Estimation of periostin as a biomarker for early pregnancy diagnosis in goats: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Periostin (POSTN) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that plays an important role in the metastatic process and cancer cell migration. As implantation is a similar mechanism to metastasis, it has been hypothesized that POSTN may also play a role in the implantation process. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to compare POSTN and progesterone levels during the early pregnancy stage in Damascus goats. METHODS: Forty goats were synchronized using progesterone based sponges and were mated upon estrus signs display. While ten goats were kept as control (CON) and were not allowed to mate. Blood samples were taken through jugular venepuncture from CON and synchronized goats on day 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 of breeding. Progesterone and POSTN levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Later the pregnancy diagnosis was confirmed by transabdominal ultrasonography on day 50 after mating. RESULTS: Progesterone level was influenced by status of pregnancy and day of observation with an interaction between the status of pregnancy and day of observation in goats. Whereas POSTN level was only affected by the day of observation. CONCLUSION: POSTN level did not vary with progesterone level during phase of embryonic implantation in goats; however, standardization and application of different procedures for POSTN assay in a large group of animals might be useful as an early pregnancy biomarker in goats.

Variations in serum metabolites in response to season, cyclicity, and pregnancy in estrus-synchronized Damascus goats.

The current study was carried out to determine the changes in serum electrolytes, liver enzymes, and hormones during breeding and non-breeding seasons in estrus-synchronized goats. Forty goats (n = 40) were synchronized by inserting the sponges intravaginally for 12 days; PMSG and PGF2α were injected on day of sponge removal. Blood samples were collected from the goats at the time of sponges insertion (day -12), estrus day (day 0), and at 15 day after sponge withdrawal (day 15). The blood samples were analyzed for glucose, cholesterol (CHO), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and progesterone (P4), calcium (Ca), phosphate (PO4), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chlorine (Cl) levels. Repeated measurements ANOVA of general linear model were used as statistical model. The results showed that seasons have an effect (p < 0.05) on glucose, Ca, Na, K, Cl, CHO, T3, and T4 levels. There was an effect (p < 0.05) of cyclicity only on P4 level. Whereas, nonpregnant, or goats carrying singlet and twin fetuses have shown variation (p < 0.05) in glucose, Ca, and P4 levels. Although, the correlations existed between different serum metabolites but strong correlations (p < 0.05) were observed either between Ca and Na or T3 and T4. In conclusion, the serum electrolytes and liver enzymes are correlated with hormones during the different seasons, pregnancy status, and fecundity. In recommendation, the results of the study could be as managemental tool to monitor the reproductive activity across seasons and to maintain pregnancy carrying twining in goat breeds.

Effect of the administration of flunixin meglumine on pregnancy rates in Holstein heifers.

Fifty-two 15-month-old Holstein heifers were synchronised with single or double injections of prostaglandin F(2alpha), followed by an injection of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (gnrh) 48 hours later, and inseminated 12 to 14 hours after the injection of gnrh (day 0). Half of them were then injected twice intramuscularly with 1.1 mg/kg flunixin meglumine 12 hours apart, on the evening of day 15 and the morning of day 16, and the other 26 were not treated. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound 29 and 65 days after they were inseminated. On day 29, 20 of the treated heifers were pregnant compared with 13 of the control heifers (P<0.05); on day 65, 18 of the treated heifers were still pregnant compared with 12 of the control heifers (P<0.10).