Fertilization rates in superovulated and spontaneously ovulating mares.

Embryo recovery per ovulation has been shown to be lower in superovulated mares than in untreated controls. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine whether follicles stimulated with superovulatory treatment ovulate or luteinize without ovulation, 2) determine fertilization rates of oocytes in oviducts of superovulated and control mares, and 3) evaluate viability of early stage embryos from superovulated and control mares when cultured in equine oviductal cell-conditioned medium. Cyclic mares were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n=14 per group) on the day of ovulation (Day 0): Group 1 received 40 mg of equine pituitary extract (EPE; i.m.) daily beginning on Day 5 after ovulation; mares assigned to Group 2 served as untreated controls. All mares were given 10 mg PGF(2alpha) on Day 5 and Day 6, and 3,300 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were administered intravenously once mares developed 2 follicles >/=35 mm in diameter (Group 1) or 1 follicle >/=35 mm in diameter (Group 2). Mares in estrus were inseminated daily with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa once a >/=35 mm follicle was obtained. Two days after the last ovulation the ovaries and oviducts were removed. Ovaries were examined for ovulatory tracts to confirm ovulation, while the oviducts were trimmed and flushed with Dulbeccos PBS + 10% FCS to recover fertilized oocytes. All fertilized oocytes (embryos) recovered were cultured in vitro for 5 d using TCM-199 conditioned with equine oviductal cells. Ninety-two percent of the CL's from EPE mares resulted from ovulations compared with 94% for mares in the control group (P>0.05). The percentages of ovulations resulting in embryos were 57.1 and 62.5% for EPE-treated and control mares, respectively (P>0.05). Eighty-eight (Group 1) and 91% (Group 2) of the freshly ovulated oocytes recovered were fertilized (P>0.05). After 5 d of culture, 46.4 and 40.0% of the embryos from EPE-treated and control mares developed to the morula or early blastocyst stage (P>0.05). In summary, the CL's formed in superovulated mares were from ovulations not luteinizations. Although embryo recovery was less than expected, fertilization rates and embryo development were similar (P>0.05) between superovulated and control mares.