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Home / Equine Research Bank / Open Vet J / Effect of breeding season and age on follicular dynamics and...
Open veterinary journal2024; 14(3); 852-865; doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i3.13

Effect of breeding season and age on follicular dynamics and hemodynamics in embryo donor mares subjected to luteolysis after embryo flushing.

Abstract: Mares are the only companion animals simulating women in the large diameter of their follicles. Horses start reproduction at the age of three years, and some of them live for >30 years, so aging influences their reproductive capacity. Mares are sensitive to summer heat stress as they can sweat like humans. Unassigned: The current work aimed to study the effects of age (young versus senile), season (cold versus hot), and the hormonal treatments during embryo collection on the dominant and subordinate follicular dynamics and hemodynamics and circulating ovarian hormones in embryo donor mares ovulated twice spontaneously before inducing ovulation for flushing embryos. Unassigned: Spontaneous oestrous cycles were studied for young mares (20 years; = 5) during months of the cold season (November to April) and hot season (May to August). In young embryo donor mares, oestrous cycles after inducing ovulation and luteolysis were studied using Doppler ultrasound. Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), nitric oxide (NO), total cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in blood serum. Unassigned: A decrease in the dominant follicle antrum diameter ( > 0.05) and LDH ( = 0.016) was observed after inducing luteolysis in young embryo donor mares. Both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and PGF2α treatments increased dominant follicle area ( = 0.0001), antrum area ( = 0.001), perimeter ( = 0.001), granulosa area ( = 0.0001), cholesterol ( = 0.0001), NO ( = 0.0001), and E2 ( = 0.0001). The dominant follicle area, antrum area, perimeter, color area, granulosa area, LDH, cholesterol, NO, and E2 increased ( = 0.0001) during the oestrous cycles of the hot season, but the circulatory % ( = 0.0001) declined. Senile mares had lower dominant follicle area ( = 0.002), antrum area ( = 0.0001), granulosa area ( > 0.05), LDH ( = 0.001), cholesterol ( = 0.0001), NO ( = 0.0001), and E2 ( = 0.0001) but higher circulatory % ( = 0.0001) and color area % ( = 0.023). The dominant follicle possesses the largest diameter, area, perimeter, granulosa area, and color area but the lowest circulatory % during spontaneous oestrous cycles, after inducing ovulation, or luteolysis with significant effects of the day of the spontaneous oestrous cycles on their dynamics and hemodynamics. Unassigned: During hot months, mares treated with hCG ovulated 24 hours later and prostaglandin-induced luteolysis was followed by new ovulation five days later. Follicles ovulated during the hot months were larger than those ovulated during the cold months and both had nearly the same color area %. Senile mares ovulated follicles with a lower area and antrum area but a higher color area %, so senile mares can be used as embryo or oocyte donors during the hot season.
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Publication Date: 2024-03-31 PubMed ID: 38682132PubMed Central: PMC11052616DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i3.13Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article focuses on how age, season, and hormonal treatments affect the dynamics and hemodynamics of follicles and circulating ovarian hormones in horses used for breeding. The researchers found varying responses based on these parameters, which can help optimize breeding practices.

Research Strategy and Methods

  • The study looked into the effects of age, season, and hormonal treatments during embryo collection on various factors in horses. Specifically, it investigated these effects on the dominant and subordinate follicular dynamics and hemodynamics as well as circulating ovarian hormones in female horses.
  • The researchers studied spontaneous oestrus cycles in young mares (less than 10 years) and old mares (more than 20 years) during both cold and hot seasons. Post inducement of ovulation and luteolysis in young horses used for breeding, oestrus cycles were studied using Doppler ultrasound.
  • The team measured levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), nitric oxide (NO), total cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in blood serum.

Key Findings

  • The study observed a decrease in the diameter of the dominant follicle and levels of LDH after inducing luteolysis in young breeding horses.
  • Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and PGF2α treatments resulted in an increase in various parameters of the dominant follicle, including its area, antrum area, perimeter, granulosa area, and levels of cholesterol, NO, and E2.
  • During the hot season, levels of various parameters related to the dominant follicle rose, while the circulatory percentage dropped. In contrary, older horses displayed lower rates of dominant follicle parameters but displayed a higher percentage of circulatory and color area.
  • Following administration of hCG treatment in hot months, ovulation happened 24 hours later and a new ovulation occurred five days following prostaglandin-induced luteolysis.
  • Horses that ovulated during hot months had larger follicles compared to those during cold months.
  • Older horses had a lower follicle area but a higher color area percentage, suggesting that they could be utilized as embryo or oocyte donors during the hot season.

Significance of the Study

  • The results of this research provide valuable guidance for optimizing the use of horses for breeding. The findings on the effects of age, season, and hormonal treatment offer a science-based approach to enhance breeding practices and the reproductive capacity of horses.
  • The different reactions observed between young and old horses open up potential avenues for streamlining breeding practices and getting the most out of the reproductive capacities of each horse, regardless of their age.
  • The insights gained from this study on the responses of horses to various parameters could also be helpful for comparative study with other animals, including humans, thus having potential implications for reproductive medicine in other species.

Cite This Article

APA
Alkhadrawy JMH, Aboelmaaty AM, Abou-Ahmed MM, Ghallab AM. (2024). Effect of breeding season and age on follicular dynamics and hemodynamics in embryo donor mares subjected to luteolysis after embryo flushing. Open Vet J, 14(3), 852-865. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i3.13

Publication

Open veterinary journal
ISSN: 2218-6050
NlmUniqueID: 101653182
Country: Libya
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 3
Pages: 852-865

Researcher Affiliations

Alkhadrawy, Jamal M H
  • Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
  • National Center of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Marine Resources Tripoli, Libya.
Aboelmaaty, Amal M
  • Animal Reproduction and AI Department, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt.
Abou-Ahmed, Mostafa M
  • Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Ghallab, Abdelraouf M
  • Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Female
  • Seasons
  • Luteolysis / physiology
  • Luteolysis / drug effects
  • Ovarian Follicle / physiology
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
  • Aging / physiology
  • Age Factors
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Estradiol / blood

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.

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