Abstract
This study was designed to identify suitable treatment regimens of human gonadotropin for superovulation of rhesus monkeys. At menses, female monkeys were given one of three regimens: Plan A [days 1 to 6, 60 IU human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH); days 7 to 9, 60 IU hFSH/60 IU human luteinizing hormone (hLH)], Plan B [days 1 to 3, 75 IU FSH/20 IU LH; days 4 to 6, 60 IU FSH/20 IU LH; days 7 to 9, 45 IU FSH/45 IU LH], or Plan C [days 1 to 9, 60 IU FSH/60 IU LH]. On day 10, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1000 IU) was administered. Serum estrogen levels peaked on the day of hCG treatment (day 10) in Plans A and C but earlier (day 8) in Plan B. An oviduct lavage recovered 1 to 3 oocytes in Plan B but 3 to 13 oocytes in the other treatment groups. Peak progesterone levels in the luteal phase were greater (P<0.05) in animals receiving Plan A or C than Plan B. Regardless of treatment group, progesterone levels declined abruptly 7 days after ovulation induction; the length of the luteal phase in all groups was significantly less than that of normal menstrual cycles. We conclude that regimens of hFSH and hLH (i.e., Plans A and C), followed by hCG, reliably superovulate rhesus monkeys. However, the premature decline in luteal function around the typical time of implantation may compromise pregnancy initiation and maintenance.
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Vandevoort, C.A., Baughman, W.L. & Stouffer, R.L. Comparison of different regimens of human gonadotropins for superovulation of rhesus monkeys: Ovulatory response and subsequent luteal function. J Assist Reprod Genet 6, 85–91 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01130732
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01130732