Superovulation, embryo recovery, and pregnancy rates from seasonally anovulatory donor mares treated with recombinant equine FSH (reFSH)

Abstract

The effectiveness of different treatments with recombinant equine FSH to stimulate follicular growth, multiple ovulations and embryo production in seasonally anovulatory mares was evaluated. During mid-winter season (July–August in Argentina, South America) forty light breed donor mares, presenting follicles <10 mm in diameter and no CL at ultrasound examination (deep-anestrus), were randomly assigned (n = 10/group) to one of the following treatments: Group 1: twice daily intramuscular (IM) injections of 0.65 mg reFSH (AspenBio Pharma, CO), Group 2: once daily IM injection of 1.3 mg reFSH, Group 3: twice daily IM injection of 0.32 mg reFSH, and Group 4: once daily IM injection of saline (control). Treatment was administered until a follicle of 35 mm was observed or for a total period of 10 days. When the largest follicle reached ≥35 mm in diameter, treatment was discontinued and 2500 IU hCG was injected intravenously (IV) 36 h later. Mares receiving hCG were inseminated with fresh semen every 48 h until ovulation(s) were detected or one dose of frozen semen (250 × 106 motile sperm) after the first ovulation was detected. Eight days after first ovulation, transcervical embryo recovery was performed. Recovered embryos were non-surgically transferred to anovulatory estrogen/progesterone treated recipients and pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasonography 7, 14 and 21 days later. All mares receiving reFSH, but none receiving saline control, responded to the treatment with follicular growth. On average, 6.5 days of reFSH treatment were required for mares to develop follicles of ovulatory size (>35 mm). Ovulations were detected in 80% of mares in Groups 1 and 2, 50% of mares in Group 3 and in none of Group 4 (Control). Among ovulating mares, no differences in number of ovulations, number of embryos recovered, or pregnancy rates were observed among reFSH treatments. Of treated mares, 6, 7, and 5 produced embryos in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The average embryo recovery rate per ovulated mare was 88%. The average embryo recovery rate per ovulation was 43%. Overall, a 59% pregnancy rate was achieved. These results indicate that treatment with reFSH during deep anestrus results in follicular development, ovulation of fertile oocytes, and production of embryos that established viable pregnancies after transfer. Also, a single daily administration of reFSH was as effective as two daily administrations, which allows for a simplified administration regimen.