A mixture of the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine increases ovulation rate in ewes when infused during the late luteal phase of the oestrous cycle: an effect that may be mediated by insulin.

The positive relationship between nutritional state and ovulation rate in sheep may involve the action of specific nutrients on gonadotrophin release. LH and FSH secretion is controlled in part by hypothalamic GnRH, which is in turn influenced by central adrenergic and serotonergic neuronal systems. In this experiment the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine and valine were examined for effects on LH and FSH secretion. A mixture of the three amino acids was infused into ewes for 5 days immediately before luteolysis, a time when nutritional effects on ovulation rate occur. The infusion significantly increased ovulation rate without any associated increase in FSH or LH. However, the infusion did increase plasma insulin concentrations and this effect, together with the high levels of blood urea observed, suggests that these amino acids had increased the supply of energy substrates to the follicles. An increase in insulin-mediated glucose uptake by follicles could be the stimulus responsible for the increase in ovulation rate. The ability of the animal to utilize BCAAs for energy metabolism may be an important component of the ovulation responses to nutrition.