Reduced ovarian follicular development as a consequence of low body condition in ewes

The effect of body condition on ovarian follicular development was investigated in Scottish Blackface ewes in high and low body condition. Follicles were dissected from ovaries on days 11 and 12 of the luteal phase and 24 h after prostaglandin-induced luteal regression. Ewes in low body condition had a lower ovulation rate (low: 0.9; high: 1.8 P less than 0.05) and lower mean plasma levels of FSH during both the luteal (low: 54; high: 72 micrograms/l) and follicular (low: 34; high: 43 micrograms/l) phases of the cycle. Low body condition was associated with a reduced number of large (greater than or equal to 4 mm) follicles in both the luteal and follicular phases, and in low condition a lower proportion of these follicles was oestrogenic and potentially ovulatory as assessed by follicular fluid levels of oestradiol. However, within the different oestrogenic classifications of these large follicles there were no significant differences in the steroidogenic capacity as assessed by the concentrations of either oestradiol or testosterone in follicular fluid, basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone production, thecal 125I hCG binding or basal and testosterone-stimulated oestradiol production by granulosa cells in relation to body condition. These results suggest that body condition influences ovulation rate by altering the concentration of FSH in blood, which in turn affects the number of potentially ovulatory follicles growing beyond 4 mm.