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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

240 Superovulatory response and embryo production using a bioactive recombinant equine chorionic gonadotrophin in goats

M. Bruno-Galarraga A , J. Fernandez A , L. Cattaneo B , G. Bo C D , A. Gibbons A and M. Cueto A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

B Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina

C Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria, Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina

D Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba, Gral. Paz, Córdoba, Argentina

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 35(2) 249-249 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv35n2Ab240
Published: 5 December 2022

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the IETS

The development of a new recombinant equine chorionic gonadotrophin (rECG) evaluated in superovulation protocols in cows (Villarraza et al. 2021) and sheep (Bruno-Galarraga et al. 2021) has recently been published with promising results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of reCG on the induction of superovulatory response and embryo production in goats. The study was carried out in the Laboratory of Reproduction in Small Ruminants of INTA Bariloche during the breeding season (May, 41° S latitude). Criolla-Neuquina goats (n = 23; 6 years old; bodyweight of 40 ± 2.5 kg and body condition score of 2.5 ± 0.2) were treated with intravaginal sponges (60 mg MAP Progespon®, Syntex) for 17 days. The goats were assigned randomly to two treatments to receive a single dose of 420 IU im (reCG, n = 11) of reCG (FOLIREC®, Zoovet) 48 h before sponge removal, or 116 mg of porcine follicle stimulating hormone im (pFSH n = 11; Folltropin V®, Bioniche). The pFSH was applied every 12 h in six decreasing doses (28, 28, 18, 18, 12, 12 mg), during the last three days of the progestagen treatment (Days 15–17) plus 100 IU eCG im (Novormon®, Syntex) at sponge removal. Oestrus detection was performed every 12 h, from 24 h to 48 h after sponge removal, using an adult teaser buck. 48 hours after sponge removal, laparoscopic intrauterine insemination with frozen-thawed semen (2 × 108 sperm per goat) from a single buck of proven fertility was performed only in goats that showed oestrus. On Days 8 and 9 after sponge removal, the number of corpora lutea (CL) was assessed by laparoscopic observation. Embryo recovery was carried out using the technique described by Fernandez et al. (2022). The collected embryos were morphologically classified based on the guidelines of the IETS. The ovulatory response and embryo production were compared between treatments using ANOVA test. A total of 82.6% of goats were observed in oestrus (19/23) between 24 and 48 h after sponge removal (8 and 11 goats for reCG and FSH, respectively). Both treatments were able to induce superovulation, and no differences were detected in all the end points evaluated (Table 1). In conclusion, the reCG protocol has the potential to induce the superovulatory response and embryo production. Although not significant, fertility would be affected by reCG treatment. Future studies should evaluate the dose of reCG, or its timing of administration, and the timing of FTAI when reCG is applied in MOET protocols.


Table 1. Superovulatory response and embryo yield (mean ± s.e.M) induced with the administration of 420 IU of recombinant eCG (reCG) 48 h before sponge removal or 116 mg multiple dose of porcine FSH in goats
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