Ovulation synchrony after follicle ablation in mares

Two experiments were performed to determine the efficacy of ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicle ablation for synchronizing ovarian function in mares. The experiments were initiated at random stages of the oestrous cycle in control (nonablated) and follicle-ablated mares. On day 0, all follicles > or =10 mm in diameter were punctured, aspirated and curettaged in ablated mares, and, on day 4, two doses of PGF2alpha were administered with a 12 h interval between the doses to both ablated and nonablated (control) mares. In Expt 1, hCG was administered to the ablated mares on the first or second day after the largest follicle was > or =30 mm in diameter. In Expt 2, hCG was administered to ablated mares 6 days after PGF2alpha administration, at which time the largest follicle was expected to be > or =30 mm in diameter. FSH concentrations increased initially and decreased subsequently in the ablated mares, and the ablation-induced wave (first detection of a follicle > or =10 mm in diameter) was observed 1.9 days after ablation and was synchronous (1-3 days) in 90% of mares. In both Expts 1 and 2, the uniformity of follicular wave emergence among follicle-ablated mares resulted in significantly better synchrony of ovulation after PGF2alpha administration compared with that of control mares. The variation in the interval from PGF2alpha administration to ovulation in ablated mares was reduced further by hCG administration. In the ablation + hCG groups, ovulation synchrony occurred 6-10 days after PGF2alpha administration in Expt 1 (13/16, 81%) and 7-8 days after PGF2alpha administration in Expt 2 (7/8, 88%). The extended period of ovulation in Expt 1 compared with that of Expt 2 (5 versus 2 days) was inherent in the experimental design, as hCG was not administered in Expt 1 until the largest follicle reached > or =30 mm in diameter, whereas in Expt 2 the experimental design was modified such that hCG was administered 6 days after PGF2alpha administration. As a result, in Expt 2 all but one mare in the ablation + hCG group ovulated within a 2 day period; 75% (6/8) ovulated on day 8 after PGF2alpha administration. Combined data from Expts 1 and 2 revealed that 96% (22/23) of the follicle-ablated mares ovulated within 48 h of hCG administration. Significantly more double ovulations were detected in follicle-ablated mares (10/41, 24%) than in control mares (1/21, 5%). The relatively high degree of ovulation synchrony obtained among mares in the present study indicates that this procedure can be used as an alternative method to synchronize ovarian function in horses.