RECOMBINANT FSH (rFSH) SUPERSTIMULATION PRIOR TO OVUM PICK-UP IMPROVED THE RATE OF BLASTOCYST PRODUCTION IN ZEBU (BOS INDICUS) CATTLE

Abstract

The present study was aimed to compare the efficacy of two differently sourced Follicle Stimulating Hormone viz., recombinant human FSH (rFSH) and conventional pituitary FSH (pFSH) on output of Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) retrieved through transvaginal ovum pick up followed by blastocyst production in Sahiwal cows. The selected donor cows were administered 10 µg of GnRH at random stage of estrous cycle and divided into two groups (1 and 2). Cows of Group 1 were super-stimulated with rFSH and Group 2 were administered pFSH and subjected to OPU after 24h of last FSH injection. Retrieved COCs were subjected to in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture. The average number of follicles that were aspirated was 22.50± 4.47 in Group 1 and 29.33±5.14 in Group 2 respectively. The average number of COCs recovered along with their recovery rate in Groups 1 and 2 are 16.33±3.16 (72.50%) and 20.66±3.84 (70.45%). The average number of fertilized oocytes with rate of fertilisation was 7.83±1.88 (63.51%) in Group 1 and 10.83±3.28 (62.50%) in Group 2 respectively. The average number of blastocysts produced were 5.16±1.10 and 3.66±1.05 in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The blastocyst conversion rates 31.63% and 17.70%, in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Group 1 stimulated with rFSH had a significantly (p<0.05) higher blastocyst conversion rate compared to Group 2 stimulated with pFSH. Thus, rFSH can be used as a cost-effective alternative to pFSH for super stimulation prior to OPU for blastocyst production in Sahiwal cows.