Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.7 (2), April 2009 193 Utilization of gestagen hormones and pituitary FSH extracts in inducing the superovulation at embryo donor cows Ioan Petroman 1 *, Nicolae Păcală 2 , Cornelia Petroman 1 , Ioan Bencsik 2 , Manuela-Dora Orboi 3 , Dorel Dronca 2 and Adrian Băneş 4 1 Faculty of Agricultural Management, 2 Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 3 Department of Teachers Training and Social Sciences, 4 Department of Exact Science,Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Timişoara, Calea Aradului no 119, 300645, Timişoara, România. *e-mail: i_petroman@yahoo.com; nicolae_pacala@yahoo.com; c_petroman@yahoo.com; ibencsik@hotmail.com; orboi@usab-tm.ro; ddronca@yahoo.com; banes@usab-tm.ro Received 4 January 2009, accepted 10 April 2009. Abstract The embryo transfer is a reproduction biotechnology that includes the induction of superovulation of the donor females, the embryo recovery and their transfer in the uterus of receptor females. The efficiency of the embryo transfer depends on the results obtained in the superovulatory treatments. The variability of the ovary reaction to induction to superovulation treatments had been an important factor limiting the current commercial application in embryo transfer to cows. In the last years, for reducing the variability of ovaries reaction to gonadotropes hormones stimulation, progestagen hormones are frequently used. In our embryo recovery experiments performed on cows, we induced the superovulation with gestagen hormones, pituitary extracts of FSH and PgF 2 α. We used two subcutaneous implants with 3 mg of norgestomet (SMB). The first implant was introduced on the external side of the ear and in the same time a solution-SMB was injected (Day 0). The second implant was introduced on the 5 th day of the superovulatory treatment, without injectable solution. From the 6 th day of the protocol the super ovulation treatment with Folltropin-V begun. Folltropin-V was administered in a total dose of 400 mg NIH, divided in 8 doses of 50 mg each, administered at 12 hours intervals. In the 9 th day, at the same time with the last two FSH administrations, 25 mg Lutalyse were administered. The two implants were removed after the last FSH dose (Day 9 pm). There was a mean of 13.1 embryos non-surgically recovered and 8.0 embryos were fit to be transferred. The hormonal stimulation and embryo recovery works may be performed simultaneously to some more cows that can be collected in the same day. Key words: Biotechnology, donor cow, superovulation, norgestomet implant, FSH, Synchro Mate B (SMB), hormonal treatment, gestagen hormones, progestagen hormones, hormonal stimulation. www.world-food.net Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.7 (2) : 193-195. 2009 WFL Publisher Science and Technology Meri-Rastilantie 3 B, FI-00980 Helsinki, Finland e-mail: info@world-food.net Introduction The embryo transfer 1 is a reproduction biotechnology that includes the induction of superovulation of the donor females, the embryo recovery and their transfer in the uterus of receptor females. The efficiency of the embryo transfer depends on the results obtained in the superovulatory treatments. That is the limiting factor for extension of the embryo-transfer technology. Since 1940-1944, when the first superovulatory treatments were reported, there were hardly any changes in the superovulation inducing protocols. The most significant change was registered after 1973 when PgF 2 α’s synthetic analogues were obtained, allowing the beginning of hormonal treatment in the luteal phase of the oestrus cycle, in the presence of the functional luteal body. The variability of the ovary reaction to induction to superovulation treatments had been an important factor limiting the current commercial application in embryo transfer to cows. In the last years, for reducing the variability of ovaries reaction to gonadotropes hormones stimulation, progestagen hormones are frequently used. The aim of our research was to establish if adding the gestagen hormones to the superovulation treatment will improve the quality of the recovered embryos. Materials and Methods The experiments were conducted on 9 embryo donor cows of Romanian black spotted race (Frisian). Treatments of inducing superovulation were performed after the protocol proposed by Robertson 3 . We used two subcutaneous implants of 3 mg Norgestomet (Synchro Mate B - SMB). The first implant was introduced on the external side of the ear and at the same time was administered an injectable solution Synchro Mate B (the implant introduction day was considered the 0 day of the ovary hormonal stimulation protocol). On the 5 th day the second SMB implant was introduced, without the injectable solution. From the 6 th day, the superovulation treatments with pituitary extracts of FSH started (Folltropin-V). The total dose of Folltropin-V was 400 mg, and it was administrated in 8 doses of 50 mg each, at 12 hours intervals. On the 9 th day, in the time with the last two doses of FSH, 25 mg of Lutalyse (PgF 2 α) were administered. The two implants of SMB were redrawn after the last FSH dose (Day 9 pm). There were three A.I., in the morning and in the after noon of the 11 th day and in the morning of 12 th day. The embryos were non-surgically recovered in the 18 th day since the beginning of the hormonal stimulation (Day 7 from the induced oestrus). In the 3 rd day from embryo