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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 18(4)

Effect of exogenous gonadotrophins on ovarian morphology and oocyte maturation in the southern hairy nosed wombat Lasiohinus latifrons during the breeding season

C. H. McDonald A B G , D. A. Taggart A B C , W. G. Breed B , G. V. Druery D , G. A. Shimmin A E , G. R. Finlayson A F and M. C. J. Paris F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

B Department of Anatomical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

D Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld 4700, Australia.

E Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

F Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

G Corresponding author. Email: caroline_macca@hotmail.com

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18(4) 477-484 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD05047
Submitted: 18 April 2005  Accepted: 22 January 2006   Published: 4 April 2006

Abstract

The effect of the exogenous administration of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on ovarian follicular development and oocyte maturation in the southern hairy nosed wombat Lasiorhinus latifrons was investigated. Three experimental groups were administered pFSH at various doses and for different treatment lengths, followed by 25 mg porcine luteinising hormone (pLH) 12 h after the last dose of pFSH. Another group was given PMSG followed 72 h later by 25 mg pLH. Animals were killed 24 h after pLH. The left ovary was fixed for histology and the morphology of the antral follicles was determined, whereas follicular oocytes in the right ovary were aspirated, fixed, stained with 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and viewed for nuclear maturation. There was no significant difference in the mean number of ovarian follicles >1 mm, or in the size class of follicles assessed between control and experimental groups. However, a trend was observed suggesting a possible increase in follicles >3.0 mm in experimental groups compared with control animals. In all females administered exogenous porcine gonadotrophins, but not controls, some of the mural granulosa cells of large tertiary antral follicles had markedly enlarged nuclei (approximately 14 µm in diameter). All oocytes from the control group remained at the germinal vesicle stage, whereas approximately 40% of oocytes retrieved from the pFSH groups and 82.4% retrieved from the PMSG-primed animals had undergone germinal vesicle break down, with a small number reaching meiosis II. The present study shows that exogenous administration of either pFSH or PMSG to hairy nosed wombats can induce follicular growth and oocyte maturation. Such findings could be useful in the development of reproductive technology in this species.


Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the kind financial support by Dr M. Jacobson, which made this project possible, and Vetrepharm (Ontario, Canada) who kindly supplied the hormones.


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