Influence of hormonal and nonhormonal estrus synchronization methods on follicular and oocyte quality in primiparous lactating does at early postpartum period

Arias-Álvarez, M.; García-García, R.M.; Torres-Rovira, L.; González-Bulnes, A.; Rebollar, P.G.; Lorenzo, P.L.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.017

« Previous Next »Theriogenology
Volume 73, Issue 1 , Pages 26-35, 1 January 2010

Influence of hormonal and nonhormonal estrus synchronization methods on follicular and oocyte quality in primiparous lactating does at early postpartum period

M. Arias-Álvarez
- Departamento Fisiología (Fisiología Animal), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
R.M. García-García
- Departamento Fisiología (Fisiología Animal), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
L. Torres-Rovira
- Departamento Reproducción Animal y Conservación de Recursos Zoogenéticos, INIA, Madrid, Spain
A. González-Bulnes
- Departamento Reproducción Animal y Conservación de Recursos Zoogenéticos, INIA, Madrid, Spain
P.G. Rebollar
- Departamento Producción Animal, ETSI Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
P.L. Lorenzo
- Departamento Fisiología (Fisiología Animal), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 913943842; fax: +34 913943835.

Received 11 May 2009; received in revised form 10 July 2009; accepted 12 July 2009. published online 28 October 2009.

Abstract

High-yield lactating does need effective estrus synchronization methods to improve their reproductive outcome by enhancing ovarian function. The aim of the current work was to analyze ovarian follicular and oocyte characteristics of hormonal and nonhormonal estrus synchronization regimes in primiparous lactating rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the early postpartum period (Day 11). Females were randomly treated with either (1) a hormonal standard treatment with 25 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) 48h before artificial insemination (eCG group) or (2) an alternative nonhormonal treatment consisting of doe-litter separation 24h before artificial insemination (Bio group). No significant differences were found in serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations between experimental groups. During the histologic study, the Bio group presented a higher number of primordial (P<0.05) and primary follicles (P=0.07) compared with that of the eCG group, whereas secondary and antral follicular populations were similar. Rates of late atretic follicles assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique were not different between treatments, but the eCG group showed a significantly higher number of mid-atretic follicles compared with that of the Bio group. Nuclear in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), measured as metaphase II rate, and in vitro steroidogenic response of cumulus-oocyte complexes, measured by ELISA, did not show significant differences between treatments. However, confocal study showed that cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes, in terms of cortical granule migration rate, was significantly higher in the Bio group compared with that after the eCG treatment. In conclusion, transient doe-litter separation seems to improve ovarian response in terms of follicular health and oocyte competence compared with that after the eCG treatment. Therefore, a 24-h-long transient weaning could be an alternative nonhormonal method for synchronizing estrus in primiparous lactating rabbit does inseminated in the early postpartum period.