title: Effects of ram introduction after the second prostaglandin F2 alpha injection on day 11 on the LH surge characteristics in fat-tailed ewes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ram introduction after the second prostaglandin F2alpha (PG F2alpha) injection on day 11 on the secretion characteristics of pre-ovulatory LH surge of fat-tailed ewes. Multiparous Morkaraman ewes (n=12) were divided into three groups by balancing the groups for liveweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). On the day of second PGF2 alpha injection (0 h), performance tested rams (n=2) were either introduced to the ewes at 0 h (ram 0 group, n=4) or at 18 h (ram 18 group, n=4) or were not introduced (control group, n=4). Blood samples were collected at 6, 18, 42, 48, 56, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78 and 90 h for the determination of pre-ovulatory LH surge. BCS and BW during the experimental period were 2.2 +/- 0.2 units and 50.9 +/- 2.3 kg, 2.4 +/- 0.4 units and 49.2 +/- 6.2 kg, 2.1 +/- 0.3 units and 45.9 +/- 4.4 kg, respectively for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in LH surge characteristics for the experimental groups. Peak LH concentrations were also not different between groups (p > 0.05) and they were 12.2 +/- 8.3, 29.1 +/- 9.9 and 15.8 +/- 9.5 microg/l for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups, respectively. There was, however, a significant correlation between peak LH concentrations and BCS (p < 0.05, R2=0.373). In conclusion, it appears that, compared with ram introduction, variability in body condition of the ewe has much pronounced effect on the amount of LH secreted after the usage of two PGF2 alpha injections (11 days apart) as a tool for oestrus synchronization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey. yildizsedat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saatci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Güven
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015237:Dinoprost