ABSTRACT
To investigate the role of ovarian status and to find out a suitable hormonal dose for induction of superovulation and its effect on biochemical status of the ovaries, the mice were injected with PMSG in doses of 5, 7.5, and 10 IU on different days of the estrous cycle i.e. proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus followed by hCG injection 48 hr later. All these treatments increased the mean ovarian weight and ovulation rate when compared with that of control animals. Maximum response was observed by treatment with 7.5 IU PMSG on the day of estrus. This treatment resulted in a non-significant decrease in total proteins but a significant increase in the lipid concentrations while no change in cholesterol content of the ovaries of superovulated mice. The activity of acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase significantly increased and alanine aminotranseferase significantly decreased in the ovaries of mice after superovulatory treatment when compared with that of control animals. This reveals that treatment with PMSG and hCG results in metabolic alterations in the ovaries which may perhaps be inducing biosynthetic deficiencies in oocytes as indicated by increased prenatal mortality in superovulated pregnant mice when compared with that of controls in the present studies.