Superovulation and parthenogenetic activation in rabbits

    WANG Chunª²Yu, LU Jin, WU Hao, WEI Xin, ZHAO Fuª²Tao, JIA Zhanª²Sheng

    1Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710038, China, 2Northwest Sciª²Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry, Xi¬ðan 712100, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To explore optimal superovulating methods and parthenogenetic activation conditions in rabbits. METHODS: Virginal and multiparous rabbits were superovulated by follicleª²stimulating hormone (FSH) at different concentrations. After being obtained, the mature oocytes were activated by electric current with different strength. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the ovulating total numbers between hormone groups and control group (P<0.05) and between the group with FSH 15 U and the other hormone groups [(15.00¡À1.58) vs (31.83¡À3.06), (31.80¡À3.27), P<0.05]. So was the difference between virginal rabbits and the multiparous rabbits. The rates of merogenesis (85.59%) and the rates of development to 4-8 cell stage(21.19%) of rabbit oocytes were the highest in the group with 200 V/mm direct current pulses treatment among the four groups. CONCLUSION: The superovulation efficiency in rabbits with FSH (25 U) or FSH (80 U) + PVP treatment is optimized and the superovulation efficiency is better in multiparous rabbits than that in virginal rabbits. The comparatively suitable oocyte activation condition is that of 200 V/mm, 40 ¦Ìs and 2 times of direct current pulses with a 1 s of interval. ......