Effect of exogenous melatonin on endocrinological profiles, biochemical and antioxidant and oxidative stress profiles in post-partum anestrus Andaman local buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in tropical island ecosystem

Andaman local buffalo (ALB) is distributed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ALB is non-descriptive and represents admixture of different Indian breeds of buffaloes. ALB is suffering infertility due to anestrus in dry (summer) season. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effect of slow release subcutaneous exogenous melatonin (MT) implant on hematological profiles, endocrinological profiles (cortisol and prolactin), biochemical profile (total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose and total cholesterol), antioxidant profiles [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] and oxidative stress profile (malondialdehyde; MDA) in anestrus buffalo cows during summer to improve its reproductive efficiency. Experimental buffaloes (5–7 years of age) were selected and divided into two groups, Gr I: Control (n=6) and Gr II: Treatment (n=6; melatonin implant @ 18 mg/50 kg b.wt). Statistical analysis revealed that these experimental profiles differed significantly between treatment and control groups. Blood profiles revealed that anestrus buffalo suffered severe macrocytic hypochromic anemia with increased leukocytosis and MT has improved the health status of reproductive system and whole body systems. Concentration of cortisol and prolactin were lower in MT treated than in control group. Similarly, antioxidant profiles were higher and oxidative stress profile was lower in MT treated group than in control group. Biochemical profiles were increased in MT treated than in untreated buffalos. Study concludes that melatonin had significant beneficial effects in improvement of the antioxidant profiles, minimization of oxidative stress with cascading beneficial effects on hormone, biochemical and hematological profiles, which will improve the cyclicity and fertility rate in anestrus buffalo during summers in humid tropical island ecosystem.

Effect of melatonin on visceral fat deposition, lipid metabolism and hepatic lipo-metabolic gene expression in male rats

Melatonin (MT) influences lipid metabolism in animals; however, the mechanistic effect of melatonin on liver fat and abdominal adipose deposition requires further clarity. In order to study the effects of melatonin on lipid metabolism, and hepatic fat and abdominal adipose deposition in animals, twenty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of 6 weeks of age with similar bodyweight were randomly divided into two groups: control (CTL) and MT-treated (10 mg/kg/day). During a 60-day experiment, food intake and bodyweight were measured daily and weekly respectively. At the end of treatment, blood samples were collected to collect plasma to quantify hormones and metabolic indicators of lipid metabolism. In addition, organ and abdominal adipose depots including liver, and omental, perirenal, and epididymal fat were weighed. Liver tissue was sampled for sectioning, long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) quantification, and gene chip and Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses. The results showed that liver weight and index (ratio of liver weight to body weight) in MT group reduced by 20.69% and 9.63% respectively; omentum weight and index reduced by 59.88% and 54.93% respectively, and epididymal fat weight reduced by 45.34% (p = 0.049), relative to CTL. Plasma lipid indices, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC) with MT treatment decreased significantly compared with the control. Fat and 8 LCFA content in liver in MT group also decreased. Gene chip and qPCR demonstrated that there were 289 genes up-regulated and 293 genes down-regulated by MT. Further analysis found that the mRNA expression of lipolysis-related genes increased, while the mRNA expression of lipogenesis-related enzymes decreased (p < 0.05) with MT. This study concluded that melatonin greatly affected fat deposition, and hepatic LCFA supply and the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis.

HS. Effect of Melatonin and in Combination with CIDR on Reproductive Performance in anestrus lactating Iraqi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The present study was performed on 30 lactating Iraqi buffaloes suffered from ovarian inactivity diagnosed by rectal palpation during 60-90 days postpartum, aged between 3-6 years at Al-Thahab Al-Abiad village / Abu-Graib / Baghdad province during the period from February- June 2020 . The animals divided into three equal groups (10 buffaloes for each one). 1st group treated with melatonin implants (90mg/animals/SC) for 30 days but 2nd group treated with melatonin implants conjugated with CIDR (1.38 gm) in day 20 for 10 days, 3rd group without treatment (control group). The results in this study were recorded animal response 90%, 100% and 50% in 1st ,2nd and 3rd groups respectively with superior significantly (P<0.01) for treated groups compared with control group and 8.26±1.33, 7.15±0.97 and 160.5±14.31 days which represented the duration of response in 1st ,2nd and 3rd groups respectively with significantly differences (P<0.01) related with control, but the number of services per conception recorded insignificantly in all groups, while the pregnancy rate revealed significant differences (P<0.01) in treated group compared with control group. Finally the days open recorded 153.6±6.72, 142.8±7.45 and 217.3±19.56 in 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups respectively with highly significantly (P<0.01) in treated group compared with control group. In conclusion in present study, the role of melatonin in improvement of reproductive performance in anestrus lactating Iraqi buffaloes suffered from ovarian inactivity was safe and effective