luprostenol and norgestomet

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new superovulation procedure with oFSH after temporary suppression of the endogenous LH surge by norgestomet followed by administration of GnRH, to collect bovine oocytes and embryos at specific developmental stages. Since 1999, our research group applies this superovulation procedure with controlled release of the endogenous LH surge. The objective of this study is to verify if this procedure is reliable for collection of oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development and if it produces a sufficient number of both oocytes and embryos of good quality. This procedure was validated regarding to hormonal characteristics, superovulatory response and both oocyte and embryo yield at different times of in vivo development. The results demonstrate that the procedure used to control the occurrence of the pre-ovulatory LH surge was effective in 92% of the animals (n = 238) and even in 99% of the animals the oocytes and embryos were collected at the intended stage of development. The superovulatory response and both oocyte, embryo yield and quality were similar to the average yield in Europe reported by Association Européenne de transfert embryonnaire (AETE). In conclusion, this superovulation procedure provides a valid tool to collect oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Delayed-Action Preparations; Estradiol; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Oocytes; Pregnenediones; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Sheep; Superovulation

The aim of this study was to induce the formation of a persistent dominant ovarian follicle and to compare the effects of 3 methods of acute administration of P4 on ovarian follicular development and on the timing and synchrony of ovulation. Stage of the estrous cycle was initially synchronized in Bos indicus heifers with a norgestomet implants (3 mg) for 10 d and with an analogue of PGF2 alpha (15 mg) on the first and last day of norgestomet treatment. Eight days after removal of the implants, heifers were randomly assigned to 4 groups. All heifers received a norgestomet implant (Day 0), which was removed 17 d later (Day 17); PGF2 alpha was administered on Days 0 and 4. Heifers in the control group (n = 5) received no other treatment. On Day 10 heifers in Group P4C (n = 5) were treated with a CIDR for 24 h; heifers in Group P4O (n = 5) were administered 100 mg i.m. of P4 in oil, while heifers in Group P4S (n = 5) were administered 100 mg i.m. of P4 in saline/alcohol. Data were analyzed using bootstrap estimates of location (mean) and spread (standard deviation; SD). Compared with the control heifers, day of emergence of the ovulatory follicle was delayed, and age and duration of dominance of the ovulatory follicle were reduced in the P4C and P4O heifers (P < 0.05) but not in the P4S heifers (P > 0.05). In all groups treated with P4 both the mean and variability (SD) in the timing of ovulation did not differ with that of the control group (P > 0.05) but there was less variability in the day of emergence, age, duration of dominance and diameter of the ovulatory follicle than in the control group (P < 0.05). Delayed timing and reduced synchrony (SD) of ovulation and greater age of the ovulatory follicle (P < 0.05) occurred in P4S heifers than in P4C heifers. We conclude that administration of 100 mg of P4 in oil is as effective as treatment with a CIDR for synchronizing emergence and ovulation of a newly recruited dominant follicle. However, reduced synchrony of ovulation, greater age of the ovulatory follicle and delayed timing of ovulation occurred following administration 100 mg of P4 in saline/alcohol compared with the CIDR device.

Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Animals; Cattle; Estradiol; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Injections, Intramuscular; Multivariate Analysis; Ovarian Follicle; Ovary; Pregnenediones; Progesterone; Progesterone Congeners; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Radioimmunoassay; Random Allocation; Regression Analysis; Ultrasonography

One hundred and forty-six Dutch cross Friesian cows were selected from a local slaughterhouse and synchronised with norgestomet. The 134 cows with a normal progesterone pattern after the removal of the norgestomet implant were treated intramuscularly with 3000 iu pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on day 10 followed by 22.5 mg prostaglandin 48 hours later. Blood samples were collected daily and at hourly intervals from 30 to 54 hours after the prostaglandin. The 113 cows with a pre-ovulatory peak of luteinising hormone (LH) were divided into three groups: 37 control cows (group 1) received a placebo six hours after the LH peak; 42 cows (group 2) received anti-PMSG six hours after the LH peak and 34 cows (group 3) received anti-PMSG 18 hours after the LH peak. All the cows were inseminated 10 hours after the LH peak. Six or seven days after insemination the cows were slaughtered and the embryos were evaluated after flushing the ovaries, and the numbers of corpora lutea, cysts and follicles on the donor ovaries were counted. Treatment with anti-PMSG had no significant effect on the numbers of corpora lutea or the numbers of embryos compared with the control group. The mean (+/- sem) numbers of corpora lutea were 14.7 +/- 1.4, 16.3 +/- 1.4 and 16.6 +/- 1.4 for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The numbers of transferable embryos were 3.5 +/- 0.6, 4.1 +/- 0.7 and 5.0 +/- 0.7 for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cattle; Embryo Transfer; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Gonadotropins, Equine; Insemination, Artificial; Luteinizing Hormone; Pregnancy; Pregnenediones; Progesterone; Progesterone Congeners; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Random Allocation; Superovulation

The influence of luteolysis on myometrial activity in late pregnant cows was studied by measuring electromyographic (EMG) activity and concentrations of progesterone and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) in maternal arterial plasma of five cows. Application of two ear implants containing progestagen at day 261 of gestation was followed by an injection of a luteolytic dose of a prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) analogue (PG) on day 264. Calving was initiated by removal of the implants and a single injection of 5 mg flumethasone on day 270. All calves were born alive at a mean interval of 36 h. After 4 h of hyperactivity immediately following the injection of PG, myometrial activity was almost completely absent for 20 h; before luteolysis the total duration of EMG activity was 7.21 +/- 0.31 min h-1 (mean +/- SEM), during the 4 h after PG 23.61 +/- 3.40 min h-1, and during inhibition 2.70 +/- 0.87 min h-1. After the last period, EMG activity recurred and reached values of 14.52 +/- 3.07 and 11.17 +/- 2.87 min h-1, on days 265 and 269, respectively. Concentrations of progesterone in maternal plasma decreased from 4.17 to 1.14 ng ml-1 within 12 h after PG, whereas concentrations of PGFM in plasma remained low, varying from 15 to 30 pg ml-1. After removal of the implants and injection of flumethasone on day 270, EMG activity increased without an inhibitory phase and reached maximum values around the time of expulsion of the calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Drug Implants; Electromyography; Female; Luteolysis; Myometrium; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Pregnenediones; Progesterone; Progesterone Congeners; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Uterine Contraction

Seventy-four heifers in four separate breeding groups were allocated into two treatment groups for oestrus synchronisation. Group 1 was given a combination of an initial injection of norgestomet and oestradiol valerate together with a norgestomet ear implant left in place for nine days. Group 2 was given two injections of the synthetic prostaglandin luprostiol 10 days apart. The animals in group 1 were artificially inseminated once 48 hours after the removal of the implant and those in group 2 were inseminated once 72 hours after the second injection of luprostiol. Subsequently any returns were rebred by either AI or natural service. There was no significant difference between the numbers of animals in the two treatment groups which were diagnosed pregnant 33 to 35 days after insemination, although the implant treatment gave a higher overall proportion of pregnancies (70 per cent, 51 per cent). It also gave significantly smaller numbers of 'open' days over the whole of the breeding period. A study of individual animals by progesterone assay and investigation of ovarian structures by real-time ultrasound showed that some of them had unusual progesterone profiles but nevertheless became pregnant. It would appear that a corpus luteum may be responsive to prostaglandins even though it is secreting only a low level of progesterone.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Drug Implants; Estradiol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrus Synchronization; Female; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial; Ovary; Pregnancy; Pregnenediones; Progesterone; Progesterone Congeners; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Time Factors; Ultrasonography

Threefold thorough gynecological investigations were carried out with a total of 108 heifers with normal cycle, which remained uninseminated--in their choice, treatment with hormonal preparations, and transplantation of embryos, reducing their number up to 76. With the first test group of 35 heifers estrus was synchronized with implants, containing 3 mg norgestomet each. On the 9th day these were removed, and the heifers were injected with 500 IU PMSG (Intervet) each. The animals of the second test group (73 in number) were injected with 7.5 mg prostaglandin F2-alfa at 11-day intervals. The conception rate was 31 per cent higher with heifer-recipients treated with norgestomet implants and serum gonadotropins. Death was established with 47 transplanted embryos (61.8 per cent). With 19 embryos (25 per cent) death set in on the 21st day, and with 28 ones (26.8 per cent)--within the period of the 60th days of pregnancy up to calving. In 17.10 per cent of the transplanted embryos migration was seen toward the opposite horn, on the side of which the ovary contained no yellow body.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Drug Evaluation; Embryo Transfer; Estradiol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrus Synchronization; Female; Fetal Death; Gonadotropins, Equine; Pregnancy; Pregnenediones; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Time Factors