@article {88196,
	title = {Comparison of the effects of eFSH and deslorelin treatment regimes on ovarian stimulation and embryo production of donor mares in early vernal transition},
	journal = {Theriogenology},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Jun},
	pages = {1358-66},
	abstract = {The objective was to compare the effects of eFSH and deslorelin treatment regimes on ovarian stimulation and embryo production of donor mares in early spring transition. Starting January 30th, mares kept under ambient light were examined by transrectal ultrasonography. When a follicle > or =25 mm was detected, mares were assigned to one of two treatment groups, using a sequential alternating treatment design. In the eFSH group, mares (n=18) were treated twice daily with eFSH (12.5mg im) until they achieved a follicle > or =35 mm; hCG was given 36 h later. In the deslorelin group, mares (n=18) were treated twice daily with deslorelin (63 microg im) until a follicle > or =35 mm was detected, and then they were given hCG. Estrous mares were inseminated with fresh semen. Eight days after ovulation, embryo recovery attempts were performed. In each group, 14/18 (78\%) mares ovulated following the eFSH or deslorelin treatment regimes. The mean (95\% CI) interval from treatment initiation to ovulation was 8.2d (7.3, 8.9) and 7.2d (6.2, 8.1) in the eFSH and deslorelin groups, respectively. In the eFSH group, the number of ovulations was significantly higher (mean+/-S.E.M.; 3.4+/-0.4 vs. 1.1+/-0.1 ovulations), and more embryos were recovered (2.6+/-0.5 vs. 0.4+/-0.2 embryos/recovery attempt). We concluded that eFSH and deslorelin treatment regimes were equally effective in inducing ovulation in early transitional mares, within a predictable time of treatment; however, the eFSH regime increased the number of ovulations and embryos recovered per mare.},
	keywords = {Animals, Estradiol, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Horses, Insemination, Artificial, Ovarian Follicle, Ovulation Induction, Pregnancy, Progesterone, Tissue and Organ Harvesting, Triptorelin Pamoate},
	issn = {0093-691X},
	doi = {10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.09.048},
	author = {Raz, T and Carley, S and Card, C}
}
@article {88194,
	title = {Early effects of equine FSH (eFSH) treatment on hormonal and reproductive parameters in mares intended to carry their own pregnancy},
	journal = {Anim Reprod Sci},
	volume = {115},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Oct},
	pages = {76-87},
	abstract = {Superovulatory treatment may potentially increase the embryo recovery rate and the per-cycle pregnancy rate in normal or subfertile mares that are managed properly. However, some studies suggest a possible negative effect of superovulatory treatment on ovarian follicular maturation and embryo viability. Objectives of the present study were to investigate the early effects of eFSH treatment in reproductively normal mares in terms of: folliculogenesis, pregnancy rate, early embryonic development, reproductive tract parameters (tone and edema), and serum estradiol-17beta and progesterone concentrations. Reproductively sound mares (n=26) were evaluated daily by transrectal palpation and ultrasonography. Five days after spontaneous ovulation, mares were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. In the eFSH group, mares (n=16 estrous cycles) were administered eFSH twice daily; beginning when a follicle > or =20mm was detected, and continuing until at least one follicle reached a diameter of > or =35 mm. PGF2alpha was administered 2 days following initiation of eFSH therapy, and hCG was administered approximately 36h after cessation of eFSH therapy. In the control group, mares (n=26 estrous cycles) were administered PGF2alpha 7 days after spontaneous ovulation, and hCG when a follicle > or =35 mm was detected. All mares were bred with fresh semen, monitored for ovulation (Day 0), and evaluated for pregnancy on Days 11-16. Serum estradiol-17beta and progesterone concentrations were analyzed using radioimmunoassay on the Day of hCG administration, and Days 8, 11 and 16. Mares treated with eFSH had more follicles > or =30 mm at the time of hCG administration (2.6+/-0.4 compared with 1.1+/-0.1; P<0.01), and more ovulations (2.3+/-0.5 compared with 1.1+/-0.3; P<0.01). However, pregnancy rates were not significantly different between groups (50\%; 8/16 compared with 62\%; 16/26). Mean overall daily growth rate of embryonic vesicles from Day 11 to 16 was not statistically different between the two groups (3.3+/-0.3 compared with 3.7+/-0.1 mm/day) (P=0.2); however, was more variable (P<0.01) in the eFSH group (95\%CI: 2.6-3.8mm/day) than in the control group (95\%CI: 3.5-3.9 mm/day). Administration of eFSH modified the reproductive tract variables and serum concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17beta on the days that oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development are expected to occur. These alterations may be related to the greater incidence of non-ovulatory follicles (25\% compared with 0\%), fewer embryos per ovulation rate (0.3+/-0.1 compared with 0.6+/-0.1), and the lesser than expected pregnancy rates in the eFSH-treated mares.},
	keywords = {Animals, Anovulation, Drug Administration Schedule, Estradiol, Estrus, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Horses, Infertility, Female, Insemination, Artificial, Ovulation, Palpation, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Animal, Progesterone},
	issn = {1873-2232},
	doi = {10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.11.001},
	author = {Raz, Tal and Gray, Allister and Hunter, Barbara and Card, Claire}
}
@article {88195,
	title = {Efficiency of superovulation and in vivo embryo production in eFSH-treated donor mares after estrus synchronization with progesterone and estradiol-17beta},
	journal = {Theriogenology},
	volume = {72},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Jul 15},
	pages = {169-78},
	abstract = {Reliable methods of regulating estrus and stimulating superovulations in equine embryo transfer programs are desirable. Our objectives were to investigate the efficacy of a progesterone and estradiol-17beta (P\&E) estrus synchronization regimen in mares with and without subsequent equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment and to examine the effects of eFSH on folliculogenesis and embryo production. Cycling mares were treated with P\&E daily for 10 d. On the final P\&E treatment day, prostaglandin F(2alpha) was administered, and mares were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n=20 mares/group). In both groups, mares were examined daily by transrectal ultrasonography. In the eFSH group, twice-daily eFSH treatments were initiated at follicle diameter 20 to 25 mm and ceased at follicle > or =35 mm; human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was administered after 36 h. In the control group, eFSH treatments were not given, but hCG was administered at follicle > or =35 mm. Mares were inseminated with fresh semen, and embryo recovery attempts were performed 8 d postovulation. Synchrony of ovulations within each group appeared to be similar. Six mares in the eFSH group failed to ovulate. The eFSH treatment resulted in higher (P<0.05) numbers of preovulatory follicles and ovulations; however, embryo recovery rate did not increase (eFSH 1.0+/-0.4 vs. control 0.95+/-0.1 embryos/recovery attempt), and embryo per ovulation rate was significantly lower (36\% vs. 73\%). The eFSH-treated mares had significantly higher frequency of nonovulatory follicles (28\% vs. 0) and higher periovulatory serum concentrations of estradiol-17beta. Based on our findings, combined P\&E and eFSH regimens cannot be recommended for cycling donor mares.},
	keywords = {Animals, Chorionic Gonadotropin, Embryo Transfer, Estradiol, Estrus Synchronization, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Horses, Insemination, Artificial, Ovarian Follicle, Ovulation, Progesterone, Superovulation, Tissue and Organ Harvesting, Ultrasonography},
	issn = {1879-3231},
	doi = {10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.02.011},
	author = {Raz, T and Card, C}
}
@article {88193,
	title = {Reproductive performance of donor mares subsequent to eFSH treatment in early vernal transition: Comparison between the first, second, and mid-season estrous cycles of the breeding season},
	journal = {Anim Reprod Sci},
	volume = {116},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Nov},
	pages = {107-18},
	abstract = {The objective was to compare the reproductive performances associated with the first (Cycle-1), second (Cycle-2), and mid-season (MS-Cycle) ovulations of the breeding season in donor mares that were treated with equine-FSH (eFSH) in the early vernal transition. Mares (n=15) kept under ambient light were examined ultrasonographically per-rectum starting January 30. When an ovarian follicle > or =25mm in diameter was detected, twice daily eFSH treatments were initiated. The eFSH treatments ceased when a follicle > or =35mm was detected, and 36h later hCG was administered. Thereafter, mares were artificially inseminated every 48h until ovulation (Day 0). Trans-cervical embryo recovery attempts were performed on Day 8, and subsequently PGF2alpha was administered. Equine FSH was not administered in the subsequent estrous cycles. In Cycle-2 and in the MS-Cycle, hCG was administered when a follicle > or =35mm was detected; breeding, embryo recovery, and PGF2alpha administration, were similar to Cycle-1. Mares had an untreated estrous cycle (no treatment or breeding) between Cycle-2 and the MS-Cycle. All mares developed follicle(s) > or =35mm after 4.9+/-0.6 days of eFSH treatment, and subsequently ovulations occurred; mean (95\% CI) interval from treatment initiation to ovulation was 7.9 (6.5-9.3) days. The number of preovulatory follicles (> or =30mm) at the time of hCG administration (Cycle-1: 2.2+/-0.3 compared with Cycle-2: 1.0+/-0 compared with MS-Cycle: 1.1+/-0.1 follicles), and the number of ovulations (2.5+/-0.4 compared with 1.0+/-0 compared with 1.1+/-0.1 ovulations) were greater (p<0.05) in Cycle-1. Nevertheless, mean embryo numbers did not differ among cycles (0.8+/-0.2 compared with 0.5+/-0.1 compared with 0.5+/-0.1 embryo/mare). On average, embryo morphology grade was less (p<0.05) in Cycle-1 as compared to non-eFSH cycles (combined Cycle-2 and MS-Cycle). This impaired embryo quality could be due to a seasonal effect, or negative effect of the eFSH treatment, which was possibly related to alterations in the hormonal environment (estradiol-17beta and progesterone). A prolonged IOI (>21 days) was recorded in 7 of 15 mares following the Cycle-1 ovulation, but not subsequently. In conclusion, eFSH treatment of vernal transitional donor mares stimulated ovulation within only few days of treatment, and the following embryo recovery rate was at least as good as in the subsequent estrous cycles; however, on average, embryos were morphologically impaired. In subsequent estrous cycles in the breeding season, ovulations, embryo recovery rates, and embryo variables did not appear to be negatively affected; however, the first inter-ovulatory interval of the breeding season was prolonged in approximately half of the mares.},
	keywords = {Animals, Breeding, Chorionic Gonadotropin, Embryonic development, Estradiol, Estrus, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Horses, Ovulation, Ovulation Induction, Pregnancy, Progesterone, Reproduction, Seasons, Superovulation},
	issn = {1873-2232},
	doi = {10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.12.008},
	author = {Raz, Tal and Hunter, Barbara and Carley, Sylvia and Card, Claire}
}
