218 THE EFFECT OF OVULATING AGENTS ON MATURE FOLLICLES IN BACTRIAN CAMEL (CAMELUS BACTRIANUS)

Abstract

Mature follicle response and CL formation following induction of ovulation using GnRH analogues and LH were investigated in Bactrian camel. Bactriancamels (n = 58) withamature follicle (12-25 mm)received 1) alarelin (Vetaroline^®, Aburaihan,Tehran, Iran; 25 μg, i.m. 37/58); 2) buserelin (Receptal^®, Intervet, Boxmeer, the Netherlands; 20 μg i.v. 16/58); or 3) LH (Lutropin^®-V, Bioniche, Belleville, Ontario, Canada; 25 mg i.v. 5/58; Day 0 of experiment = day of inducing ovulation). Ovarian follicles were considered mature according to previous definition in Bactrian camel (Nikjou D et al. 2008 Theriogenology 69 491-500). Daily ultrasonography was conducted between Days -5 and 15 of the experiment using a real-time ultrasound scanner (Aloka 500, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with a 5-MHz linear array transrectal transducer. The day after inducing ovulation, the size of the mature follicle increased in 89.7% (52/58; 0.72 mm ± 0.11) or decreased in 10.3% (6/58; 0.75 mm ± 0.13) of observations. All mature follicles ovulated by 48 h after treatment. Corpus luteum was detected on Day 4.9 ± 0.13 at the diameter of 14.0 mm ± 0.31 and reached the maximum diameter of 20.2 mm ± 0.58 on Day 9.0 ± 0.13 after treatment. Vacuolated CL was detected in 14% of observations. Corpuralutea started to regress 1 to 2 days after reaching the maximum diameter. In conclusion, mature follicles, at the diameter of 12 to 25 mm, ovulated and normal CL with the short life span (about 10 days) formed consistently in response to the use of ovulating agent in Bactrian camel.

Table 1.  Changes in ovarian structures following injection of different GnRH analogues and LH

Research was funded by the Deputy of Research, University of Tehran. The authors thank the companies Bioniche (Canada), Aburaihan (Iran) and Intervet (the Netherlands) for kind provision of pharmaceuticals.