Abstract
Recently, ovulation inducing and luteineizing properties of FSH were demonstrated by IMAMICHI et al. Applying the ovulation inducing property of FSH, KATO (1971), KASAZIMA & KAWADA (1972)and INANIWA & KAWAGUCHI (1973) obtained successful results in the treament of ovarian follicularcysts in dairy cows.
In this study, we carried out an experimental treatment of ovarian follicular cysts and ovu-lation failures in light breed mares with highly purified FSH (Antrin, Toshiba Pharmaceutical Co.)by intramuscular injection.
The following results were obtained.
1. Sixteen mares with ovarian follicular cysts were treated with 2040 Armour Units (A.U.)of FSH. The cystic follicles were mostly ruptured, within 8.5 days (ranged 321 days) after thetreatment. All treated mares were cured. Eight of 12 mares (66.7%) conceived and the remaining4 were not bred or not certified for conception.
2. Thirty mares with ovulation failure were injected with 1040 A. U. of FSH. Ovulationwas induced within 2.6 days (ranged 24 days) in 28 mares (93.3%) and ovulation rate in eachdose group was 71.4% (10 A. U.), 100% (20 A. U.) and 100% (40 A. U.), respectively. Nineteen outof 26 mares (73.1%) conceived. The remaining two were not certified for conception.
3. It was demonstrated that FSH had an action to induce ovulation in mares as in rats. Inthe cases of ovulation failure, an intramuscular injection of 10 A. U. of FSH could induce ovulation, though we recommended to inject 20 A. U. of FSH for obtaining more definite effect. For treatmentof mares with ovarian follicular cyst, being not so severe, sufficient effect to induce ovulation maybe expected with intramuscular injection of 20 A. U. of FSH.
