Follicular response to ovarian superstimulaton with eCG in alpacas (vicugna pacos): effect of the Interval between ovulation induction with seminal plasma or GnRH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20453/stv.v14i1.7195Keywords:
alpacas, seminal plasma, GnRH, eCGAbstract
The objective was to evaluate the effect of the interval (36 h or 48 h) between ovulation induction with seminal plasma or GnRH and ovarian super-stimulation with eCG on the follicular response in alpacas. A 2 x 2 experimental design was used to determine the effects of two ovulation synchronization techniques and two times of ovarian super-stimulation on ovulation and follicle number in alpacas. Thirty-two healthy adult alpacas were randomly assigned to two treatment groups to induce ovulation: 1 mL of seminal plasma (IM; G1; n = 16) or 0.008 mg of buserelin acetate (GnRH analogue, IM; G2; n = 16). Within each group, females were further subdivided to receive ovarian super-stimulation with 650 IU of eCG (IM) administered either 36 or 48 h after ovulation induction. Follicular dynamics were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography, and the number of follicles ≥4 mm was recorded on day 7 post-induction. Data were analyzed using ANOVA for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables, with significance set at p<0.05. The ovulation rate did not differ between seminal plasma (93.4 %) and GnRH (87.5 %) treatments (p = 0.13). The mean number of follicles ≥4 mm was comparable between alpacas super-stimulated at 36 h (11.6 ± 1.4) and 48 h (10.7 ± 1.3) post-induction (p=0.62). When analyzed by subgroup, the number of follicles ≥4 mm was 11.75 ± 1.9 (seminal plasma, 36 h), 10.0 ± 1.6 (seminal plasma, 48 h), 11.5 ± 2.5 (GnRH, 36 h), and 11.25 ± 2.2 (GnRH, 48 h), with no significant differences among groups (p = 0.93). In conclusion, the results suggest that ovarian super-stimulation with eCG at either 36 or 48 h, regardless of the ovulation inducer used (seminal plasma or GnRH), generates a comparable follicular response. These findings indicate that both protocols can be applied equivalently in ovarian super-stimulation programs in alpacas.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Willian Fahrid Huanca Mori, Juan Carlos Villanueva Mori, Aida Cordero Ramirez, Wilfredo Huanca Lopez
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