Dr. Bergfelt et al., COUNTERACTION OF THE FOLLICULAR INHIBITORY EFFECT OF FOLLICULAR-FLUIDBY ADMINISTRATION OF FSH IN HEIFERS, Canadian journal of animal science, 74(4), 1994, pp. 633-639
The hypothesis that a factor in follicular fluid suppresses follicular
growth independently of reduced systematic FSH concentrations in catt
le was tested in a 2 x 2 factorial designed experiment (n = 5 heifers
group(-1)). Treatment, at 12-h intervals, began on day 0 (ovulation) a
nd ended on day 1. Mean (+/- SEM) diameter of the largest follicle, av
eraged over all days, and maximum diameter attained on days 0-9 was sm
aller (P < 0.05) in heifers given follicular fluid (8.4 +/- 0.4 and 12
.4 +/- 1.0 mm, respectively) than in heifers given either saline (10.3
+/- 0.6 and 14.8 +/- 0.6 mm) or follicular fluid plus FSH (10.7 +/- 0
.6 and 16.8 +/- 0.4 mm). The day-to-day mean diameter profiles of both
the largest and second-largest follicles for days 0-9 were similar am
ong heifers given saline, follicular fluid plus FSH, and FSH alone, wh
ereas the follicle profile was reduced in heifers given follicular flu
id alone. Mean follicle diameters were smaller (P < 0.05) on days 4-9
and days 2 and 5 in heifers given follicular fluid than in heifers giv
en either saline or follicular fluid plus FSH. The results did not sup
port the hypothesis, since exogenous FSH overrode follicular inhibitio
n induced by follicular-fluid treatment.