Abstract: Rabbits are stimulated ovulating animals and require intercourse to stimulate the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which then triggers an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), leading eventually to ovulation of mature oocytes, but the mechanism of ovulation in rabbits is not fully understood.In artificial insemination of rabbits, intramuscular or intravaginal administration of GnRH and its analogues is used to induce ovulation due to the lack of stimulation by intercourse.But these compounds usually have detrimental effects, so a new approach is needed to replace hormonal stimulation.β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) is one of the most promising substances recently identified to play a role in female reproductive physiology.The widespread presence of β-NGF and its receptors in the reproductive system of rabbits, and has an important physiological role. At the same time, β-NGF, a protein that is itself present in the semen of animals, is likely to be a natural ovulation-promoting factor in rabbits.Therefore, the use of β-NGF may be able to reduce the use of hormones or other drugs.In this regard, in order to provide ideas and theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of ovulation stimulation in rabbits and to promote the application of β-NGF in assisted reproduction techniques in rabbits, the authors briefly describes the role of β-NGF in promoting ovulation in rabbits and the current status of research, mainly from the expression of β-NGF and its receptors in the reproductive system of rabbits, the species specificity of the β-NGF system in inducing ovulation in rabbits, and the mechanism of action of β-NGF in inducing ovulation in rabbits.

Key words: β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF); rabbit; ovulation; artificial insemination