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Background: Estrus detection is a major problem in buffaloes because of the poor expression of estrus signs leading to low reproductive efficiency. Salivary transcripts analysis is a promising tool to identify biomarker; therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate their potential as estrus biomarker. Methods: The levels of HSD17B1, INHBA, HSPA1A, Testin transcripts were compared in saliva during estrous cycle stages [early proestrus (day -2, EP), late proestrus (day-1, LP), estrus (E), metestrus (ME) and diestrus (DE)] of cyclic heifers (n=8) and pluriparoous (n=8) buffaloes by employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The levels of HSD17B1 (EP/DE 1.46-2.43 fold, LP/DE 2.49-3.06 fold; E/DE 7.21-11.9-fold P<0.01; ME/D 1.0-1.16 fold) and HSPA1A (EP/DE 0.93-2.39 fold, LP/DE 2.68-3.23 fold; E/DE 8.52-15.18 fold P<0.01; ME/D 0.86-1.01 fold) were significantly altered during the estrus than other estrous cycle stages in both cyclic heifers and pluriparous buffaloes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed ability of salivary HSD17B1 (AUC 0.96; P<0.001) and HSPA1A (AUC 0.99; P<0.01) to differentiate E from other stages of estrous cycle. Conclusion: Significantly higher levels of HSD17B1 and HSPA1A transcripts in saliva during estrus phase suggest their biomarkers potential for estrus detection in buffaloes.

The present experiment was carried out to ascertain age at puberty and sexual maturity in Bengal bucks reared in India and Bangladesh. Bengal males (n = 33) aged between 2 and 12 months were selected and categorized into group A (aged 4–12 months) and Group B (aged 2–8 months). Body weight, scrotal circumference, and testicular biometry, blood testosterone levels of males under Group A were recorded at 15 days intervals. Semen collection was attempted from four months of age onward, and collected semen samples were evaluated for quality and cryo-preservability. Male kids under group B were castrated from two months of age onward, testicular biometry and quality parameters of sperm cells harvested from cauda epididymis were recorded. Body weight, scrotal and testicular biometry parameters increased significantly as age advances and were positively correlated. Ejaculates collected from kids aged 4.5 months contained few immature sperm cells while cauda epididymis of castrated kids contained viable sperm cells from 5 months of age onward, and blood testosterone levels reached 5.95 ± 0.44 ng/ml at the same period. But semen ejaculates containing adequate numbers of matured motile sperm cells could be collected only from six months of age onward. Further, semen ejaculate characters and their cryo-survivability were optimal at 11–12 months of age with almost stable body weight, and scrotal/ testicular biometry. Based on the above facts, it could be concluded that the Bengal bucks attained puberty at 5–6 months and sexual maturity at 11–12 months of age.

Background: Estrus detection is a major problem in buffaloes because of the poor expression of estrus signs leading to low reproductive e ciency. Salivary transcripts analysis is a promising tool to identify biomarker; therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate their potential as estrus biomarker.Methods: The levels of HSD17B1, INHBA, HSPA1A, Testin transcripts were compared in saliva during estrous cycle stages [early proestrus (day -2, EP), late proestrus (day-1, LP), estrus (E), metestrus (ME) and diestrus (DE)] of cyclic heifers (n=8) and pluriparoous (n=8) buffaloes by employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results: The levels of HSD17B1 (EP/DE 1.46-2.43 fold, LP/DE 2.49-3.06 fold; E/DE 7.21-11.9-fold P<0.01; ME/D 1.0-1.16 fold) and HSPA1A (EP/DE 0.93-2.39 fold, LP/DE 2.68-3.23 fold; E/DE 8.52-15.18 fold P<0.01; ME/D 0.86-1.01 fold) were signi cantly altered during the estrus than other estrous cycle stages in both cyclic heifers and pluriparous buffaloes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed ability of salivary HSD17B1 (AUC 0.96; P<0.001) and HSPA1A (AUC 0.99; P<0.01) to differentiate E from other stages of estrous cycle.Conclusion: Signi cantly higher levels of HSD17B1 and HSPA1A transcripts in saliva during estrus phase suggest their biomarkers potential for estrus detection in buffaloes.

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