227 Superovulation and Embryo Collection in Wood Bison During the Anovulatory Season

Embryo collection is feasible in wood bison during the anovulatory season, but only when using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for ovulation induction. This study tested whether progesterone priming or the type of hormone (LH or hCG) affects superovulation and embryo yield in wood bison, a species threatened by endemic diseases like brucellosis and tuberculosis in Wood Buffalo National Park. Researchers synchronized follicular waves in 32 bison cows using transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle ablation, then randomly assigned them to receive either LH or hCG with or without progesterone priming (PRID). While progesterone priming had no significant effect on ovulation rates, hCG treatment alone significantly increased the number of corpora lutea and embryo collection success. Despite successful embryo retrieval in some cases, the overall low collection rate remains unexplained. This finding is crucial for disease-free repopulation efforts, offering a potential tool to preserve genetically valuable individuals.

Palomino, J. M., McCorkell, R. B., Anzar, M., Woodbury, M. R., Hawkins, N., Prentice, J., Toosi, B., & Adams, G. P. (2011). 227 SUPEROVULATION AND EMBRYO COLLECTION IN WOOD BISON DURING THE ANOVULATORY SEASON. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 24(1), 226. https://doi.org/10.1071/rdv24n1ab227