The Effect of Different Follicular Waves and Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels on Superovulation Response in Dairy Heifers

Currently, there is a need for simplified protocols in in vivo embryo production and transfer programs, that can be simultaneously applied to a large number of donors, as well as for reliable methods to predict superovulatory responses of donors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the first and second follicular wave, serum progesterone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations on the superovulation response in dairy heifers. A total of 56 Holstein Friesian heifers were divided into two groups, and subjected to superovulation protocol at the first (FFD, n=28) or the second follicular wave (SFD, n=28), induced by GnRH treatment. Animal age, BCS and serum AMH levels before start of superovulation treatment differed non-significantly between the two groups, while serum progesterone was higher in SFD than FFD group ((4.41 +/- 0.36 v 2.03 +/- 0.41ng/mL; P<0.05). For superovulation in both groups, 450mg FSH was administered at 12h intervals, for a total of 8 decreasing doses. Donors were inseminated with sexed semen. Uterine flushings were performed on the 7th day of the following cycle. Non-significant differences were observed between FFD and SFD groups for total numbers of degenerated embryos and unfertilized oocytes. Superovulation response in terms of total follicles, CLs, transferable embryos and Grade-1 embryos was higher (P<0.05) in cows with high serum AMH levels (480-920pg/mL) than cows with low serum AMH levels (160-280pg/mL) before start of superovulation treatment. In conclusion, progesterone levels at the beginning of superovulation and different follicular waves had no effect on superovulation response, while serum AMH level before the start of superovulation protocol could be used as a biomarker for donor selection.