Super pregnancy in a BALB/c mouse superovulated with PMSG / 한국실험동물학회지

This paper reports a case of super pregnancy in a BALB/c mouse pregnant with 30 pups following induction of superovulation using a PMSG-hCG protocol. Superovulation was induced in 10 mice by injecting 5 IU PMSG followed by 5 IU hCG 48 hours later. Immediately after injection of hCG, animals were placed with males at a ratio of 1 to 1 for 24 hours. On day 14 after mating, animals were killed by cervical dislocation and the uterus was examined for pregnancy and the number of fetuses. The mean (±SEM) number of fetuses observed in ten mice was 5.4±3.18 with an unexpectedly super pregnant mouse bearing 30 fetuses on day 14 of pregnancy.

Fine structures of the oocyte in relation to serum, follicular fluid steroid hormones and IGF-I in the ovulatory-sized follicles in one-humped camel [camelus dromedarius]

The following study was carried out to determine the ultrastructural features of the oocyte of the ovulatory-sized follicles in relation to concentrations of steroids and IGF-I in the follicular fluid and serum in the dromedary camel. Camel follicles with a clear and healthy appearance were categorized into three classes: follicles 10 to 13.9, 14-17.9 and 18-30 mm diameter. The Follicular Fluid [FF] and serum samples were assayed for estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and IGF-I. Recovered Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes [COCs] were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. The mean [ +/- SD] FF concentrations of progesterone and IGF-I was significantly [p<0.05] higher in follicles 18 to 30 mm diameter compared to other groups of follicles. There was no difference in the mean [ +/- SD] serum estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and IGF-I concentrations between camels with different ovulatory-sized follicles [p>0.05]. Oocytes from follicles 18 to 30 mm diameter [group 3] showed more advanced signs of maturation including the disappearance of the nuclear envelope, increased number of microvilli in erect position, the increase in number and size of vesicles and more even distribution of the mitochondria throughout the ooplasm. The final stages of oocyte maturation in dromedary camel is associated with increasing progesterone and IGF-I concentrations and constant high estradiol concentration in the follicular fluid which are paralleled with well-defined ultrastructural changes in oocytes