Ovarian follicular dynamics in buffaloes during different estrus synchronization protocols

Abstract

The current study was carried out on 26 normal cycling buffaloes. Animals were divided into 4 groups according to the hormonal treatment regime. Group 1 included 11 buffaloes without hormonal treatment. Group 2: five buffaloes injected with one dose of 25 mg prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α) after ultrasound diagnosis of a mature corpus luteaum in one ovary. Group 3: five buffaloes injected blindly with two doses of 25 mg PGF2α 11-days interval. Group 4: five buffaloes treated with ovsynch protocol. The pattern of follicular growth (FG) and the corpus luteum (CL) regression were monitored by transrectal ultrasound scanning. Estradiol 17β and progesterone profiles were estimated by radioimmunoassay for all groups. Buffaloes in Group 1 showed two (72.7%) or three (27.3%) waves-like patterns of follicular development. The average length of the estrous cycle was 21.75±0.53 and 27.0±0.58 days in 2- and 3- wave cycle respectively. The duration of the CL was 16.63±0.53 and 22.3±0.88 days in 2- and 3- wave cycles. One buffalo in Group 2 did not respond to injection of a single dose of PGF2α, while the other 4 responded. On the day of injection the diameter of the CL was 1.90±0.11 cm and that of dominant follicle was 0.97±0.07 cm. On day 2 after injection the follicle diameter was 1.4±0.09 cm and the preovulatory follicle on days 3-4 was 1.5±0.03 cm. The regressing CL diameter was 1.3±0.07 cm and progesterone level decreased from 6.27±0.82 ng/mL on day 0, to 0.13±0.06 ng/mL on days 3-4 post injection. Estradiol levels were increased from 5.40±1.2 pg/mL on day 0, to 15.09±1.97 pg/mL on day 3-4 post injection. After injection of the first dose of PGF2α, in group 3 the maximum follicle diameter was 1.10±0.04 cm on day 6, then started to regress (0.60±0.04 cm) on days 13-17 after injection. In the 2nd wave, the ovulatory follicle showed marked increase from day 2 (0.34±0.01 cm) till days 13-17 (1.33±0.08 cm). The diameter of CL increased from 1.53±0.03 cm on day 0 of treatment to 1.71±0.04 cm on day 7 of treatment. The second dose of PGF2α resulted in rapid decrease in the diameter of dominant follicle of the first wave from 0.88±0.05 cm on day 11 of treatment to 0.60±0.04 cm on days 13-17 (day of estrus) and rapid increase in the diameter of dominant follicle of the second wave from 0.89±0.08 cm on day 11 to 1.33±0.08 cm on days 13-17. Injection of the second dose of PGF2α on day 11 of treatment caused rapid decline in the progesterone level from 5.62±0.45 ng/mL on day 10, to 1.09±0.34 ng/mL on day 12, and 0.17±0.05 ng/mL on days 13-17. Estradiol levels were 0.76±0.42, 3.97±1.05 and 5.59±1.36 pg/mL on days 10, 12 and days 13-17. In group 4, the diameter of the largest follicle of the four ovulated buffaloes after first gonadotropin-releasing hormone administration was 1.24±0.09 cm, while that of the unovulated buffalo was 0.97 cm. The diameter of the largest follicle of the ovulated buffaloes was 1.03±0.07 and 1.32±0.03 cm on days 7 and 9 of the treatment. The diameter of the CL was 1.6±0.05 and 1.22±0.07 cm on days 7 and 9 of the treatment. The mean concentration of progesterone level was 1.89±0.56 ng/mL on day 6, 0.27±0.12 ng/mL on day 8 and to 0.04±0.01 ng/mL on day 9 of treatment. The mean concentration of estradiol level was 16.07±9.29, 1.11±0.68 and 2.41±0.93 pg/mL on days 6, 8 and 9 of the treatment.

GPGMH, a New Fixed Timed-AI Synchronization Regimen for Swamp and River Crossbred Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Although the conception rate in the present study was much lower, as reported in river-type buffaloes ( 12 ), it might be linked to breeding differences, management, and the environmental conditions of study sites. Follicular development was rapid, because of development in GPG protocol that corroborates earlier studies ( 17 , 18 ). The increased follicular development in this study was linked to the selection of animals with similar follicular stages at the first injection of GnRH in GPG protocol.…”

Follicular Dynamics and Endocrine Profile during Normal Estrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy in Surti Buffaloes

“…The characteristics of follicular dynamics observed in cyclic Surti buffaloes indicated that 33.33% (n=2) and 66.66% (n=4) of buffaloes had one-and two-waves of follicular development, respectively, while in early pregnant buffaloes one-and two-waves of follicular patterns were in equal proportion (50.00% n=3 each, Table 1, 2). Similar predominant two-wave pattern of follicular development in buffaloes ranging from 53.0 to 83.3% was reported by Baruselli et al (1997), Presicce et al (2005), Noseir et al (2014) and Gaur and Purohit (2019). However, 62.5% of one-wave pattern in water buffaloes (Awasthi et al, 2006) and 53.6% and 83.3% of three wave pattern in Egyptian buffaloes (Barkawi et al, 2009) and in Graded Murrah buffaloes (Satheshkumar et al, 2011) were also reported.…”

Follicular dynamics and colour Doppler vascularity evaluations of follicles and corpus luteum in relation to plasma progesterone during the oestrous cycle of Surti buffaloes

“…It has widened our understanding on the utero‐ovarian functions particularly in cattle. However, limited information on ultrasonographic evaluation of follicular dynamics during the oestrous cycle of buffalo revealed the presence of 1, 2 or 3 wave pattern with two‐wave cycle being common in Murrah (Manik, Singla, Palta, & Madan, ; Taneja, Ali, & Singh, ), Nili‐Ravi (Warriach & Ahmad, ), Egyptian (Barkawi et al, ; Noseir, El‐Bawab, Hassan, & Fadel, ), Mediterranean (Neglia et al, ) and Brazilian (Baruselli et al, ) buffaloes. One‐wave cycle is uncommon in buffalo with the exception of single report on Mehsana breed of buffalo.…”