Ovarian superstimulation and oocyte collection in wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) during the ovulatory season

The objective of the study was to establish an effective ovarian superstimulatory protocol and subsequently obtain oocytes from bison by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. Two experiments involving 22 wood bison were done during the breeding season (September to December). In experiment 1, the bison were given a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin (Day 0) and underwent follicular ablation (Day 8) to induce ovarian synchrony. Synchronized bison were then assigned randomly to two groups (n = 11 per group) and given either 200 mg FSH diluted in saline sc, or 200 mg FSH diluted in a proprietary slow-release formulation (SRF) im on Days 9 and 11. Prostaglandin was given to both groups on Day 11 followed by 25 mg LH on Day 13. Oocytes were collected by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of follicles ≥5 mm on Day 14. In experiment 2, bison were synchronized as in experiment 1 and assigned randomly to one of two groups (n = 11 per group) and given either a single dose of 2500 IU eCG im on Day 9, or 200 mg FSH sc on Days 9 and 11. Prostaglandin was given to both groups on Day 11, and LH (25 mg) was given on Day 13. Oocyte collection was done as described in experiment 1. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COC) were classified according to morphologic characteristics. In experiment 1, more follicles ≥5 mm were detected on Day 14 in bison treated with FSH versus eCG (12.2 ± 1.73 vs. 5.8 ± 0.52; P < 0.05), and more COC were collected from FSH-treated animals (7.2 ± 1.41 vs. 3.4 ± 0.62; P < 0.05). In experiment 2, the FSH-saline and FSH-SRF groups had a similar number (mean value ± standard error of the mean) of follicles ≥5 mm on Day 14 (12.4 ± 1.49 vs. 13.8 ± 1.24, respectively) and a similar number of COC were collected (6.5 ± 1.13 vs. 6.3 ± 0.96, respectively). The proportion of COC collected per follicle aspirated and the percentage of compact, expanded, and denuded oocytes did not differ between groups in either experiment 1 or 2. In summary, a two-dose regimen of FSH diluted in saline and given sc or in a SRF and given im induced a similar ovarian response in wood bison, whereas a single dose of eCG resulted in a significantly lower ovarian response. Overall, COC were collected from 55% of follicles after transvaginal, ultrasound-guided needle aspiration in wood bison.