Reproductive hormones profile of Iraqi Awassi ewes immunized against synthetic inhibin-α subunit or steroid-free bovine follicular fluid

Abstract

The current study was conducted to investigate the impacts of active and passive immunization against synthetic inhibin-α subunit and steroid-free bovine follicular fluid, respectively, on reproductive hormones profile out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes. Follicular fluid was aspired from mature bovine follicles, treated with activated charcoal, used for immunization of male rabbits, and obtaining of SFBFF antiserum. Forty non-pregnant Awassi ewes were allocated into 4 groups (n = 10 each). At day 38 of experiment, ewes were treated with intra-vaginal sponge impregated with medroxyprogesterone acetate 60 mg for 12 days. Ewes were treated at 0, 28 and 50 days with 4, 2 and 2 ml of normal saline (control; C-ve), 400, 200 and 200 µg of ovalbumine (C+ve), 400, 200 and 200 µg of inhibin (SI group), and 4 ml of normal saline at 0 day, and 4ml and 2ml of SFBFF antiserum, at 28 and 50 days, respectively (AI group). Blood samples were collected at 24 and 48 hours before and after sponge withdrawal for assessment of FSH, LH, inhibin-B, Activin-A, E2 and P4. Before sponge withdrawal, FSH level increased in SI ewes, whereas only after sponge withdrawal, FSH, LH, activin-A and E2 levels increased in SI and AI ewes. Opposite results were shown of inhibin-B level. In conclusion, active or passive immunization against inhibin in Awassi ewes could augment reproductive functions out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes.

Ovarian morphometric evolution in two consecutive estrous cycles of female rats treated with steroid-free bovine follicular fluid antiserum

“…Furthermore, the increased level of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors (3,29) could be the cause of increased ovarian weights, as insulin-like growth factors participates in the growth of follicles by stimulating the biosynthesis of DNA in granulosa cells and follicle cells (30,31). Pituitary activin (5,6) may also play an indirect role by influencing the secretion of FSH from the pituitary gland, as well as the direct effects of ovarian inhibin and activins on ovarian follicle growth and development (4,32,33).…”

“…The commonly used method for induction superovulation in mice and rats is the treatment with combined equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but recently an alternative method was performed for this purpose (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Many studies have used the alternative way in which the induction of superovulation can be attained and overcome the problems that occur in mice and rats.…”

“…Many studies have used the alternative way in which the induction of superovulation can be attained and overcome the problems that occur in mice and rats. Furthermore, these studies have reported that an active or passive immunization against inhibin has the ability to induce superovulation in both the adult and immature mice and rats (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Inhibin are glycoproteins and members of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family.…”

Effect of steroid-free follicular fluid antiserum on reproductive endocrine profile at estrous and metestrus phases in female rats

“…The current study illustrated that S-FBFF-ab treatment caused a significant elevation in the levels of serum FSH and estradiol, at the early estrus phase, due to passive immunization against inhibin, by preventing inhibin from its negative feedback control on FSH secretion from the pituitary gland (9,19,20). This elevation could be the result of increased activin action on pituitary cells, producing gonadotropins, since stimulation the secretion of FSH is due to the functional antagonism of action between activin and inhibin, where inhibin counteracts the action of activin on the same receptors (11,21).…”

“…Researchers have other choices to be induce superovulation, other than eCG-hCG treatment, in order to solve this problem in rats and immunizing against inhibin as in other animals. Multiple discoveries have proven that immunization against inhibins stimulates superovulation in both immature and adult rats (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”