Follicular dynamics, cumulus-oocyte complex recovery, and reproductive resilience in local Algerian ewes during seasonal anestrus.

Authors

Mohammed Sehnine, Hamida Djilali, Louiza Skandri, Ibrahim Belabdi, Mohammed El Amine Bakara, Mourad Taherti

Published in

Tropical animal health and production. Volume 58. Issue 5. Jun 15, 2026. Epub Jun 15, 2026.

Abstract

Seasonal anestrus in ewes is generally associated with reduced ovarian activity due to photoperiod-mediated attenuation of gonadotropin secretion. However, follicular persistence and oocyte quality during this period remain insufficiently characterized in local sheep breeds raised under subtropical environments. This study investigated follicular populations, cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) recovery, and COC morphological quality in local Algerian ewes during seasonal anestrus. A total of 124 ovaries were collected weekly from abattoir-derived ewes between early March and late June. Visible follicles were classified as small (≤ 2 mm) or large (≥ 3 mm), and COCs recovered by follicular aspiration were assigned to four morphological grades (Q1-Q4) based on cumulus cell compactness and ooplasm homogeneity. Small antral follicles predominated over large follicles (7.33 ± 0.98 vs. 2.32 ± 0.47 per ovary; p < 0.001), indicating continued basal follicular recruitment during the anestrous period. A total of 430 COCs were recovered (recovery rate: 33.5%), of which 45.4% were classified as high-grade COCs (Q1 + Q2). Although total follicle numbers were comparable between ovaries, right-sided asymmetry was observed, with higher COC yield in the right ovary (5.32 ± 0.63 vs. 3.50 ± 0.56 per ovary; p < 0.05), particularly for high-grade COCs (2.60 ± 0.41 vs. 1.27 ± 0.36 per ovary; p < 0.01). Moreover, large follicles yielded significantly more high-grade COCs than small follicles (1.27 ± 0.29 vs. 0.32 ± 0.05; p < 0.0001), suggesting a positive association between follicular growth and COC quality. These findings demonstrate sustained ovarian activity during seasonal anestrus in local Algerian ewes, support the concept of reproductive resilience previously described in these locally adapted breeds, and highlight the potential applications of assisted reproductive technologies during the non-breeding season.

PMID:
42295513
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Jun 2026.

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