Superovulation using gonadotropin hormones are characterized by several limitations, leading to a wide variation in the resultant response. To overcome these limitations, several studies have recommended the use of bovine pituitary extract (BPE) as an effective alternative in improving animal reproduction. Therefore, this study aims to determine the ovarian and hormonal responses of local rabbits after superovulation induction with BPE. The sample comprised of 1 local male rabbit and 9 local female rabbits with a history of giving birth and weighing between 1.8-2.2 kg. The animals were adapted for 30 days in separate cages and provided with feed and water ad libitum before treatment. The rabbits were divided into 3 treatment groups (n=3), the first group as a control group (R1) was injected with physiological NaCl, while group two (R2) and group three (R3) were injected with FSH and BPE, respectively. The total volume of NaCl in R1 and BPE in R3 was 2.6 ml each while the total dose in R3 was 28 mg. Intramuscularly injections in both groups were performed 5 times with a 12-hour interval. The administration of NaCl in R1 and BPE in R3 was 1; 0.5+0.5; 0.3+0.3 mL, respectively while the injection of FSH in R2 was 4; 4+4; 8+8 mg. Subsequently, rabbits in R2 and R3 were injected with 100 IU hCG and mated with males, while those in R1 were mated without hCG administration 24 hours after the last FSH and BPE treatment. On the 6th day after treatment, rabbits in R1, R2, and R3 were slaughtered for ovarian organ retrieval, while blood samples for progesterone, estrogen, LH, and FSH hormone concentration examination were collected on days 1, 3, and 5 after mating. The hormone concentration was analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) method, and the data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance. The macroscopic observation results showed that the ovaries of rabbits in R2 and R3 were larger than those in R1. Overall, the progesterone concentration in R3 was higher compared to R1 and R2 (P<0.05), and the levels in R2 were higher than R1 (P<0.05). In addition, the number of implantation site showed a significant difference between R1 with R2 and R3 (P<0.05). The concentration of estrogen in R3 increased on day 5 after mating, while FSH and LH showed no significant differences between all groups on days 1, 3, and 5 after mating. Based on these findings, the administration of BPE could be considered as an alternative superovulation preparation in local rabbits in terms of ovarian and hormonal positive responses.
Keywords | Bovine pituitary extract, Hormonal, Induction, Local rabbits, Ovarian, Superovulation