Advances in synchronizing estrus and ovulations in the mare: A mini review

Synchronization of estrus (SE) in mares has been achieved, but not of ovulation (SO). Progestins followed by PGF_2a are useful for SE only. In the two studies reviewed here, SE and SO were attempted by using CIDR-B, an intravaginal (itv) progesterone (1.9 g) releasing device, alone (study 1) or accompanied by estradiol (10 mg) given also itv (study 2). In both studies, Ovuplant™ (OT), an implant containing 2.1 mg of the GnRH analog deslorelin was used for the control of ovulation. Eighty cycling Hanoverian mares, 40 each in studies 1 and 2, received CIDR-B itv for 12 days, with PGF_2a given once at CIDR-B removal. In study 1, 15 mares each received OT when the lead follicle had reached 40 mm (A) or on Day 3 of estrus (B); 10 controls received no OT (C). In study 2, E2 was used in addition on Day 0 (CIDR-B insertion) (10 mares; group II), or on Days 0 and 7 (10; group III) or not (20; groups I and IV). Mares in groups I to III received OT as in study 1 (A); group IV (10) remained untreated. Ovaries were examined and blood samples were taken in studies 1 and 2 from all mares in 1, 2 or 4-day intervals, respectively, and concentrations of FSH, LH, progesterone and estradiol were determined by RIA. In study 1, CIDR-B treatment achieved SE, but not SO as shown by a wide spread of days on which follicles were reaching 40 mm; OT treatment assured ovulations in 48 hours in 93.3% of treated mares vs. 44.4% in controls (P<0.05. In study 2, SE was achieved and SO, but only when estradiol was given once (itv) on Day 0 (group II) but not twice on Days 0 and 7 (group III). In both studies, CIDR-B prevented estrus but stimulated follicle growth: 8 mares in study 1 ovulated with CIDR-Bs in place and 2 in trial 2, respectively. Only when estradiol was used together with CIDR-B, follicle growth was retarded (group II) or suppressed (group III: P<0.05 vs. groups I and IV). The pregnancy rate in study 2 from a single breeding at the first estrus was 52.8% with no significant differences between groups. FSH rose until Day 4 or 8 and had dropped sharply at Day 12; after CIDR-B removal FSH rose most quickly in group II, study 2. LH declined slightly until Day 12 and rose thereafter, reaching peak levels by Day 18 or 20, respectively. In both studies, estradiol had dropped slightly by Day 4 but increase steadily thereafter until ovulation had occurred. Preovulatory rise and postovulatory drop was seen earlier in group II, study 2. Values for progesterone had risen uniformly by Day 4, had declined slowly by Day 12 and precipitously in response to PGF_2a by Day 14. Treatment of cyclic mares with CIDR-B for 12 days, followed by PGF_2a at the day of CIDR-B removal and by Ovuplant™ a deslorelin implant when a follicle had reached 40 mm, resulted in synchronization of estrus. Adding to this scheme a single dose of estradiol (10 mg, intravaginal) on Day 0 resulted also in synchronization of ovulation.