Patterns of folliculogenesis in ducks following the administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH) analogue

AbstractThe efficacy of synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue in improving the folliculogenesis of ducks has not been established. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of GnRH analogue as luteinizing hormone releasing hormone A2 (LHRH-A2) on expression of relevant genes, egg production, changes of hormone levels and an ovarian follicle development in ducks. Five hundred ducks at 220days old were randomly allotted to five groups, where each bird received daily in food 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20μg LHRH-A2 for 60days. In all treated groups, a non-significant increase in the level of GnRH receptor was noticed as compared to the corresponding control. Interestingly, the egg product in the 10 and 15μg LHRH-A2 groups was profoundly increased (P