Effect of the luteinizing hormone on embryo production in superovulated rabbit does.

For most domestic animals, the responses to superovulation treatments are not controlled as a consequence of the lack of knowledge on exogenous gonadotrophins effects on the ovarian function. The role of luteinizing hormone (LH) on the number and quality of embryos produced was evaluated on rabbit does superovulated with porcine FSH (pFSH). Parameters of embryos recovery, in vitro and in vivo embryo development rates after freezing/thawing were compared. We used three experimental groups: (1) control group without superovulation treatment, (2) "pFSH+pLH" and (3) "pFSH" groups where females were treated with pFSH, respectively, with (20%) or without (0%) porcine LH supplementation. The number of corpora lutea and the number of embryos produced were significantly higher (p<0.001) in superovulated does than in control group (27.1, 26.7 versus 11.9 corpora lutea and 20.3, 21.2 versus 9.6 embryos produced for pFSH+pLH, pFSH and control group, respectively). However, both gonadotrophins administrations (groups 2 and 3) led to defaults of ovulation when compared with untreated does. No significant difference was observed between the number and quality of the embryos produced by does treated with pFSH+pLH or with pFSH alone. Moreover, we observed no significant difference between results of in vivo and in vitro viability assays after thawing. We concluded that pFSH alone seems to be sufficient to stimulate the follicles growth and that exogenous pLH administrated has no effect on the quantity and quality of embryos. Further studies are needed to evaluate the hormonal patterns before and after the gonadotrophins injections in the rabbit species.

Semen production in two rabbit lines divergently selected for 63-d body weight.

Thirty-one bucks from two lines divergently selected for 63-d body weight (low, L and high, H) were solicited every week (twice at a 15min interval) during 18 weeks resulting in 482 ejaculates. While differing markedly on adult body weight (L: 4650g versus H: 5925g), both lines had the same testis weight. Libido did not differ between the lines. The proportion of ejaculates suitable for insemination was markedly higher in the L line (66.5% versus 44.2%). Mass motility and the volume of the ejaculates were higher in the L line while the sperm concentration was higher in the H line. Overall, the total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was similar in both lines but the efficient number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, a synthetic criterion taking into account the ability of the ejaculate for insemination was higher in the L line (229 versus 170x10(6)). The L line had higher values of average path velocity, linearity and curvilinear velocity but a lower value of beat cross frequency. In the L line, both ejaculates had the same concentration, while in the H line, the first ejaculate was more concentrated than the second one. Some male reproductive traits are therefore genetically related to body weight.