Follicular fluid and serum biochemical and hormonal profiles of normal and cystic dromedary camel breeds

Background and Aim

Ovarian cysts (OC) in female dromedary camels have been described as problematic because they can cause infertility. This study aimed to compare the hormone concentrations and biochemical contents present in serum and follicular fluid of normal and cystic she-dromedaries of the two most common Algerian camel breeds (Sahraoui and Targui) to gain a better understanding of biological differences that may yield insights into preventing or treating this ovarian abnormality.

Materials and Methods

At an abattoir in southeastern Algeria, 100 pairs of the same females' ovaries and blood samples were taken immediately after the slaughter of clinically healthy, non-pregnant females (8-15 years old) over two consecutive breeding seasons (November 2017-April 2018 and November 2018-April 2019). The concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, protein, urea, creatinine, triglyceride, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were determined using commercial diagnostic kits and standard analytical procedures. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure progesterone (P4) and insulin concentrations.

Results

The concentrations of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and P4 in sera and follicular fluid (regardless of ovarian follicle diameter) were different (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the other parameters studied. Glucose, insulin, cholesterol, urea, and P4 levels in blood serum differed significantly from pre-ovulatory follicles. None of the biochemical and hormonal components measured differed significantly between the pre-ovulatory and cystic fluids of the she-dromedaries studied. The breed did not affect the biochemical and hormonal composition of she-dromedary cystic and follicular fluids.

Conclusion

Ovarian cysts appear to form in a metabolic milieu distinct from follicular fluid and blood serum, with no influence from camel breeds. It is suggested that further research on the blood-follicle barrier be conducted to gain a better understanding of the OC development process in she-dromedaries.

Relationship between concentrations of macro and trace elements in serum and follicular, oviductal, and uterine fluids of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between concentrations of macro and trace elements in blood serum, and fluids from small and large follicles (SFF and LFF, respectively), oviduct (OF), and uterus (UF) of female dromedary camels. Fluids from small (2-6 mm) and large follicles (7-20 mm), oviduct and uterus, and blood samples were collected from 19 camels. The results indicated that the concentrations of serum Mg, Fe, and Mn were significantly higher than their follicular fluid, OF, and UF concentrations. Levels of Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Mn were significantly higher in SFF than in LFF. Se and Mo concentrations were higher in LFF. Co concentration was lower in serum than in reproductive tract fluids. Cr concentration was higher in UF and OF than in the serum, SFF, and LFF. High Ca concentration was observed for serum and SFF, followed by LFF. The concentration of Na was about 1.18-fold higher in SFF than in serum, OF, and LFF, and approximately 4.1-fold higher in serum than in UF. K was present in higher concentration in SFF than in serum and LFF; however, its concentration was low in UF and OF. In conclusion, this study shows the concentrations of certain elements in small and large follicular, uterine, and oviductal fluids, which may be low or high depending on their function in the development and growth of follicles. This information can support the development of new media for in vitro oocyte maturation and fertilization of female camels.

Hematochemical Patterns in Follicular Fluid and Blood Stream in Cycling Mares: A Comparative Note

The aim of this study was to verify the existence of possible cross-talk between biochemical contents of follicular fluid (FF) and systemic concentrations according to the follicular development of the metabolites: glucose (GLU), lactate (LACT), cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), total bilirubin (T BIL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CREAT); enzymatic activities: gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST); electrolytes: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe); total proteins (TP) and their fractions: albumin (ALB), α1-, α2-, β-, and γ-globulins (GLOB) of FF and blood strain and their correlations with follicular size in cycling mares. Systemic concentrations of GLU, T BIL, BUN, Fe, TP, ALB, α-1, and α-2 and δ-GLOB and of ALP, GGT, and AST activities were higher than in the FF (P < .05); LACT, CHOL, and TG were higher in FF than systemic ones (P < .05). Glucose, CHOL, TG, LACT, and T BIL were higher in large follicles than in medium and small follicles (P < .05); however, BUN, Fe, ALP, and AST were lower in large follicles than in medium or small follicles (P < .05). Alkaline phosphatase, GGT, and AST activities decreased in medium and large follicles compared with small follicles (P < .05). These results suggest that the metabolic, enzymatic, electrolytic, and protein composition of FF of growing follicles could occur according to the bloodstream changes; hence, it is possible to presume that the nutritional environment of oocyte and follicular cells could improve the clinical diagnoses of infertility in the mare.

Metabolite profile and elemental determination of camel follicular fluid by GC-MS and ICP-MS

The objective of present study was to determine metabolite profile and inorganic elements of camel follicular fluids (FF) using "gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)," respectively. Various metabolites were detected in camel FF by the proposed GC-MS technique. The major compounds detected were lactic acid (62.37%), linolenic acid (5.95%), myo-inositol (3.37%), hexadecanoic acid (3.19%), N-ethyl-N-vinylacetamide (3.15%), acetamide (2.89%), tetradecanoic acid (2.64%), and D-xylofuranose (2.25%). The proposed ICP-MS technique was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, and sensitivity. All quality control validation parameters were found to be satisfactory for the analysis of elements in camel FF. The proposed ICP-MS technique showed the presence of sixteen different elements (out of eighteen standards) in camel FF. Some elements such as Na, K, Ca, and Mg were obtained in higher amounts in camel FF. Overall, the results of this study indicated that the proposed GC-MS and ICP-MS techniques can be successfully applied for metabolite profile and element determination of biological fluids such as FF.

Biochemical and hormonal analysis of follicular fluid and serum of female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) with different sized ovarian follicles

The current study aimed to compare some biochemical and hormonal constituents in follicular fluids and serum of female dromedary camels with different sized ovarian follicles. Therefore, follicular fluids from follicles sized 1.1-1.5cm (n=10), 1.6-2.1cm (n=10) and 2.2-2.5cm (n=10) and sera were harvested from 20 female camels. The concentrations of ascorbic acid, glucose, cholesterol and activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were not changed significantly neither in follicular fluids of all follicle sizes nor in sera of female camels with different sized follicles. The concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) in the follicular fluid of follicles sized 2.2-2.5cm were significantly lower (P<0.01) than its corresponding value in follicular fluid of other follicle sizes. The concentrations of progesterone (P4), tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), cortisol and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) remained comparable in follicular fluids of all examined different sized follicles. The concentrations of E2, P4, T3, T4, cortisol and IGF-1 were similar in the serum of camels with different sized follicles. Interestingly, mean concentrations of P4 and IGF-1 in follicular fluids were higher than their corresponding values in sera of camels with different sized follicles and the mean concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, ALP and cortisol in sera were higher than their corresponding values in follicular fluids of the examined camels. With the exception of E2, there were no significant differences in biochemical and hormonal constituents between follicular fluids from different sized follicles.

Functional histology of the ovarian follicles as determined by follicular fluid concentrations of steroids and IGF-1 in Camelus dromedarius

Ovaries were collected from sexually mature non-pregnant dromedary she-camels. Follicles 6 to 19 mm in diameter per pair of ovaries were randomly selected and classified into clear (n = 30), or opaque (n = 14) based on macroscopic examination of the follicle surface, and then were divided into four classes: clear follicles with 6- 9.9 and 10-19 mm diameter; opaque follicles with 6- 9.9 and 10-19 mm diameter. Follicular fluid (FF) was aspirated for measurement of estradiol-17β, progesterone and IGF-I concentrations, and then a section of tissue through the exposed surface of the follicle wall was removed and fixed in and processed for histological examination. Mean (±SE) number of clear follicles observed on the ovaries that contained a large dominant follicle was less than that on the ovaries which contained a large atretic follicle (p < 0.05; 2.6 ± 1 vs 8.6 ± 0.6). In conclusion, the estrogenic large follicles have suppressive effects on the growth of other follicles.

The influence of the corpus luteum on metabolites composition of follicular fluid from different sized follicles and their relationship to serum concentrations in dairy cows

The presence of corpus luteum may have a local effect on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF) and could indirectly influence follicular development and oocyte quality. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the corpus luteum on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF), harvested from different-sized follicles and the relationship between metabolite composition of FF to blood serum in dairy cows. Ovaries and blood samples were collected from 30 female adult Holstein Friesian cows, 4-7 years old, with clinically normal reproductive tracts. The animals were in the diestrus stage and selected post mortem. The ovaries collected were classified based on the presence and absence of corpus luteum (CL(+/-)). Visible follicles on the surface of the ovaries were classified into (i) small (3-5mm), (ii) medium (6-9 mm) and (iii) large (10-20mm) based on their diameter. Follicular fluid was aspirated from follicles with different sizes in CL(+) and CL(-) ovaries. Blood and FF samples were analyzed for various biochemical constituents including glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin and globulin. The results showed that serum concentration of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride was significantly different (p≤0.05) in FF from follicles of different size categories. Differences between various follicle size categories in CL(-) ovaries were only significant for concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride. FF concentration of glucose and cholesterol in the same follicle size categories in CL(+) ovaries was significantly lower than that of CL(-) ovaries. These results indicate that levels of the biochemical metabolites in serum and FF differ significantly. In addition, FF concentrations of biochemical metabolites were related to follicular size and to the presence or absence of corpus luteum.