Manipulation of reproductive seasonality using melatonin implantation in Anglo-Nubian does treated with controlled internal drug release and equine chorionic gonadotropin during the nonbreeding season

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of hormonal treatments on ovarian activity and reproductive performance in anestrous Anglo-Nubian does during the nonbreeding season (February to May). A total of 48 multiparous does were divided into 2 groups (24 lactating does and 24 dry does). In each group, animals were allocated randomly into 2 equal subgroups (12 does each). In the first subgroup, does received a single 18-mg melatonin implant for 42 d followed by a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device for 19 d in conjunction with 500 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) i.m. on the day of CIDR device removal. The second subgroup received CIDR combined with eCG in parallel with the first subgroup. Melatonin implantation induced a luteotrophic effect, expressed as an increasing number of corpora lutea, increased serum progesterone concentration, and reduced estradiol concentration. Regardless of treatment, dry does showed greater value of progesterone concentration. With the advancement of day of treatment, number of total follicles, small follicles, and medium follicles tended to increase to the greatest values at the day of CIDR device insertion. Furthermore, at day of mating, the numbers of large follicles reached the greatest value, which was associated with the lowest value of the number of corpora lutea. At day of mating, serum progesterone concentration achieved the lowest value, which increased until d 56 of pregnancy. The estradiol:progesterone ratio showed the opposite trend. The detrimental effect of reproductive seasonality, expressed as cessation of estrus behavior and fertile mating during the nonbreeding season, was successfully alleviated by the CIDR-eCG protocol. Furthermore, melatonin implantation in conjunction with the CIDR-eCG protocol enhanced conception rate and fecundity at d 28 of pregnancy and prolificacy at d 56 of pregnancy compared with does that were not implanted. Interestingly, does that failed to conceive did not come to heat again. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of melatonin implantation in conjunction with the CIDR-eCG protocol on the luteotrophic effect was reflected in the increasing number of corpora lutea, increasing progesterone concentration, and decreasing estradiol concentration. Furthermore, conception rate, prolificacy, and fecundity were improved compared with does that were not implanted during the nonbreeding season.

Effects of melatonin implants on reproductive performance of dairy sheep and dairy goats

“…El‐Mokadem et al. (2017) showed that Melatonin + controlled internal drug release treatment increased conception rate, fecundity, and prolificacy compared to the control group in Anglo‐Nubian goats.…”

“…Melatonin, which is secreted depending on the neuroendocrine signal that transmits information about the environmental light received by the retina, is a hormone used for out-of-season breeding rather than oestrus synchronization (El-Mokadem et al, 2017;Uyar & Alan, 2008;Zarazaga et al, 2011). It has been determined that out-of-season melatonin application makes a positive contribution to the reproductive performance in sheep and goats (El-Mokadem et al, 2017;Mura et al, 2017;Uyar & Alan, 2008;Zarazaga et al, 2011). Melatonin increases the likelihood of implantation and embryo survival by increasing progesterone synthesis, in addition to its beneficial effect in starting early oestrus cycles (Abecia et al, 2002;Zuniga et al, 2002).…”

Research progress on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction: A comprehensive review

“…Melatonin and its metabolites act as dominant antioxidants, which can possibly prevent early ovarian miscarriage. From the current literature of background work (Arendt, ; Banach, Gurdziel, Jedrych, & Borowicz, ; De Leersnyder et al., ; Duffield et al., ; El‐Mokadem et al., ; Grossman, Laudon, & Zisapel, ; Henriquez et al., ; Hillier, ; Howard & Lutterschmidt, ; Hu, Christian, Sipes, & Hoyer, ; Jan et al., ; Kang et al., ; Koppisetti et al., ; Li et al., ; Maganhin et al., ; Mukherjee et al., ; Peres, Masruha, Zukerman, Moreira‐Filho, & Cavalheiro, ; Pierce & Parsons, ; Reiter et al., ; Reiter et al., ; Rozen, ; Saenz De Miera et al., ; Sambrook & Russell, ; Sanchez‐Barcelo et al., ; Singh & Haldar, ; Singh & Jadhav, ; Tian et al., ; Ubuka et al., ; Valenzuela, Vera, Venegas, Pino, & Lagunas, ; Vijayalaxmi, Reiter, Herman, & Meltz, , ; Weems, Goodman, & Lehman, ; Yoshimura, ; Yumnamcha et al., ), there has been extensive progress of action mechanism of melatonin and its related areas. For instance, the protection of gametes and embryos (Voiculescu et al., ), the response of clock genes (Saenz De Miera et al., ; Vriend & Reiter, ) and the immune‐neuroendocrine interactions (Vijayalaxmi et al., ) reconcile seasonal variations in immune functions and the silencing or blockage of genes.…”

“…The current investigation of this literature shows that melatonin performs a vigorous action in the pathogenesis of several reproductive practices. Melatonin consistently occurs in animals' pre-ovulation follicular fluid, and the melatonin receptors exist in ovarian GPs, which (Arendt, 1986;Banach, Gurdziel, Jedrych, & Borowicz, 2011;De Leersnyder et al, 2003;Duffield et al, 2002;El-Mokadem et al, 2017;Grossman, Laudon, & Zisapel, 2011;Henriquez et al, 2017;Hillier, 1994;Howard & Lutterschmidt, 2015;Hu, Christian, Sipes, & Hoyer, 2001;Jan et al, 2000;Kang et al, 2009;Koppisetti et al, 2008;Li et al, 2011;Maganhin et al, 2013;Mukherjee et al, 2015;Peres, Masruha, Zukerman, Moreira-Filho, & Cavalheiro, 2006;Pierce & Parsons, 1981;Reiter et al, 2010;Reiter et al, 2014;Rozen, 2003;Saenz De Miera et al, 2014;Sambrook & Russell, 2001;Sanchez-Barcelo et al, 2005;Singh & Haldar, 2007;Singh & Jadhav, 2014;Tian et al, 2017;Ubuka et al, 2012;Valenzuela, Vera, Venegas, Pino, & Lagunas, 2015;Vijayalaxmi, Reiter, Herman, & Meltz, 1996Weems, Goodman, & Lehman, 2015;Yoshimura, 2010;Yumnamcha et al, 2017), there has been extensive progress of action mechanism of melatonin and its related areas. For instance, the protection of gametes and embryos (Voiculescu et al, 2014), the response of clock genes…”

Efficacy of Melatonin Administration Via Different Route on Reproductive Performance and Blood Mineral Profile in Chhotanagpuri Ewe

“…Thus, photoperiod is a major factor influencing reproductive activity in small ruminants (Bedos et al, 2014). Melatonin is a neuroendocrine signal that transduces information about the environmental light received by retina (El-Mokadem et al, 2017). The use of exogenous melatonin has received much attention across the globe to control reproductive activity (Abecia et al, 2011).…”