THE EFFECT OF PORCINE FOLLICULAR FLUID ON OVULATION, MATING AND PREGNANCY IN THE RAT

Abstract We have examined the effects of charcoal-treated, > 10,000 MW porcine follicular fluid (PFF retentate) treatment on ovulation, cyclicity, mating and pregnancy in the rat. Rats treated i.p. with PFF retentate twice on the day of metestrus and once on the day of diestrus exhibited a dose-related reduction in the mean number of ova when oviducts were checked on the afternoon of expected estrus. However, oviducts checked on the morning of expected metestrus contained a normal number of ova. To study the effects of PFF retentate on cycliclty, mating and subsequent pregnancy, rats were treated (0.2 ml, i.p.) two, three or four times a day beginning on the day of metestrus until proestrus cytology was exhibited. PFF retentate treatment resulted in a dose-related delay in the appearance of proestrus cytology and a reduction in the number of embryonic implants following cohabitation with males on the night of proestrus. However, PFF retentate had no effect on the number of implants, when given post-coitally. These results show that administration of PFF retentate to female rats delays ovulation, alters the estrous cycle and reduces the mean number of embryonic implants in a dose-related manner.