Effects of melatonin treatment on follicular development and oocyte quality in Chios ewes — Short communication

Tsiligianni, Theodora and Valasi, Irene and Cseh, Sándor and Vainas, Emmanuel and Faigl, Vera and Samartzi, Fotini and Papanikolaou, Thomas and Dovolou, Eleni and Amiridis, Georgios (2009) Effects of melatonin treatment on follicular development and oocyte quality in Chios ewes — Short communication. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica, 57 (2). pp. 331-335. ISSN 0236-6290

Text avet.57.2009.2.13.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 June 2029. Download (171kB)

Abstract

Follicular development and oocyte quality were assessed by laparoscopic observation and in vitro fertilisation, respectively, in melatonin-treated (Group M) and control (Group C) anoestrous Chios ewes (n = 10 in each group). Fourteen days after melatonin insertion, all ewes had laparoscopic evaluation of the follicular population followed by oocyte pick-up (OPU); on day 22 intravaginal progestagen sponges were inserted for 14 days. Two days after sponge removal the follicular population was re-evaluated and a second follicular aspiration was performed. Collected oocytes from the second OPU underwent in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture. The number of large follicles was higher in Group M than in the control ewes during the first OPU and tended to be so (P = 0.06) at the second. Morphologically, oocytes collected from controls were of better quality than those from Group M; however, more oocytes collected from melatonintreated animals fertilised and developed in vitro . These results indicate that melatonin is a potent regulator of follicular development and oocyte competence during the anoestrous period of the ewe.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item