Progesterone and behavioral features when estrous is induced in Alpine goats

Study of sexual behaviours with different types of estrus synchronization protocols in Boer goats

There is still a lack of information on estrus synchronization in goats. Understanding the estrus synchronization protocols and the subsequent effects is important to improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and subsequently would improve the breeding procedures. This study will help in determining the most suitable estrus synchronization protocol and understand better the effect on the sexual behaviour and hormonal effects in goats. A total of 127 Boer does were used and divided into three groups with different duration of CIDR insertion intravaginally either for 14 (two groups) or 9 days (one group). Approximately 0.5 ml Estrumate^® (PG) was administered intramuscularly to all groups at CIDR removal, and only groups PMSG14 and PMSG9 were administered with 200IU of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) intramuscularly. Estrus signs were observed at 4 h intervals and blood samples were collected for progesterone and luteinizing hormone determination. The percentage of does in estrus within 24 to 72 h post CIDR removal was significantly higher (P<0.05) in groups with PMSG compared to the group without the PMSG. The numbers of does display estrus signs within 24 to 28 h post CIDR removal were significantly higher (P<0.05) in group shorter period (9 days) compared to groups with 14 days CIDR. The P4 concentrations at 24 hours post CIDR removals and LH concentration was not significantly different (P>0.05) in all groups. The time of the LH peak in the group without the PMSG was significantly delayed (P<0.05) when compared to group 9 days CIDR and administered with PMSG. It is recommended to use the treatment for 9 days CIDR since the estrous cycle can be shortened.

Use of two cloprostenol administrations 11.5 days apart efficiently synchronizes oestrus in photostimulated multiparous dairy goats in the non-breeding season

This study assessed the efficiency of synchronous oestrous induction by light programme followed by two doses of cloprostenol in acyclic Saanen goats of different parity orders. Primiparous (n = 22) and multiparous (n = 33) goats were subjected to 16 hr of light and 8 hr of darkness for 60 days (D0-D60), starting 10 days after the winter solstice. All goats received 120 µg cloprostenol doses on D130 (morning) and D141.5 (afternoon) (11.5 days apart). Oestrus behaviour, ovarian follicular dynamics and serum progesterone (P4) analyses were recorded from D0 to D174 at different intervals. Animals in oestrus after D141.5 were randomly assigned into two groups: assisted natural mating (NM) or artificial insemination (AI; 10-24 hr after oestrus onset with frozen-thawed semen). From D57 to D120, 89.0% of goats presented large follicles (5-8 mm) and P4 concentrations were subluteal from D0 to D120. More multiparous compared to primiparous goats (54.5%, 18/33 vs. 18.2%, 4/22) exhibited oestrus after both injections. More primiparous compared to multiparous goats (54.5%, 12/22 vs. 12.1%, 4/33) did not exhibit oestrus after any injection. A total of 35 goats (64%) were in oestrus after the second prostaglandin injection and were subjected to NM or AI. The conception rate was similar among primiparous (70.0%, 7/10) and multiparous (68.0%, 17/25) goats but the pregnancy rate differed, being 31.8% (7/22) and 51.5% (17/33), respectively. No interaction was found between parity order and P4 concentrations in does that became pregnant or not. Thus, the association between light programme (60 days, starting at the beginning of winter) and two cloprostenol administrations 11.5 days apart (starting 70 days after the end of the light treatment) resulted in sufficient synchronous oestrous response in multiparous acyclic Saanen goats to reach satisfactory fertility levels after both NM and AI.

Repeated trans-cervical embryo recoveries in Santa inês ewes subjected to short- or long-term superovulatory treatment regimens

Outcomes of short- (6.5 days) and long-term (14.5 days) estrous synchronization for 6.5 d (G-6.5d) or 14.5 d (G-14.5d) and followed by the 4-day or 3-day declining-dose follicle-stimulating hormone superovulatory regimen, respectively, were compared using 16 estrous-cycling Santa Inês ewes. Non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER) procedures were performed 60 d apart starting 6 or 7 d after the onset of estrus; an i.m. injection of estradiol benzoate and of d-cloprostenol at 16 h was followed by an i.v. oxytocin injection administered 20 min before NSER. There was a longer (P < 0.05) period before estrous onset in ewes during the second (September) compared with the first study replicate (July) by approximately 14 h. The NSER could be performed in 11 of 15 ewes that were in estrus, with an average of three viable-embryos/donor and the mean duration of the procedure being 29 min. There were no differences in superovulatory responses between the two groups of ewes, but there were only degenerated embryos in ewes of the G-6.5d group. In summary: i. the duration of progestin-priming and of multiple-dose pFSH treatment had a limited effect on superovulatory responses in estrous-cycling Santa Inês ewes; ii. NSER is a safe and repeatable method of embryo collection in ewes subsequent to superovulation; and iii. duration of the superovulatory treatment regimen may alter the effects of endogenous steroids on oocyte/embryo quality in ewes.

Is routine transvaginal cervical length measurement cost-effective in a population where the risk of spontaneous preterm birth is low?

INTRODUCTION

A recent meta-analysis has suggested that routine measurement of the cervical length should be performed in conjunction with the anomaly scan to identify a group of women at increased risk of preterm delivery. We decided to investigate whether this recommendation is justifiable in a population where the risk of preterm birth is low.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed 12 years of obstetric data from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. Relative risks of adverse outcomes from the randomized controlled trial were applied and we extrapolated the possible numbers of women requiring intervention. We then used published neonatal data to estimate the cost of neonatal care and estimated the costs of providing the service.

RESULTS

Over 12 years from 2000 until 2011, there were 94 646 singleton deliveries, 1776 happening before 34 weeks. Spontaneous onset occurred in 882 (49.7%) of this group. These 882 births were studied. If we apply the figures from a randomized controlled trial, 1609 women (1.7% from our total population) would be expected to have a cervical length 15 mm. If we gave vaginal progesterone to all women with a sonographically short cervix, we would reduce the delivery rate before 34 weeks by 27.7%. The annual costs of providing the service were estimated to be €109 249 and the cost of immediate neonatal care was estimated to be €380 514.

CONCLUSION

Given the implications associated with preterm delivery, routine measurement of cervical length at the time of the anomaly scan may be justifiable from a cost point of view in a population where the risk of preterm birth is low.