Plasma profiles of progesterone and total oestrogens in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) around parturition

Abstract

S U M M A R YBlood samples were collected three times weekly for 21 days before and after calving (day 0) from 29 buffalo cows and 22 buffalo heifers. Plasma concentrations of progesterone and total oestrogens were quantified by validated radioimmunoassays. Ovarian activity and uterine involution were monitored by rectal palpation at the sampling times and extended up to 60 days postpartum. The concentration of plasma progesterone in cows declined from 30 + 0-2 ng/ml (mean + s.E.) during days 21-17 before calving to 2-1 ±0-1 ng/ml at day -3, followed by a rapid fall during the last 3 days of gestation, reaching 1-2 + 0-3 ng/ml at the day of parturition. In heifers, plasma progesterone values increased slightly from 2-9 + 0-2 ng/ml at days 21-19 before parturition to 3-4 + 0-3 ng/ml by day -1 and then fell sharply to 2 1 + 0 1 ng/ml at calving time. During the postpartum period, plasma progesterone! decreased gradually and reached baseline values after day 15 postpartum, when the residual corpus luteum of pregnancy had completely regressed in all the animals studied. The plasma concentrations of total oestrogens started to increase at day -15 in cows and day -5 in heifers from below 40 pg/ ml to 122-5 ± 5 1 pg/ml for cows and 100-7 + 3-4 pg/ml for heifers by day -1. This was followed by a sharp increase to 251-2+17-3 and 240-5+10-1 pg/ml in these animals at the day of calving. Immediately after parturition, total oestrogens dropped abruptly to the lowest values and remained below 30 pg/ml in all cows and heifers until the end of the sampling period. We concluded that female foetuses significantly (P < 0-05) increased the maternal total oestrogens. Moreover, animals having postpartum disorders had significantly higher values for progesterone (P < 005) and lower values for total oestrogens (P < 001) than those having normal puerperal periods, but the magnitude of this difference varied in samplings between cows and heifers.

Impact of bypass fat and mineral supplementation peripartum on plasma profile of steroid hormones PGFM and postpartum fertility in Jaffarabadi buffaloes

“…In the present study, the basal value of progesterone found on the day of calving was suggestive of complete luteolysis at parturition and corroborated with the findings of Momongan et al (1990) and Kalasariya et al (2017). These findings are also in agreement with the Pahwa and Pandey (1983) and El-Belely et al (1988), who reported that the concentration of progesterone tended to decline from the day of parturition and then decreased linearly until complete regression of the residual corpus luteum of pregnancy by day 15 postpartum in non-suckled Murrah and Egyptian buffaloes, respectively. Cerri et al (2009) and Tyagi et al (2010) found that the nutrients supplemented cows had significantly higher progesterone values as compared to control group.…”

Progesterone, oestrogens and selected biochemical constituents in plasma and uterine flushings of normal and repeat-breeder buffalo cows

“…Plasma concentrations of progesterone and total unconjugated oestrogens were analysed in duplicate by radioimmunoassay. The specificity of the antiprogesterone and anti-oestrogen antisera, prepared in the laboratory of the Physiology Institute, Veterinary School, Hanover, Germany, has been described previously (El-Belely et al 1988). Plasma was extracted with petroleum ether for progesterone and ether for oestrogens.…”

Effect of rbST on Serum Biochemical Values During Various Physiological and Weather Conditions in Kundhi Buffaloes

“…Similarly a clear increase of progesterone concentration was reported during the last 15-30 days (Perera, et al, [21], Kamonpatana, [22], Momongan, et al, [23]). Peak values noted were [24]) and 5 ng/ml on day-5 in mature buffaloes (Pathak and Janakiraman, [25]). On the contrary gradual decrease starting 17-30 days before calving (Arora and Pandey, [26], Prakash and Madan, [27], El-Belely, et al, [24]) with sharp decline as early as 8 days (Eissa, et al, [28]) or as late as 1-3 days before parturition (Batra, et al, [29], Barkawi, et al, [30], Prakash and Madan, [27]) were described.…”

“…Peak values noted were [24]) and 5 ng/ml on day-5 in mature buffaloes (Pathak and Janakiraman, [25]). On the contrary gradual decrease starting 17-30 days before calving (Arora and Pandey, [26], Prakash and Madan, [27], El-Belely, et al, [24]) with sharp decline as early as 8 days (Eissa, et al, [28]) or as late as 1-3 days before parturition (Batra, et al, [29], Barkawi, et al, [30], Prakash and Madan, [27]) were described. Never the less irrespective of the above mentioned debate, in all cases a precipitous decline of progesterone level occurred on the day of calving.…”

“…In some reports (Kamonpatana, [22], Prakash and Madan, [27], Momongan, et al, [23], Eissa, et al, [28] and Tiwari, et al, [31]) basal values 0.1-0.6 ng/ml were reached during calving suggesting complete luteolysis at parturition, with no significant changes during the postpartum period. In the others decline of progesterone continued during the postpartum period to reach minimum levels on day-6 (Bahga and Gangawar, [32] and Bahga, [33]) to day-15 (El-Belely, et al, [24]), indicating complete regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy was reported by Pahwa and Pandey, [34]. Demise of the corpus luteum after calving expressed by progesterone concentration on Day-3 postpartum was no different in milked and suckled buffaloes (Arya and Madan, [35]).…”