Induction of short-term pseudopregnancy in gilts by the administration of estradiol benzoate or estradiol dipropionate to achieve ovulatory synchronization for embryo collection.

A study was conducted to investigate whether ovulation in gilts could be synchronized for embryo collection by the administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) or estradiol dipropionate (EDP) to induce pseudopregnancy, followed by the treatment with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α ) on 10 days after. Ten gilts each received a total of 20 mg of EB or EDP on Day 10 or EB on Day 10 and 14 to induce pseudopregnancy (Day 0 = onset of estrus). Donors received PGF2α 10 or 15 days (as a control) after the first administration of estrogens and subsequently eCG and hCG, and were then inseminated artificially. The embryos were collected 7 days after the administration of hCG, and assessed for embryo yield and their developmental stages. All protocols resulted in good embryo yield (9.8-13.2 embryos in average), and the embryos showed average ability to develop to the expanded blastocyst stage (3.29-4.03 as developmental scores) without any significant differences among the protocols. These results suggest that the administration of PGF2α 10 days after the treatment of gilts with EB or EDP would allow synchronization of ovulation and embryo collection, as well as shortening the period from estrus detection to embryo collection, thus improving embryo collection efficiency.