Superovulation and embryo recovery in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) using different doses of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG).

Present investigation was conducted to study the ovarian response and embryo recovery using different PMSG dose levels. Six rabbits each were assigned randomly to treatment 1 (PMSG 50 IU + hCG 100 IU), treatment 2 (PMSG 75 IU + hCG 100 IU) and the control group (no hormone administered). PMSG injection (im) was followed 68 hr later by natural mating to a fertile rabbit buck and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) injection iv post coitum. Embryos were recovered 96 hr post coitum by a modified surgical method. Mean number of ovulations in the control group differed significantly from treatment 1 and 2, but no significant difference was observed between treatments 1 and 2. Mean embryo recovery percentage was lowest in treatment 2 and highest in the control group. The higher dose PMSG (treatment 2) was observed to be more disturbing in terms of recovery of embryos as well as their morphology.