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El Allali K, Beniaich Y, Farsi H, M′hani MEM, Jabal MS, Piro M, Achaâban MR, Ouassat M, Challet E, Besson M, Mounach J, Pévet P, Satté A. Sleep pattern in the dromedary camel: a behavioral and polysomnography study. Sleep 2022; 45:6580315. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study Objectives
To investigate sleep patterns in the camel by combining behavioral and polysomnography (PSG) methods.
Methods
A noninvasive PSG study was conducted over four nights on four animals. Additionally, video recordings were used to monitor the sleep behaviors associated with different vigilance states.
Results
During the night, short periods of sporadic sleep-like behavior corresponding to a specific posture, sternal recumbency (SR) with the head lying down on the ground, were observed. The PSG results showed rapid shifts between five vigilance states, including wakefulness, drowsiness, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, non-REM (NREM) sleep, and rumination. The camels typically slept only 1.7 hours per night, subdivided into 0.5 hours of REM sleep and 1.2 hours of NREM sleep. Camels spent most of the night being awake (2.3 hours), ruminating (2.4 hours), or drowsing (1.9 hours). Various combinations of transitions between the different vigilance states were observed, with a notable transition into REM sleep directly from drowsiness (9%) or wakefulness (4%). Behavioral postures were found to correlate with PSG vigilance states, thereby allowing a reliable prediction of the sleep stage based on SR and the head position (erected, motionless, or lying down on the ground). Notably, 100% of REM sleep occurred during the Head Lying Down-SR posture.
Conclusions
The camel is a diurnal species with a polyphasic sleep pattern at night. The best correlation between PSG and ethogram data indicates that sleep duration can be predicted by the behavioral method, provided that drowsiness is considered a part of sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Allali
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Younes Beniaich
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Hicham Farsi
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohammed El Mehdi M′hani
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohamed Sobhi Jabal
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic Animals, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Etienne Challet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Mireille Besson
- Cognitive Neurosciences Laboratory, CNRS and Aix-Marseille University , Marseille , France
| | - Jamal Mounach
- Department of Neurophysiology, Military Hospital Mohammed V , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Paul Pévet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Amal Satté
- Department of Neurophysiology, Military Hospital Mohammed V , Rabat , Morocco
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Farsi H, Harti D, Rachid Achaâban M, Piro M, Ouassat M, Challet E, Pévet P, El Allali K. Seasonal variations in locomotor activity rhythm and diurnal activity in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) under mesic semi-natural conditions. Chronobiol Int 2021; 39:129-150. [PMID: 34965824 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2021.1984936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large ungulate that copes well with the xeric environment of the desert. Its peculiar adaptation to heat and dehydration is well-known. However, its behavior and general activity is far from being completely understood. The present study was carried out to investigate the ecological effect of the various seasons on the locomotor activity (LA) rhythm and diurnal activity of this species. Six adult female camels were maintained under mesic semi-natural conditions of the environment during four periods of 10 days in each season: autumn, winter, spring and summer. In addition, three female camels were used to test the effect of rain on the LA rhythm during a period of 18 days during the winter. The animal's LA was recorded using the locomotion scoring method. Camels displayed a clear 24.0h LA rhythm throughout the four seasons. Activity was intense during Day-time (6-22 fold higher in comparison to night) and dropped or completely disappeared during nighttime. Mean daytime total activity was significantly higher in the summer as compared to winter. Regardless of the season, the active phase in camels coincided with the time of the photophase and thermophase. Furthermore, the daily duration of the time spent active was directly correlated to the seasonal changes of photoperiod. The diurnal activity remained unchanged over the four seasons. For each season, the start and the end of the active phase were synchronized with the onset of sunrise and sunset. At these time periods, temperature remained incredibly stable with a change ranging from 0.002 to 0.210°C; whereas, changes of light intensity were greater and faster with a change from 0.1 to 600 lux representing a variation of 3215-7192 fold in just 25-29 min. Rainfall affected the pattern of the LA rhythm with occurrence of abnormal nocturnal activity during nighttime disturbing nocturnal rest and sleep. Here we show that the dromedary camel exhibits significant seasonal changes of its activity within daylight hours. However, the diurnal pattern remains unchanged regardless of the season; whereas, abnormal nocturnal activity is observed during periods of rain. The activity onset and offset in this species seems to be primarily driven by the changes in light intensity at dusk and dawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hicham Farsi
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Driss Harti
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic Animals, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Etienne Challet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Khalid El Allali
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
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Daden R, Zarhouni FZ, Chakir J, Piro M, Achaâban MR, Ouassat M, El Allali K. Plasmapheresis Effect on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Athletic Horses Subjected to Exercise. J Equine Vet Sci 2019; 81:102785. [PMID: 31668306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of plasmapheresis on clinical, hematological, and biochemical parameters after exercise, a plasmapheresis session was realized on six jumping horses (plasmapheresis group) that underwent three consecutive days of physical graded exercise. The control group (n = 6) went through the same exercise but not subjected to the plasmapheresis session. Seventeen milliliters of plasma/kg of body weight was harvested from each horse. The procedure was well tolerated by the horses. The plasmapheresis leads to a significant increase of the hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, white blood cell, and lymphocytes counts. Plasmapheresis induced a very significant decrease (P < .001) of albumin and globulin levels and of total protein, which were reestablished 24 hours later. Plasmapheresis also generated a very significant increase (P < .001) in sodium levels and a significant decline of potassium (P < .05) and calcium (P < .01) levels. Several other biochemical variables remained unchanged. Results also showed that, after a significant rise of lactate, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase levels which are subsequent to the exercise, the plasmapheresis session induced a very significant continuous decrease (P < .001) of these parameters. The present work has demonstrated that the plasmapheresis is able to modify the physiology after exercise and to affect both the hematology and the biochemistry of the blood hematobiochemical parameters in horses subjected to physical exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réda Daden
- Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco; Jumenterie de Zouada, Veterinary Hospital- Royal Guard, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Fatima Zahraa Zarhouni
- Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Jamal Chakir
- Veterinary Hospital- Royal Guard, Rabat-Morocco, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, PMC- EC, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Khalid El Allali
- Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco.
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Ainani H, El Bousmaki N, Poirel VJ, Achaâban MR, Ouassat M, Piro M, Klosen P, Simonneaux V, El Allali K. The dromedary camel displays annual variation in hypothalamic kisspeptin and Arg-Phe-amide-related peptide-3 according to sex, season, and breeding activity. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:32-47. [PMID: 31251823 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a desert mammal whose cycles in reproductive activity ensure that the offspring's birth and weaning coincide with periods of abundant food resources and favorable climate conditions. In this study, we assessed whether kisspeptin (Kp) and arginine-phenylalanine (RF)-amide related peptide-3 (RFRP-3), two hypothalamic peptides known to regulate the mammalian hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis, may be involved in the seasonal control of camel's reproduction. Using specific antibodies and riboprobes, we found that Kp neurons are present in the preoptic area (POA), suprachiasmatic (SCN), and arcuate (ARC) nuclei, and that RFRP-3 neurons are present in the paraventricular (PVN), dorsomedial (DMH), and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamic nuclei. Kp fibers are found in various hypothalamic areas, notably the POA, SCN, PVN, DMH, VMH, supraoptic nucleus, and the ventral and dorsal premammillary nucleus. RFRP-3 fibers are found in the POA, SCN, PVN, DMH, VMH, and ARC. POA and ARC Kp neurons and DMH RFRP-3 neurons display sexual dimorphism with more neurons in female than in male. Both neuronal populations display opposed seasonal variations with more Kp neurons and less RFRP-3 neurons during the breeding (December-January) than the nonbreeding (July-August) season. This study is the first describing Kp and RFRP-3 in the camel's brain with, during the winter period lower RFRP-3 expression and higher Kp expression possibly responsible for the HPG axis activation. Altogether, our data indicate the involvement of both Kp and RFRP-3 in the seasonal control of the dromedary camel's breeding activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Ainani
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco.,Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Najlae El Bousmaki
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Vincent-Joseph Poirel
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic animals, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Paul Klosen
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Simonneaux
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Khalid El Allali
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat Instituts, Rabat, Morocco
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El Allali K, Farsi H, Piro M, Rachid Achaâban M, Ouassat M, Challet E, Pévet P. Smartphone and a freely available application as a new tool to record locomotor activity rhythm in large mammals and humans. Chronobiol Int 2019; 36:1047-1057. [PMID: 31088178 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1609980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Daily pattern of locomotor activity (LA), one of the most studied rhythms in humans and rodents, has not been widely investigated in large mammals. This is partly due to the high cost and breakability of used automatic devices. Since last decade, smartphones are becoming ubiquitous. Meanwhile, several applications detecting activity by using internal sensors were made available. In this study, we assumed that this device could be a cheaper and easier way to measure the LA rhythm in humans and large mammals, like camel and goat. A smartphone application (Nokia Mate Health), normally used to quantify physical activities in humans, was chosen for the study. To validate the rhythm data obtained from the smartphone, LA rhythm was simultaneously recorded using an automatic device, the Actiwatch-Mini®. Results showed that the smartphone provided a clear and significant daily rhythm of LA. The visual assessment of the superimposed LA rhythm's curves in all three species showed that the smartphone application displayed similar rhythms as those recorded by the Actiwatch-Mini. Highly significant positive correlation (p≤ 0.0001) exists between the two recording rhythms. The daily periods were both the same at 24.0 h. Acrophases were also significantly similar and occurring around mid-day: 11:40 ± 0.35 h vs 11:41 ± 0.35 h for the camel, 11:25 ± 0.19 h vs 11:37 ± 0.25 h for the goat and 13:04 ± 0.11 h vs 13:51 ± 0.28 h for humans using smartphone and Actiwatch, respectively. The related mesor and amplitude were also close between the two recording devices. Results indicate clearly that using smartphones constitutes a reliable cheap tool to study LA rhythm for chronobiology studies, especially in laboratories facing lack of funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Allali
- a Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences , Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Hicham Farsi
- a Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences , Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- b Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic Animals, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction , Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- a Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences , Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- a Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences , Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute , Rabat , Morocco
| | - Etienne Challet
- c Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences , CNRS and University of Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Paul Pévet
- c Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences , CNRS and University of Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
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Farsi H, Harti D, Achaâban MR, Piro M, Ouassat M, Challet E, Pévet P, El Allali K. Validation of locomotion scoring as a new and inexpensive technique to record circadian locomotor activity in large mammals. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00980. [PMID: 30582033 PMCID: PMC6287081 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The locomotor activity (LA) rhythm, widely studied in rodents, has not been fully investigated in large mammals. This is due to the high cost and the brittleness of the required devices. Alternatively, the locomotion scoring method (SM), consisting of attribution of a score to various levels of activity would be a consistent method to assess the circadian LA rhythm in such species. New method To test this, a SM with a score ranging from 0 to 5 has been developed and used in two domestic large mammals, the camel and the goat. One minute interval scoring was performed using visual screening and monitoring of infra-red camera recording videos and carried out by two evaluators. Results The SM provides a clear daily LA rhythm that has been validated using an automate device, the Actiwatch-Mini. The obtained curves and actograms were indeed highly similar to those acquired from the Actiwatch-Mini. Moreover, there were no statistical differences in the period and acrophase. The period was exactly of 24.0h and the acrophases occurred at 12h05 ± 00h03 and 12h14 ± 00h07 for the camel and at 13h13 ± 00h09 and 12h57 ± 00h09 for the goat using SM and Actiwatch-Mini respectively. Comparison with existing methods Compared to the automatic system, the SM is inexpensive and has the advantage of describing all types of performed movements. Conclusions The new developed SM is highly reliable and sufficiently accurate to assess conveniently the LA rhythm and specific behaviors in large mammals. This opens new perspectives to study chronobiology in animal models of desert, tropical and equatorial zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Farsi
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
| | - D Harti
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M R Achaâban
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M Piro
- Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic Animals, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M Ouassat
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
| | - E Challet
- Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, 5 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - P Pévet
- Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, 5 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - K El Allali
- Comparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, BP: 6202, Rabat-Instituts, 10101, Rabat, Morocco
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El Allali K, Sghiri A, Bouâouda H, Achaâban MR, Ouzir M, Bothorel B, El Mzibri M, El Abbadi N, Moutaouakkil A, Tibary A, Pévet P. Effect of Melatonin Implants during the Non-Breeding Season on the Onset of Ovarian Activity and the Plasma Prolactin in Dromedary Camel. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:44. [PMID: 29594158 PMCID: PMC5858023 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To examine a possible control of reproductive seasonality by melatonin, continual-release subcutaneous melatonin implants were inserted 4.5 months before the natural breeding season (October-April) into female camels (Melatonin-treated group). The animals were exposed to an artificial long photoperiod (16L:8D) for 41 days prior to implant placement to facilitate receptivity to the short-day signal that is expected with melatonin implants. The treated and control groups (untreated females) were maintained separately under outdoor natural conditions. Ovarian follicular development was monitored in both groups by transrectal ultrasonography and by plasma estradiol-17β concentrations performed weekly for 8 weeks and then for 14 weeks following implant insertion. Plasma prolactin concentrations were determined at 45 and 15 days before and 0, 14, 28, 56, and 98 days after implant insertion. Plasma melatonin concentration was determined to validate response to the artificial long photoperiod and to verify the pattern of release from the implants. Results showed that the artificial long photoperiod induced a melatonin secretion peak of significantly (P < 0.05) shorter duration (about 2.5 h). Melatonin release from the implants resulted in higher circulating plasma melatonin levels during daytime and nighttime which persisted for more than 12 weeks following implants insertion. Treatment with melatonin implants advanced the onset of follicular growth activity by 3.5 months compared to untreated animals. Plasma estradiol-17β increased gradually from the second week after the beginning of treatment to reach significantly (P < 0.01) higher concentrations (39.2 ± 6.2 to 46.4 ± 4.5 pg/ml) between the third and the fifth week post insertion of melatonin implants. Treatment with melatonin implants also induced a moderate, but significant (P < 0.05) suppressive effect on plasma prolactin concentration on the 28th day. These results demonstrate that photoperiod appears to be involved in dromedary reproductive seasonality. Melatonin implants may be a useful tool to manipulate seasonality and to improve reproductive performance in this species. Administration of subcutaneous melatonin implants during the transition period to the breeding season following an artificial signal of long photoperiod have the potential to advance the breeding season in camels by about 2.5 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Allali
- Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Abdelmalek Sghiri
- Animal Reproduction Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hanan Bouâouda
- Harvard Medical School and Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- Comparative Anatomy Unit/URAC49, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Veterinary Sciences, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mounir Ouzir
- Group of Research in Physiology and Physiopathology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Béatrice Bothorel
- Neurobiology of Rhythms UPR 3212 CNRS, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mohammed El Mzibri
- Biotechnology and Engineering of Biomolecules Unit, National Center of Energy, Science and Nuclear Techniques, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Najia El Abbadi
- Biotechnology and Engineering of Biomolecules Unit, National Center of Energy, Science and Nuclear Techniques, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Adnane Moutaouakkil
- Biotechnology and Engineering of Biomolecules Unit, National Center of Energy, Science and Nuclear Techniques, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ahmed Tibary
- Comparative Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Paul Pévet
- Neurobiology of Rhythms UPR 3212 CNRS, Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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