Effect of suppression of plasma prolactin on luteinizing hormone concentration, intersequence pause days and egg production in domestic hen

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of suppression of plasma prolactin (PRL) concentration on circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2β), pause days and egg production in birds later in the reproductive period. Twenty-four White Leghorn birds of same age group were divided into two groups of 12 in each. Birds of each group were administered s/c either with placebo (control group) or equal volumes of anti PRL agent (2-bromo-α-ergocriptine) solution containing at 100 μg/kg body weight/hen/week (treated group) from 72 to 82 weeks of age. Egg production and inter sequence pauses were recorded daily from both the groups. Plasma PRL, LH, E2β and P4 concentrations were estimated in blood samples collected at weekly intervals. At 77th weeks of age, blood samples from treated and control birds were obtained every 3 h for 36 h to study the surges of LH. It was found that plasma PRL concentration was lower (p < 0.01) in bromocriptine treated birds with high concentrations of LH, its 3 h LH surges, E2β and P4 in plasma. Higher egg production, less pause days in treated birds may be the result of low PRL concentration, associated with positively correlated responses of high concentrations of LH (with regular interval and duration of LH surges), E2β and P4 concentration required for completion of egg formation and oviposition. In conclusion, bromocriptine administration decreased (p < 0.01) PRL concentration increased (p < 0.01) steroid hormones and LH surges, for egg formation and oviposition and enabled the birds to lay more eggs even later in the productive period with the available resources under normal husbandry practices.