Which hormones are given to cows to induce superovulation in MOET?
Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer Technology (MOET) has increased the chances of producing hybrids successfully. This technique is also used for herd improvement.
Multiple offspring can be produced at the same time by using this technique. This has been demonstrated in cattle and several high milk yielding varieties are developed.
Cow is a non-primate mammal and its reproductive cycle is called the oestrus cycle. Normally, one egg is released per cycle. However, in MOET, hormones with FSH-like activity are administered to cows to produce more eggs per oestrus cycle. This hormone induces follicular maturation and instead of one egg, about 6-8 eggs are produced per cycle. This is called superovulation.
The cow is then either mated with an elite bull or artificially inseminated. The fertilised eggs at 8-32 cell stage are removed non-surgically. These early embryos are then transferred to surrogate mothers in which the further development of the embryo takes place.
Estrogen hormone is produced by the developing follicles of the ovary. Under the influence of estrogen hormone, cows become sexually receptive. This period of the oestrous cycle is called estrus or heat. Estrogen also triggers the release of GnRH from the hypothalamus.
Oxytocin hormone is released from the posterior pituitary gland into the blood. This hormone helps in the release of milk from the mammary glands after childbirth.
Hence, option b is correct.