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Socha P, Bladowska K, Zduńczyk S, Janowski T. Aglepristone Administration in Mid-Proestrus Reduces the LH Peak but Does Not Prevent Ovulation in the Bitch. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071922. [PMID: 34203449 PMCID: PMC8300317 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The role of preovulatory progesterone for LH release and ovulation in the bitch is not clear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of administration of aglepristone in mid-proestrus on progesterone concentration, LH release, and occurrence of ovulation in the bitch. Experimental bitches (n = 7) were treated on days 4 and 5 of proestrus with aglepristone (Alizin®, Virbac) at the dose of 10 mg/kg body weight s.c. (i.e., the two treatments were 24 h apart). The progesterone concentration showed a similar pattern in both groups. The LH peak value and area under the curve for LH in bitches treated with aglepristone were significantly lower than those in control bitches. The ovulation occurred in all animals in both groups. The presented study showed that withdrawal of progesterone by administration of aglepristone in the mid-proestrus significantly reduced the preovulatory LH surge, but it had no effect on periovulatory progesterone concentration or the occurrence of ovulation. Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of administration of aglepristone in mid-proestrus on progesterone concentration, LH release, and occurrence of ovulation in the bitch. Experimental bitches (n = 7) were treated on days 4 and 5 of proestrus with aglepristone at the dose of 10 mg/kg body weight s.c. (i.e., the two treatments were 24 h apart). Control animals (n = 7) received s.c. injections of saline. For progesterone determination, blood was collected daily until the first day of cytological diestrus. For LH determination, blood was collected daily and in the periovulatory phase every 8 h. The progesterone concentration showed a similar pattern in both groups. The LH peak value in bitches treated with aglepristone was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in control bitches (4.83 ± 1.20 vs. 13.66 ± 1.21 ng/mL). The area under the curve (AUC) for LH was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in treated than in control animals (6.85 ± 1.21 ng/mL/d vs. 12.25 ± 1.35 ng/mL/d). The ovulation occurred in all animals in both groups. The study showed that administration of aglepristone in the mid-proestrus significantly reduced the preovulatory LH surge, but it had no effect on progesterone concentration and the occurrence of ovulation.
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Andoni E, Curone G, Agradi S, Barbato O, Menchetti L, Vigo D, Zelli R, Cotozzolo E, Ceccarini MR, Faustini M, Quattrone A, Castrica M, Brecchia G. Effect of Goji Berry ( Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061672. [PMID: 34205213 PMCID: PMC8227310 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Infectious diseases represent serious problems for the reproductive performance of livestock animals because they negatively affect not only the welfare of the animals, but also the profitability of the farm. Moreover, the European Community continues to promote the reduction of the use of antibiotics and hormones in animal breeding. In this context, it is necessary to find new nutritional approaches to reduce the negative energy balance, and at the same time, to reinforce the immune system of the animals. In this research, the effect of goji berry supplementation on the reproductive activity and productive performance of rabbits is evaluated. Lycium barbarum fruit is considered a nutraceutical natural product containing various biologically active substances that show health benefits for both humans and animals. In particular, the berry can modulate hormones and metabolites involved in energy balance and reproduction, stimulate and balance the immune system activity, contributing to the defense of the organism against pathogens. Our results suggest that the integration with goji berry in the rabbit diet at 1% affects the reproductive activity, influencing the pattern secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogens, as well as the sexual receptivity. Moreover, the fruit induced a higher milk production, improving the productive performance of young rabbits. Abstract Goji berry shows a wide range of beneficial properties in human health, but only a few studies evaluated its effects in livestock animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of goji berry supplementation on the hormonal profile, productive, and reproductive performance of does. Two months before artificial insemination, 105 nulliparous does were randomly divided into three groups (n = 35) based on the dietary treatment: commercial diet (C), or a diet supplemented with either 1% (G1), or 3% (G3) of goji berry, respectively. The results showed that receptivity was higher in G1 than in the C group (p < 0.05). Trends toward significance for differences between the G1 and G3 groups in marginal means of LH concentrations (p = 0.059), and between G1 and C in LH AUC values (p = 0.078), were evidenced. Estrogen concentrations showed a more fluctuating trend but a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The G1 group showed higher litter weight than C at birth (p = 0.008) and weaning (p < 0.001), as well as higher litter size at weaning (p = 0.020). The G1 group also exhibited the highest mean milk production (p < 0.01). In conclusion, goji berry influenced reproductive and productive performance, probably via modulating hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits. However, further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egon Andoni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Albania, 1029 Kamez, Albania;
| | - Giulio Curone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Stella Agradi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Olimpia Barbato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Laura Menchetti
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40137 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-34583
| | - Daniele Vigo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Riccardo Zelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Elisa Cotozzolo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy;
| | | | - Massimo Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Alda Quattrone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Marta Castrica
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni”, University of Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Brecchia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
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