Effects of varying doses of β-nerve growth factor on the timing of ovulation, plasma progesterone concentration and corpus luteum size in female alpacas (Vicugna pacos)
C. C. Stuart A D , J. L. Vaughan B , C. M. Kershaw-Young A , J. Wilkinson C , R. Bathgate A and S. P. de Graaf A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Cria Genesis, PO Box 406, Ocean Grove, Vic. 3226, Australia.
C Baarrooka Alpacas, PO Box 20, Strathbogie, Vic. 3666, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: cassandra.stuart@sydney.edu.au
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 27(8) 1181-1186 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14037
Submitted: 4 February 2014 Accepted: 23 April 2014 Published: 26 June 2014
Abstract
Ovulation in camelids is induced by the seminal plasma protein ovulation-inducing factor (OIF), recently identified as β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF). The present study measured the total protein concentration in alpaca seminal plasma using a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein quantification assay and found it to be 22.2 ± 2.0 mg mL–1. To measure the effects of varying doses of β-NGF on the incidence and timing of ovulation, corpus luteum (CL) size and plasma progesterone concentration, 24 female alpacas were synchronised and treated with either: (1) 1 mL 0.9% saline (n = 5); (2) 4 µg buserelin (n = 5); (3) 1 mg β-NGF protein (n = 5); (4) 0.1 mg β-NGF (n = 5); or (5) 0.01 mg β-NGF (n = 4). Females were examined by transrectal ultrasonography at 1–2-h intervals between 20 and 45 h after treatment or until ovulation occurred, as well as on Day 8 to observe the size of the CL, at which time blood was collected to measure plasma progesterone concentrations. Ovulation was detected in 0/5, 5/5, 5/5, 3/5 and 0/4 female alpacas treated with saline, buserelin, 1, 0.1 and 0.01 mg β-NGF, respectively. Mean ovulation interval (P = 0.76), CL diameter (P = 0.96) and plasma progesterone concentration (P = 0.96) did not differ between treatments. Mean ovulation interval overall was 26.2 ± 1.0 h. In conclusion, buserelin and 1 mg β-NGF are equally effective at inducing ovulation in female alpacas, but at doses ≤0.1 mg, β-NGF is not a reliable method for the induction of ovulation.
Additional keywords: camelid, ovulation-inducing factor.
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