STEROID-HORMONE PROFILE AND SUPEROVULATORY RESPONSE FOLLOWING PRIMINGAND GNRH TREATMENT IN BUFFALOS

The superovulatory response in buffaloes was studied when either early cycle priming with gonadotropins or GnRH was used in a superovulatory regimen with Folltropin. Twenty-four buffaloes were randomized into t hree groups and superovulated with FSH (Folltropin; total dose 25 mg) and Prostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGF), Animals in Group A were primed with two doses of FSH (Folltropin; 2.5 mg each) on Days 3 and 4 of the est rous cycle prior to superovulation; those in Group B were given an inj ection of GnRH 48 h after first injection of (PGF); and those in Group C served as controls, Five or 6 days after estrus the number of corpo ra lutea (CL) and unovulated follicles (>10 mm) were recorded. Daily b lood sampling allowed estradiol and progesterone determination. The ov erall mean (+/- SEM) number of CL palpated on the ovaries of each anim al was 2.69 +/- 0.38 and this did not differ significantly among treat ment groups, Progesterone levels on the day of initial FSH injections and on the day of palpation (per rectum) were positively correlated wi th ovulation rate. It was concluded that priming of donor buffaloes pr ior to superovulation or administration of GnRH on the day of estrus h ad no effect on the onset or duration of estrus, ovulation rate or ste roid profile.