Investigation of vaginal mucus parameters: Development of models for staging the oestrous cycle of the Bunaji cow

Abstract

Changes in some vaginal mucus parameters were studied in order to generate predictive models capable of enhancing oestrous cycle staging, using equal groups (unsynchronized‐USC [no treatment] and synchronized‐SC [Synchromate® i/m on d0, d11]) of Bunaji cows (n = 48) aged 3–4 years. Vaginal mucus was collected (starting d11 in SC) daily over 26 days using standard procedures. Physical (viscosity, elasticity, density, resistivity) and biochemical (pH, glucose, cholesterol, total protein, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) parameters were evaluated using standard procedures. Data were analysed using chi‐square and multinomial logit regression modelling. Models generated using oestrus as reference categories were ascertained for accuracies. Chi‐square values for viscosity, elasticity and density were significant (p < .01) in USC and SC across stages of the cycle. Results for USC showed that pH and cholesterol were predictive (p < .01) for pro‐oestrus, metoestrus and dioestrus, while total protein was predictive (p < .01) for dioestrus only. Similarly, magnesium was predictive (p < .05) for pro‐oestrus. For SC, pH, magnesium and cholesterol were predictive (p < .01) for pro‐oestrus, metoestrus and dioestrus, while total protein was predictive (p < .01) for pro‐oestrus and dioestrus. Potassium and total protein were also predictive for metoestrus at 10% and 5% significance levels, respectively. Though findings suggest the usefulness of magnesium in staging the oestrous cycle only in synchronized cows, pH, total protein and cholesterol appeared to be the more important vaginal mucus parameters in Bunaji cows, regardless synchronization. Furthermore, the models developed showed high accuracy levels for staging the oestrous cycle in USC (100%) and SC (89%).

Imbalance of substances in uterine-vaginal mucus in the early days of the estrous cycle

“…At the beginning of estrus, the impedance value is 41 Ohms, while during metestrus, it is 61 Ohms. Researchers maintain that the frequency of fertilization of the egg cell is higher with low impedance values (25-34 Ohm) and high viscosity and volume (Mellado et al, 2015;Agbugba et al, 2020).…”

“…Kraevsky et al (2020) indicate that under the same or similar circumstances, the level of lipid peroxidation, vitamin concentrations, the activity of glutathione peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase decreases. Depending on various factors, the parameters of total protein concentration, glucose, cholesterol, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium are also variable (Dadarwal et al, 2017;Agbugba et al, 2020).…”

Serum Metabolomic Analysis of Synchronous Estrus in Yaks Based on UPLC-Q-TOF MS Technology

“…Cholesterol is a prerequisite for synthesizing reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which are also essential hormones for yak estrus [29,31]. In addition, Agbugba et al [32] found that cholesterol was predictive for proestrus, metoestrus, and dioestrus. Therefore, cholesterol levels have a significant impact on the synthesis and secretion of reproductive hormones, which in turn affect the estrus process of animals.…”

Quantitative proteomic analysis and verification identify global protein profiling dynamics in pig during the estrous cycle

“…Despite the high cost of machines, recognition has a high accuracy of 98.25% and other advantages, such as greater intelligence and biosafety, but less stress than manual detection methods. Estimations based on physical or biochemical parameters of vaginal mucus ( 14 ), hormone concentration or crystal forms in body fluids ( 15 , 16 ) have also been investigated, but they were not widely used because of the high cost of assay kits or their unstable characteristics. It remains a vital concern for the breeding industry to explore timely, efficient, and sensitive estrus diagnostic methods.…”