The use of a 'first-wave' model to study the effect of nutrition on ovarian follicular dynamics and ovulation rate in the sheep.

We have developed an experimental model in which groups of ewes are simultaneously experiencing the first ovarian follicular wave of their oestrous cycle. We used this 'first-wave model' in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment (ten ewes per group) to study the effect of body condition (BC) and a short-term supplement on follicular dynamics and ovulation rate. The 'first-wave' was established by giving ewes three injections of prostaglandin (PG), 7 days apart. The 6-day supplement (lupin grain) began 2 days after the second PG injection and continued until the third. Follicles were studied by ultrasound, and blood was sampled to measure glucose and hormones. The supplement increased (P<0.01) the concentrations of glucose, insulin and leptin, decreased FSH concentrations (P<0.01) and tended to increase oestradiol concentrations (P=0.06). The supplement tended to increase the number of 3 mm follicles (P=0.06). Compared with low-BC ewes, high-BC ewes had more follicular waves (P<0.05), higher concentrations of insulin, leptin and IGF1 (P<0.05) and tended to have higher FSH concentrations (P=0.09). Leptin and insulin concentrations remained high until the end of supplementation in high-BC ewes, whereas they decreased after the third day of supplementation in low-BC ewes. In conclusion, high concentrations of metabolic hormones in fat ewes are associated with the development of more follicular waves. When a supplement is superimposed on this situation, changes in glucose and metabolic hormones allow more follicles to be selected to ovulate.