B-vitamin and homocysteine status determines ovarian response to gonadotropin treatment in sheep.

ABSTRACT: Maternal B-vitamin status and homocysteinemia can affect fertility and pregnancy establishment, although the direct effects on ovarian follicle and oocyte development are not known. We report on the effects of restricting the supply of vitamin B(12) and methionine from the diet of mature female sheep on ovarian folliculogenesis following follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation. The study was split into three batches and involved 76 animals. Surprisingly, the number of growing, estrogen-active antral follicles following FSH treatment was enhanced (P = 0.005) following this dietary intervention. This increase occurred even in the presence of modest live-weight loss (batch 1 only) and depressed plasma insulin concentrations, suggesting a breakdown in the regulation of follicular respon

SUBMITTER: Kanakkaparambil R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2804829 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature