Massive Ovulation in Mammals: Techniques for Analyzing Natural Spontaneous Polyovulation and Induced Polyovulation in Lagostomus maximus

The South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus, is recognized as the mammalian species with the highest ovulation rate, which can reach as many as 300 ova. This remarkable polyovulation phenomenon can be examined through several methodological approaches that reflect its distinctive reproductive physiology. Natural ovulation is assessed by oocyte release during the breeding season, which provides insights into the species' spontaneous ovulatory mechanisms, with oocytes recovered by flushing the oviduct and uterine horns. In addition, experimental induction of ovulation using exogenous hormones, such as gonadotropins, allows controlled evaluation of ovarian responsiveness and offers a valuable model for understanding endocrine regulation in hystricognath rodents. A third approach involves the use of autologous seminal plasma as a physiological trigger of ovulation, highlighting the coexistence of induced and spontaneous mechanisms in this species. Together, these techniques not only elucidate the dynamics of follicular recruitment and oocyte release but also establish L. maximus as a comparative model for reproductive biology, with potential translational implications for understanding ovulation control in mammals.