Different progestagens sources do not affect the follicular population and the morphological quality of oocytes during ovarian stimulation in Santa Inês ewes.

In attempt to develop a hormonal protocol more suitable to produce good quality oocytes for use in biotechnologies, an earlier study demonstrated that FSH applied in multiple decreasing doses produced better quality oocytes. However, different progestagens implants used during ovarian stimulation have not yet been tested. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different progestagens during ovarian stimulation on follicular population and oocyte morphological quality in Santa Inês ewes. In conclusion, the source of progestagens used during the ovarian stimulation protocol does not affect the follicular population, nor the oocyte quality. Exogenous progestagens may not be necessary when postsynchronization ovulation is confirmed by ultrasonography

Vaginal cytology as a tool to predict the time of ovulation in goats and sheep.

The detection of ovulation is of great importance for the use of reproductive biotechnologies in small ruminants. The ovulation is efficiently determined by ultrasound (US), equipment that is not always available and of relatively high cost. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the efficacy of vaginal cytology as a tool to determine the ovulation time in these species. The study was carried out during the non-breeding season, in Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais (21°35'S and 43°15'W). In sheep, the standard chosen was anucleated, but it had a high CV (23.7%), which led to non-high accuracy (66.7%). Therefore, PPV and NPV were 26% and 88%, respectively; the specificity was 45% and 64% at 24 h and 12 h before ovulation respectively; and finally, the sensitivity at the moment of ovulation was 55%. It can be concluded that the vaginal cytology may be an efficient tool to determine the moment of ovulation in goats, however it is less accurate in sheep

Superovulation and transcervical embryo recovery in Lacaune ewes raised under tropical conditions.

This study assessed two superovulatory treatments and the feasibility of transcervical embryo recovery in Lacaune ewes. Ewes (n=23) received medroxyprogesterone acetate sponges (60mg, Progespon®, Syntex, (Prolise®, Tecnopec, São Paulo, Brazil) 24 h before sponge removal and were superovulated with 133 mg of porcine FSH i.m. (Folltropin®-V; Bioniche Animal Health, Belleville, Canada) in six decreasing doses (twice daily) at 60 h before sponge removal, under a crossover design. In conclusion, both treatments showed high variability in ovulatory response which might reduce the embryo yield average from donors. The protocol for cervical relaxation allowed the transcervical embryo recovery in high percentage of Lacaune ewes

Use of hCG, eCG or p-FSH on estrus induction of goats and their effects on luteal dynamics and conception rate.

The present study tested the hypothesis that hCG and pFSH stimulate the follicular development and consequently corpora lutea, in a manner equivalent to those induced by eCG in goat. Eighty-five Toggenburg goats, during the seasonal transition period (December, 21ºS), underwent a short-duration estrus induction/synchronization protocol with a sponge impregnated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (60 mg MAP, 6 days). In conclusion, the use of hCG and pFSH in protocol of estrus induction/synchronization in goats induces equivalent luteal dynamics and conception rate, being substitutes for eCG

Comparison of stress and animal welfare caused by the procedures of embryo collection by either surgical or non-surgical via in sheep.

In ovine species, embryo collection is commonly done by laparotomy (LP). However, this technique promotes adhesions in the reproductive organs leading to fertility impairment and affecting animal welfare. The non-surgical method, done by transcervical route (TC), although less invasive and expensive, can also affect animal welfare due to the cervix mechanical manipulation. In this perspective, biochemical markers of inflammation, as acute phase proteins, are considered reliable parameters of the systemic response to inflammatory processes

Repetibilidade de resposta para produção in vivo de embriões em ovelhas Santa Inês.

Resumo: Tem sido observado em caprinos e bovinos que animais com desempenho satisfatório em programas de superovulação tendem a manter esta boa resposta em protocolos consecutivos. Esta característica tem uma grande aplicabilidade, uma vez que um primeiro programa para produção de embriões poderia servir para triar animais com maior potencial de resposta. Assim, apenas as doadoras com histórico de alto potencial de resposta seriam incluídas em futuras superovulações, o que poderia aumentar a eficiência da MOTE. Levando em conta estes conceitos, objetivou-se verificar se borregas da raça Santa Inês mantém um padrão de resposta quando submetidas a três superovulações consecutivas para a produção in vivo de embriões. [Repeatability of response for embryo in vivo production in Santa Inês sheep].Resumo apresentado nos anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal, Santos, SP, 2017

Gonadotrofinas alternativas para indução do estro sincronizado em cabras: resultados preliminares.

A busca de diferentes gonadotrofinas para a indução do estro em cabras têm sido vista como alternativa para substituição do eCG, gonadotrofina atualmente consolida na espécie, mas que oferece algumas desvantagens quando administrada repetidamente. A mais marcante, é o desenvolvimento de anticorpos anti-eCG, que leva ao atraso do estro e da ovulação. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de diferentes gonadotrofinas para indução do estro em cabras da raça Toggenburg. Em conclusão, o FSH e a hCG podem ser utilizadas como gonadotrofinas alternativas para indução de estro sincronizado em cabras Toggenburg, em substituição ao tradicional uso da eCG. [Alternative gonadotrophins for oestrus induction in goats: preliminar results].Edição dos anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal (CBRA), Santos, SP, Brasil, maio 2017

Indução de estro sincronizado com diferentes dispositivos vaginais em cabras da raça Saanen durante a estação de anestro.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência de diferentes dispositivos vaginais e de doses de progesterona/progestágeno para a indução de estro em cabras da raça Saanen durante a estação de anestro. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que o uso de ambos os dispositivos com suas respectivas doses de progestágeno/progesterona induzem eficientemente o estro sincronizado em cabras. Todavia, a dose de 200 mg de progesterona, mesmo provendo uma resposta ao estro semelhante aos demais grupos, esteve relacionada a uma taxa de concepção que deve ser considerada com cautela. [Induction of synchronous estrus with different intravaginal devices in Saanen does during the non-breeding season].Edição dos anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal (CBRA), Santos, SP, Brasil, maio 2017

Influence of anatomy of cervical ostium on the efficiency of cervical traversing after relaxation protocol in Santa Ines ewes.

Abstract: Ewes have certain particularities in the cervical anatomy leading to the commercial use of surgical methods for collecting embryos in this species. However, the literature shows that Non-Surgical Embryo Recovery (NSER) is possible through specific protocols for cervical relaxation (Fonseca et al., 2019. Reprod Fertil Devel, 31:17-26). The cervical ostium may have several classifications: flap, duckbill, rosette, rose, spiral or papilla. This study aimed to assess the influence of cervical ostium anatomy on the difficulty of traversing cervical rings. In conclusion, the current data suggest that the morphology of cervical ostium may have influence on the success of embryo collection by Non-Surgical Embryo Recovery (NSER) technique. [Influência da anatomia do óstio cervical na eficiência da transposição cervical após protocolo de relaxamento em ovelhas Santa Inês].Edição dos resumos do XXIII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal, Gramado, RS, Brasil, 15 a 17 de maio 2019

Cervical mucus is not efficient to predict the ovulation time in of Santa Ines ewes synchronized to estrus.

Abstract: In goats, it has been demonstrated that cervical mucus evaluation is able to predict the time of ovulation after estrous hormonal synchronization, which is efficient in determining the ideal time of Artificial Insemination (Fonseca et al., 2017. Reprod Biol; 17:363-369). However, in sheep, this parameter is not established in the literature. The study was conducted in Coronel Pacheco (latitude 21?33 'S and longitude 43?16' W), MG, Brazil. These data are different from that reported in goats, i.e., the standardization of mucus score 3 or 4 at the time of ovulation. It may be concluded that the use of cervical mucus is alone not an efficient parameter to detect the time of ovulation in sheep. [O muco cervical não é eficiente em predizer o momento da ovulação em ovelhas Santa Inês sincronizadas ao estro].Edição dos resumos do XXIII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal, Gramado, RS, Brasil, 15 a 17 de maio 2019