Authors : F.C. Iheukwumere , A.H. Abu and F.C. Ndubisi
Abstract: Sixteen healthy, parous, Red Sokoto (Maradi) goats aged 2-4 years were used to study the effects of varying doses of FSH + LH (Pergonal®) on superovulation, hormonal profiles and leucocyte status. The does were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups consisting of 19.0 IU, 38.0 IU and 76.0 IU FSH + LH (Pergonal®) and 1.0 mL physiological saline as the control treatment. The treatments were administered intramuscularly for 3 days. The results on the number of corpora lutea on the ovary did not show any significant differences (p>0.05) between goats on 19.0 IU (5.36�0.46), 38.0 IU (6.15�1.14) and 76.0 IU (6.60�1.84) FSH + LH. The ovary did not show any significant differences (p>0.05) between goats on 19.0 IU (5.36�0.46), 38.0 IU (6.15�1.14) and 76.0 IU FSH + LH (6.60�1.84). However, they differed significantly (p<0.05) from goats on the control in the number of corporalutea on the ovary. The number of embryos recovered was not significantly different (p> 0.05) between goats on 19.0 IU (4.35�0.82) 38.0 IU (4.50�0.65) and 76.0 IU FSH + LH (4.85�1.38), however, they differed significantly (p<0.05) from goats on the control treatment (2.05�0.02). Goats treated on 19.0 IU FSH + LH (63.4�1.35%), 38.0 IU FSH + LH (67.8�1.25%) and 76.0 IU FSH + LH (75.6�2.51%) were similar (p>0.05), but, they differed significantly (p<0.05) from the control treatment (35.0�0.65%) in embryo recovery rate. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between treatment groups in ova/embryo wastage. LH and FSH values were highest at 38.0 IU FSH + LH with (3.80�0.4) and (3.33�0.14) (iu L 1), respectively. Progesterone and oestradiol showed higher values on 38.0 IU FSH + LH (51.91�0.36) and 19.0 IU FSH + LH (11.6�0.7) nmol L 1, respectively. Higher neutrophil counts were observed in goats treated with 76.0 IU FSH + LH (75.64�1.48) nmol L 1. The lymphocyte counts showed significant differences (p<0.05) between the treatment groups.
F.C. Iheukwumere , A.H. Abu and F.C. Ndubisi , 2008. Effectiveness of Administration of Different Dose Rates of FSH + LH (Pergonal®) on Superovulation, Hormonal Profiles and Leucocyte Status of Nigerian Red Sokoto (Maradi) Goats. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 2: 103-108.