Endocrine Abstracts

Efficiency of superovulatory protocols in ruminants is affected by occurrence of several reproductive abnormalities, such as anovulatory follicles (Kafi and McGowan 1997, Animal Reproduction Science, 48:137-157). The aims of current study were to characterize, in sheep, the incidence and possible causes of anovulatory follicles, their endocrine functionality in terms of oestradiol production and possible effects on viability of embryos from other follicles. The number and size...

Nowadays, though highly improved, the efficiency of human assisted reproduction protocols remains affected by a decrease in embryo yields after IVF. The aim of the current study was to evaluate a possible relationship between poor embryos and the functionality of follicles stimulated to grow with exogenous gonadotrophins, using a monovular species (sheep) as a model. In ewes, follicles can ovulate from ≥6 mm in unstimulated cycles, but from ≥4 mm in FSH treatments....