A series of studies were guided by the principal hypothesis that it was necessary to characterize ovarian function during the seasons of the annual reproductive cycle in wapiti and that from this knowledge novel methods of exogenous control of ovarian function would be possible. To augment existing knowledge about endogenous control of ovarian function in wapiti studies were conducted to characterize ovarian follicle dynamics during the estrous season and to characterize ovarian follicular dynamics during the periods of transition into and out of the breeding season. The third study was designed to characterize ovarian follicle development and ovulation synchrony subsequent to an estrous synchronization protocol used commercially. To evaluate novel methods of exogenous control of ovarian function studies were conducted to determine if follicular wave emergence could be electively induced using hormonal or surgical treatments to evaluate novel ovarian superstimulatory treatment protocols. <p>It was concluded from the studies of ovarian function that follicle development during the breeding season was characterized by the regular and synchronous development of follicular waves and that 2, 3, or 4 waves occurred during each interovulatory interval. Transition into the breeding season was preceded by one short interovulatory interval (9 days) characterized by one wave of follicle development and a small, short-lived and hypo-functional corpus luteum. The last estrous cycle of the breeding season was similar to estrous cycles during the rut (21 days), but and transition to anestrus was marked by a failure of the dominant follicle to ovulate after luteal regression. The treatment protocol used commercially for estrous synchronization was effective, but unnecessarily long. It was concluded from the studies on exogenous control of ovarian function that follicular wave emergence could be electively induced using steroid hormones or follicle ablation and may be useful for estrus synchronization and superstimulatory protocols. The tested superstimulatory treatments were effective and had the advantage of reducing the treatment period by 6 days and the number of times the animals are handled by one third over a more conventional method. However, oocyte and embryo quality were not evaluated. <p>As a result of the studies conducted and one previous study during the anouvlatory season follicle and luteal dynamics are now known in wapiti for all seasons of the year and this knowledge will provide a template upon which other species of deer can be compared. The final two studies support the principal hypothesis. The novel methods of exogenous ovarian control tested increase the potential for success when applying reproductive technologies and the successful application of these methods in wapiti should lead to their successful use in other species of deer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-07062006-153821 |
| Date | 24 July 2006 |
| Creators | McCorkell, Robert Bruce |
| Contributors | Woodbury, Murray R., Muir, Gillian D., Mapletoft, Reuben J., Flood, Peter F., Adams, Gregg P. |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-07062006-153821/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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