Superovulatory Response of Zebu Cows Treated with pFSH in a Single Subcutaneous Injection Followed by an Additional Intramuscular Sub‐Dose 48 h Later

Abstract

Contents The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an additional intramuscular (im) injection of pFSH would increase the embryo production in zebu cows superovulated with a single subcutaneous (sc) pFSH injection. Twenty‐one Nelore cows were treated with a progesterone vaginal implant (Controlled Internal Drug Relased – CIDR B®) and injected im with 2.5 mg estradiol benzoate. Four days later, cows were assigned randomly into three groups and superovulated with pFSH. Groups A and B received single sc injections of 400 and 320 IU, respectively; Group C received multiple im injections of 400 IU in decreasing doses at 12‐h intervals over 4 days. In the morning (07:00 am) of day 3 after starting superovulation, cows received im 150 mcg cloprostenol and Group B was additionally injected im with 80 IU of pFSH. CIDR‐B was withdrawn in the afternoon (07:00 pm). Cows were inseminated 48 and 62 h after the cloprostenol injection. Embryo collection and corpora lutea (CL) estimation were done 7 days after insemination. Alternation of treatments (crossover design) occurred at a 60‐day interval. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) of CL counts among treatments. The total (transferable and no transferable) number of recovered embryos from Group A (6.9 ± 1.5) was not different from Group C (9.8 ± 1.2), whereas Group B (5.7 ± 1.5) was lower than Group C (p < 0.05). The number of transferable embryos from Groups A (2.4 ± 0.7) and B (1.7 ± 0.6) was lower (p < 0.05) than Group C (4.6 ± 1.2). Lesser (p < 0.05) embryo production from Group B was related to lower recovery rate (46.4%), compared with Groups A (65.1%) and C (81.7%). It was concluded that an additional im subdose of pFSH, injected 48 h after a single subcutaneous (sc) dose of pFSH, does not improve the embryo production in zebu cows.

A simplified superovulation protocol using split-single administration of Folltropin®-V in hyaluronan: application to purebred sheep

“…However, in this preliminary study, in which we used a single FSH injection for superovulation, the ovarian response was poorer than that of a traditional FSH multiple injection protocol. Similarly, in other reports (Alvarez et al 2010;Tribulo et al 2012), an additional injection of a lower dose of FSH 48 h after single administration in cows resulted in more ovulations (mean number of CL) than a single injection. Thus, a superovulation protocol in ewes using a split-single administration of HA-FSH was tested in this study.…”

The effect of single epidural plus intramusculer injection of FSH on superovulatory response in Anatolian Black cow

“…It has been reported that a single im and sc injections of FSH has the same effects with twice daily FSH treatments (1,21,35,43). In the present study, the proportion of transferable embryo yield also showed no significant difference among treatment groups.…”

“…The changes in ovarian response have been found to be related with differences in superstimulatory treatments such as total dose, duration and timing of treatment, and the use of additional hormones in the treatment protocol (38,39). Additional factors for the differences in ovarian response might be the genetic of the animal and its environment (3), dietary intake (46), breed (1,9,42), season (33), age (27,29), ovarian status at the time of the treatment (5, 18) and the effects of repeated superstimulations (30). It has been reported that application of FSH in various forms and ways other than im injection can induce superovulatory response and subcunaneous fat amount is considered to be a determinant factor in cattle (10,25).…”

“…Furthermore excessive handling associated with frequent treatments might be stressful for animals and may result in reduced superovulatory response (15). On the other hand, the development of practical approaches to achieve enhanced responses to superovulation protocols still require further research (1). Simplified protocols of superstimulation are expected to reduce donor handling, costs and improve response for animals (1,17).…”

“…On the other hand, the development of practical approaches to achieve enhanced responses to superovulation protocols still require further research (1). Simplified protocols of superstimulation are expected to reduce donor handling, costs and improve response for animals (1,17). Although there are many reports on the efficiency of FSH treatment for ovarian superstimulatory response in the cow, there is no information about on epidural injection of FSH for superstimulatory response.…”