The effect of increased dietary intake on superovulatory response to FSH in heifers

doi:10.1016/S0093-691X(02)00668-4

Theriogenology

Volume 57, Issue 6, 1 April 2002, Pages 1591-1602

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(02)00668-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

We have previously shown that the number of ovarian follicles <4 mm in diameter can be increased by enhanced dietary intake in heifers. This study investigated the effect of the same dietary treatment on superovulatory response. The estrous cycles of 24 mature Hereford×Friesian heifers were synchronized by a standard progesterone plus prostaglandin protocol. The animals were fed with either 100% (group M, n=12) or 200% (group 2M, n=12) maintenance requirements for a 3-week period. Starting from day 4 of the synchronized estrous cycle, all the animals were superovulated using a standard 4-day FSH regime followed by an injection of GnRH analogue (GnRHa) to induce ovulation. Rectal ultrasound scanning was carried out to assess ovarian follicular populations at the start of FSH treatment and on the day of GnRHa injection, and to determine the number of corpora lutea 5 days after GnRHa injection. The body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded weekly and plasma samples were collected throughout the experimental period.

There were no differences in either BW or BCS between two groups at the start of the experiment. The BW and BCS were maintained during the experiment in the group M, whilst animals in the group 2M showed a non-significant (P>0.05) increase in BW and BCS. Circulating concentrations of insulin were significantly (P<0.01) higher in heifers from the group 2M throughout the controlled feeding period. The group 2M had significantly (P<0.05) more follicles 2–4 mm in diameter at the start of FSH treatment and more (P<0.01) follicles >9 mm in diameter on the day of GnRHa injection, when compared with the group M. Similarly, 5 days after GnRHa injection there were significantly (P<0.01) more corpora lutea in the group 2M (18.1±2.2) than in the group M (10.6±3.0). In addition, plasma progesterone concentrations following GnRHa injection were significantly (P<0.01) higher in heifers from the group 2M. In conclusion, these results confirm that increased dietary intake can enhance the recruitment of ovarian follicles in heifers. This treatment may provide a valuable approach to improving superovulatory response in cattle.

Introduction

The multiple ovulation and embryo transfer technique has played an important part in the genetic improvement of cattle and the production of viable embryos for various applications in biotechnology. However, the efficiency and wider use of this technique are severely limited by large variability in the response observed both between and within individual animals [1], [2]. Several factors, including purity of gonadotropin preparations, treatment regimens and ovarian status, have been proposed to be responsible for this problem [3], [4], [5]. Numerous efforts have therefore been made to overcome the problem by manipulation of these factors.

Attempts to improve the response, by optimizing the purity of gonadotropin (including use of recombinant preparation) and treatment schedules, have achieved some success in increasing overall response but have very limited effect on reducing variability in the response [2], [6], [7]. This suggests that the major factor controlling variability in superovulatory response in cattle is the population of gonadotropin-responsive follicles in ovaries at the start of stimulation (ovarian status). Therefore, any approaches that can increase ovarian follicular populations are likely to have a positive implication for improvement in the response. Indeed, previous studies have shown that an increase in the number of antral follicles through manipulation of the dominant follicle [8], [9], [10] or priming with gonadotropins [10], [11] can significantly enhance the superovulatory response. In particular, treatment with recombinant bovine GH (bGH) in cattle has been demonstrated to induce an increase in the population of small ovarian follicles [12], [13], [14], which can subsequently improve the response to standard superovulatory protocols [13], [15], [16], [17].

Nutrition has long been known to have a profound influence on reproductive function of domestic ruminants. We have recently shown that feeding heifers with 200% maintenance requirements for a short period can acutely enhance the recruitment of small ovarian follicles [18]. This effect is similar to that observed in heifers treated with bGH, although whether this dietary induced increase in small follicle populations can also affect superovulatory response remains to be determined. As dietary manipulation will provide a more acceptable alternative to bGH treatment in terms of both animal welfare consideration and public perception, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of increased dietary intake on superovulatory response to FSH in cattle.

Section snippets

Animals

Twenty-four Hereford×Friesian heifers, approximately 2.5 years of age, with an average body weight (BW) of 417±5.7 kg and body condition score (BCS, on a scale from 1 to 5) of 2.1±0.1, were used for the study. Before the start of experiment, heifers were kept together indoors under natural photoperiod and fed a maintenance ration consisted of hay and a commercial concentrate, with ad libitum access to water as in normal farm practice. The heifers were also given halter training and confirmed to

Body weight and body condition score

The weekly BW changes in the two groups of heifers throughout the controlled feeding period are shown in Fig. 2. Body weight was not different between two groups at the start of experiment, and remained constant during the experiment in the group M. BW increased over the experimental period in animals in the group 2M, but the increase was not statistically significant (effect of group; effect of time: P>0.10).

As shown in Fig. 3, the changes in BCS for the two groups throughout the controlled

Discussion

This study has demonstrated that feeding heifers with 200% maintenance requirements for a short period significantly increases the number of small follicles, confirming that increased dietary intake can enhance the recruitment of ovarian follicles in cattle [18]. In addition, the current study has extended our previous findings to show that increased dietary intake can also significantly enhance the response to a standard superovulatory protocol with FSH.

The enhanced superovulatory response

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK. We thank Hoechst UK for the gift of GnRHa, Diagnostics Scotland for the antibodies for RIAs and the staff at Roslin Institute’s Dryden and Blythbank Farms for the care and management of experimental animals.

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The effect of increased dietary intake on superovulatory response to FSH in heifers

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Animals

Body weight and body condition score

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

J. Dairy Sci.

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Theriogenology

Domestic Anim. Endocr.

Anim. Reprod. Sci.

Use of bovine FSH for superovulation and embryo production in beef heifers

Theriogenology

Induction of multiple ovulation in farm species: successes and heroic failures

AgBiotech News Information

Decreased superovulatory responses in heifers superovulated in the presence of a dominant follicle

J. Reprod. Fertil.