Advances in the Use of Recombinant Gonadotropins for Reproductive Biotechnologies in Ruminants: A Review

Recombinant gonadotropins, particularly recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) and recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin (reCG), have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional animal-derived hormones in reproductive biotechnologies. This review aims to provide an updated and comprehensive overview of recombinant gonadotropins, with emphasis on the most recent scientific and technological advances in production and their application. This research integrates studies published following the recent commercial introduction of these molecules and incorporates findings generated by our research group. A total of 12 field studies in ruminants met the inclusion criteria, comprising four evaluating rFSH for superovulation and eight assessing reCG across different reproductive applications. Recent studies demonstrate that rFSH achieves similar superovulatory outcomes to conventional protocols, while reCG effectively promotes follicular growth, ovulation, and fertility in cattle and sheep, with results comparable to purified eCG. Beyond reproductive efficacy, recombinant hormones offer advantages such as reduced animal use, consistent product quality, and simplified management. These findings highlight recombinant gonadotropins as promising, ethical, and efficient tools for advancing assisted reproduction in ruminants.