Superovulatory Response following transvaginal follicle ablation on Murrah Buffalo: Effect of FSH or FSH+PMSG

Research Abstract

The current experiment was conducted to reduce the cost of superovulation by reducing the dose of FSH by partial replacement with PMSG. Five elite, multiparous, Murrah buffaloes, 80 to 120 days postpartum, were included in multiple-ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) schedule. The estrus was synchronized with one injection of prostaglandin. Superovulatory treatment was started from day 10 of induced estrus after ablation of dominant follicle of over 10 mm diameter, using 5.0 MHz convex-array intravaginal transducer using a B-mode scanner with aspiration assembly. Study was undertaken in two groups. For FSH treated group, Folltropin was administered in a twice daily descending dose schedule (0–5, 5–4, 4–3, 3–2, 2–2 ml; 20 mg/ml, total dose 600 mg of FSH. For PMSG+FSH treated group, an injection of PMSG (1000 IU) was given in the evening of day 10 followed by dose 400 mg FSH and schedule as of FSH treated group from the evening of day 11. All donors received prostaglandin injection on day 13 in morning and evening. Donors were inseminated with frozen thawed semen of proven bull on Day 15 a.m. and p.m. and Day 16 a.m. Nonsurgical embryo collection was carried out on Day 5 post-insemination. There were no differences between the mean numbers of follicles in buffaloes treated with FSH or PMSG+FSH at any time throughout the experimental period. At AI, similar numbers of corpora lutea were observed for PMSG and FSH, respectively. On the day of embryo recovery, almost similar mean numbers of corpora lutea counted in FSH and PMSG+FSH treated buffaloes were 5.5+2.5 and 2.6+0.33, respectively. A significant increase in number of anovulatory follicles in FSH and PMSG+FSH (10+0.0; 9.3+0.3, respectively) was observed, which may be the reason for lower total embryo recovery and viable embryo recovery. In conclusion, superovulatory response of PMSG+FSH was similar to FSH treated group and can be used to reduce the cost of superovulation in MOET program.

Research Keywords

Superovulation, Buffaloes, FSH, PMSG