کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
2072430 | 1544705 | 2016 | 9 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
• Exogenous hormone use alters ovine cervicovaginal mucus characteristics.
• Mucus is most abundant, clear in colour and less proteinaceous at oestrus.
• Superovulation increases mucus production and protein concentration in Merino ewes.
• Synchronisation of oestrus using PGF2α reduced volume of mucus produced.
Controlled breeding programmes utilising exogenous hormones are common in the Australian sheep industry, however the effects of such programmes on cervicovaginal mucus properties are lacking. As such, the aim of this study was to investigate cervicovaginal (CV) mucus from naturally cycling (NAT), progesterone synchronised (P4), prostaglandin synchronised (PGF2α), and superovulated (SOV) Merino ewes. Experiment 1; volume, colour, spinnbarkeit, chemical profile and protein concentration of mucus (NAT, P4, PGF2α and SOV; n = 5 ewes/treatment) during the follicular (5 d) and luteal phases (8 d) was investigated. Experiment 2; in vivo mucus pH and in vitro mucus penetration by frozen-thawed spermatozoa (NAT, P4 and SOV; n = 11 ewes/treatment) was investigated over oestrus (2 d) and the mid-luteal phase (pH only, 2 d). Oestrus mucus was more abundant, clearer in colour and less proteinaceous than luteal phase mucus (p < 0.05). SOV increased mucus production and protein concentration (p < 0.05) while PGF2α reduced mucus volume (p < 0.05). Mucus pH (oestrus 6.2–6.5), chemical profile and mucus penetration by sperm were unchanged (p > 0.05). Results indicate that exogenous hormones used for controlled breeding affect cervicovaginal mucus production, but few other tested characteristics. Further research is required to explain fertility differences between synchronised and naturally cycling animals following cervical AI.
Journal: Animal Reproduction Science - Volume 172, September 2016, Pages 114–122