Abstract
Summary
Bilaterally ovariectomized does were maintained on 1 μg of estradiol benzoate/kg of body wt/day and given various levels of either progesterone (P) or 20-α-hy-droxyprogesterone (20α-OHP) following mating to fertile bucks. Compared with estrogen-treated controls, a single injection of 0.5 and 1.0 mg of 20α-OHP and 0.15 mg of P increased the number of ova fertilized. Higher levels of either progestin reduced the number of fertilized ova recovered in the capacitation test system. A doe thus prepared can be used several times in a short period to capacitate sperm. Unilateral ovariectomy of the capacitator doe had no effect on the number of ova fertilized in the test system.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.