Ovarian Stimulation through FSH Improves Follicular
Harvesting and Blastocyst Yield in
Bos Indicus Cattle
Mudussar Nawaz1, Muhammad Saleem1,
Muhammad Yaseen1, Masroor Sagheer1, Imran
Zahoor2, Nasim Ahmad1 and Amjad Riaz1*
1Department
of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; 2Department
of Livestock Production, Faculty of Animal Production and
Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
54000, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
dramjadriaz@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
The present study was designed to transform
small-sized follicles into medium sized follicles to enhance their developmental
competence under the effect of FSH. Thirty Sahiwal cows were randomly assigned
to three groups (n=10 each); A) FSH-00mg (control), B) FSH-100mg (F100), and C)
FSH-200mg (F200). On a random day of the estrus cycle (-48h), each cow underwent
follicular ablation and received an intra-vaginal CIDR device. After 48h (0
hour), each cow received 150µg of D-cloprostenol; while four equivalent doses of
FSH (25 mg in F100 group and 50 mg in F200 group) were administered at 12h
intervals (0, 12, 24 and 36 hr). Ovarian ultrasonography was performed on daily
basis and Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) was conducted after 40h of last FSH treatment in
groups B and C, while 76 hrs after D-cloprostenol injection in control group A.
The results revealed that the
number of medium sized (6≥10 mm) follicles were significantly (P<0.05)
increased in FSH treated (F100 & F200) groups than control, while there was
non-significant difference between F100 and F200 groups.
During IVEP, the blastocysts yield per OPU session was almost
double in F100 (2.00±0.69) and F200 (1.80±0.59) groups than the control
(0.90±0.37) group. The in-vitro
cultured blastocysts were transferred to four synchronized heifers; three
heifers were pregnant and gave birth to four healthy calves, including one twin
birth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the birth of
genetically tested Sahiwal calves through OPU-IVEP technique in Pakistan,
following fertilization of oocytes retrieved from Sahiwal cows with semen from a
Sahiwal bull. In conclusion, ovarian stimulation with FSH hormone improves the
proportionality of medium-sized follicles during OPU with better oocyte
competence in Sahiwal cattle.
To Cite This Article:
Nawaz M, Saleem M, Yaseen M, Sagheer M, Zahoor I,
Ahmad Nand Riaz A, 2022.
Ovarian stimulation through FSH improves follicular harvesting and blastocyst
yield in bos indicus cattle.
Pak Vet J, 42(1): 17-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2021.081