[Effect of copulatory behavior at different periods of the ovarian cycle on ovulation and reproduction in the rat].

The effect of copulation on ovulation and reproduction during the diestrus, proestrus or estrus phases was compared by evaluating insemination, fertilization, number of embryos and ovulation. Copulation increases both ovulation and number of embryos per rat. This increase was significant when copulation occurred during the late of proestrus phase, mainly after the 16 hours of the proestrus phase. The copulation effect was lower during the late hours of diestrus and during the whole estrus phase.