Abstract
The development of ovarian follicles in adult rats and effect of sodium pentobarbital on the ability of antral follicles to ovulate response to hCG were examined.
Experiment 1: Ovarian follicular development: In rats treated with 40 IU PMSG at 13:00h on the day of metestrus, the number of follicles( ?? 550μm in diameter) showed a peak (about 110 follicles per both ovaries) on the day of expected estrus.
Experiment 2: Effect of hCG in PMSG treated rats: When 40 IU hCG was injected on the day of estrus in PMSG treated rats, the number of ova shed did not increase.
Experiment 3: Effect of sodium pentobarbital: Sodium pentobarbital was injected ip 51h after PMSG treatment. Then 40 IU hCG was injected 27h after the injection of sodium pentobarbital. The number of ova shed increased about 100 ova per both ovaries at 20h after hCG injection.
These results suggest that sodium pentobarbital is effective to maintain the ability of antral follicles to ovulate at least until the day of expected estrus in PMSG treated adult rats.
