title: Effect of supplements during the cold season on the reproductive system in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes.
abstract: We examined the development of the reproductive system in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes when fed only oat hay (CON) or supplemented with either lick blocks (BS) or concentrate feed (CS) during the cold season. The average daily gain of the CS ewes was greater than that of the BS ewes (P < 0.05), which was greater than that of the CON ewes. The same pattern was observed in the number of ovarian follicles (P < 0.001), that is, CS > BS > CON. Serum concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteotrophic hormone, estradiol and progesterone in the CS and BS groups were higher than in the CON group (P < 0.05). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of KiSS-1, GPR54 (G protein-coupled receptor 54), ERα (estradiol receptor α) in the hypothalamic anteroventral periventricular area of the CS group were higher than in both the BS and CON groups (P < 0.05), while the BS group was higher than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Similar differences among groups were observed for gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor mRNA expression in the pituitary, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA expression in the ovary. These results indicated that the KiSS1/GPR54 system was more active with nutrition or trace mineral supplementation during the cold season. The system stimulated the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and enhanced folliclar development in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes. We concluded that energy, protein and trace minerals supplements could improve the reproductive performance of Tibetan sheep on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Quanhui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Hongze
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Huawei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Haibei Demonstration Zone of Plateau Modern Ecological Husbandry Science and Technology, Haibei, Qinghai, China.
authors.forename: Shanke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Haibei Demonstration Zone of Plateau Modern Ecological Husbandry Science and Technology, Haibei, Qinghai, China.
authors.forename: Suonan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Zhisheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D059648:Kisspeptins; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C106628:KISS1 protein, human; C118688:KISS1R protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D014131:Trace Elements; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: KiSS1/GPR54; Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau; Tibetan sheep ewe; reproductive performance; supplementary feeding