undertaken to compare the effects of FSH-pituitary (FSH-P), eCG, and a combination of gonadotropins containing 400 IU eCG and 200 IU hCG (PG 600) on the growth of large follicles, oocyte quality and in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate of in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes in prepubertal gilts. The ovaries were removed via midventral laparotomy 48 h (Experiment 1) or 72 h (Experiment 2) after the first injection. In Experiment 1, 30 gilts received 1 of 5 treatments: 1) saline (3 ml i.m., once, n = 6); 2) FSH-P8 (8 mg i.m., twice, with a 24-h interval, n = 6); 3) FSH-P16 (16 mg i.m., twice, with a 24-h interval, n = 6; 4) eCG (1000 IU i.m., once, n = 6); or 5) PG 600 (5 ml i.m., once, n = 6). Compared with saline, treatment with PG 600 or eCG induced significant (P < 0.05) growth of large follicles (> or = 6 mm). In Experiment 2, 16 gilts received 1 of 5 treatments: 1) saline (n = 4); 2) FSH-P8 (n = 4); 3) FSH-P16 (n = 4); 4) eCG (n = 4), or 5) PG 600 (n = 4). The same injection protocol as in Experiment 1 was used. Compared with treatment with FSH-P8 or FSH-P16, eCG increased (P<0.05) the number of large follicles. The proportion of good oocytes was increased (P<0.05) with FSH-P8 or FSH-P16 compared with treatment with eCG or PG 600. Moreover, oocytes from eCG-treated gilts had a greater (P<0.05) rate of male and female pronuclei than FSH-P or saline-treated gilts. In conclusion, treatment with FSH-P resulted in a higher proportion of oocytes with multilayer cumulus cells, whereas treatment with eCG resulted in higher pronuclear rates following in vitro fertilization in prepubertal gilts.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptors in ovarian granulosa cells: effect of follicle size and hormones

The objectives of the present studies were to determine if the numbers of IGF-I receptors in bovine granulosa cells differed with size of follicle and to determine if growth factors and hormones affected the number of IGF-I receptors in granulosa cells. Granulosa cells from small (1-5 mm) and large (> or = 8 mm) follicles were cultured for 2-4 days in 10% FCS and then assessed for levels of IGF-I receptors. Numbers of IGF-I receptors were 15-fold greater in granulosa cells from large than small follicles. In addition, bFGF (5 and 50 ng/ml) decreased whereas estradiol (1 microgram/ml), FSH (10 ng/ml) and EGF (10 and 100 ng/ml) increased the number of IGF-I receptors in granulosa cells from small follicles. These hormones had no effect on the number of IGF-I receptors in granulosa cells from large follicles. In conclusion, granulosa cells from large follicles have a greater number of IGF-I receptors than cells from small follicles, and thus, it appears that granulosa cells acquire a greater number of IGF-I receptors during the process of differentiation.