What is the primary purpose of superovulation?

The primary purpose of superovulation is to collect multiple eggs from a single female. This process involves hormonal treatments that stimulate the ovaries to produce more than the usual amount of oocytes (eggs) during a single reproductive cycle. In laboratory animal research and breeding programs, this technique is particularly valuable as it enhances reproductive efficiency and increases the number of embryos available for research or breeding. By obtaining multiple eggs, researchers and breeders can maximize genetic diversity and increase the likelihood of successful pregnancies in subsequent stages of the breeding process. This approach is essential for several applications including in vitro fertilization, genetic studies, and the production of knockout or transgenic animals, where obtaining multiple embryos can improve experimental outcomes and resource utilization.