Postpartum ovarian follicular dynamics in primiparous and pluriparous Mediterranean Italian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.07.003

Theriogenology

Volume 63, Issue 5, 15 March 2005, Pages 1430-1439

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.07.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

The objective of this study was to monitor ovarian function in postpartum primiparous and pluriparous Mediterranean Italian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during months of increasing daylength. Ovarian ultrasound monitoring was carried out for a total of 60 days from calving in 10 primiparous and 10 pluriparous buffaloes. Progesterone was determined from calving until a week after first postpartum ovulation. The study was undertaken during months of increasing day length. Time required for complete postpartum uterine involution was 31 ± 1.0 and 33 ± 1.3 days in primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes respectively (P = 0.1). The first postpartum ovulation was recorded on 4 primiparous and 8 pluriparous buffaloes (P = 0.16). Time for first postpartum ovulation to occur was 25.5 ± 6.9 and 15.5 ± 1.3 days in primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes, respectively (P = 0.07). Overall, 8 of the 12 first postpartum ovulations (66.6%) occurred in the ovary contra-lateral to the one bearing the gravidic CL, one out of 4 in primiparous and 3 out of 8 in pluriparous buffaloes (P = 1.0). Following a first postpartum ovulation, 3 primiparous and 4 pluriparous buffaloes displayed a complete wave of follicular development leading to a new ovulation. Ovulation following parturition was not recorded in 6 primiparous and two pluriparous buffaloes for the 60 days of ultrasound monitoring. Growth rate (mm/d) and largest size (mm) of first postpartum ovulating follicle was 0.95 ± 0.18 and 1.07 ± 0.07 (P = 0.4), and 13.5 ± 0.8 and 14.1 ± 0.4 (P = 0.4) in primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes, respectively. Following calving, the total number of available antral follicles (≥2 mm) declined gradually towards the end of the study period. Follicles greater or equal to 3 mm in diameter on the contrary showed a prominent increase in the first 2 weeks from calving. The number of follicles greater or equal to 3 mm in diameter was significantly higher in the ovary contra-lateral to the one bearing the gravidic CL. A balance in the number of such follicles was reached toward the end of the first month. In conclusion, although some follicular activity was recorded in the ovaries of all buffaloes, true postpartum resumption of cyclicity in the months of increasing daylight hours was delayed in the majority of animals.

Introduction

Resumption of cyclicity in postpartum cattle has been ascribed to an FSH plasma increase [1], [2], leading to new follicle recruitment and establishment of follicle dominance. Furthermore, it has been described as affected in cattle by postpartum uterine infection [3] and by dietary antioxidants supplementation in buffaloes [4]. In buffaloes, other factors are responsible for the resumption of cyclicity, like the light–darkness shift over the months together with cold or hot climatic conditions [5]. Reproductive efficiency and postpartum resumption of ovarian activity and estrous cycle in buffaloes are conditioned by season and by reproductive maturity of the animals [6], [7]. In addition, postpartum anestrus in buffaloes is responsible for long calving interval [8], [9]. This is usually reported with higher frequency in primiparous and ageing old buffaloes especially when the parturient period coincides with increasing daylight hours [5]. In Italy, this period typically coincides with the reintroduction of bulls within the herd for natural mating, in order to obtain more calvings close to the highest request of buffalo milk for mozzarella cheese production. Such approach has been termed “out of the breeding season mating” (OBSM) technique [10] and alters the natural tendency of buffaloes to reproduce in the short-day light months of the year, penalizing thus somewhat the overall reproductive efficiency of the herd [11]. In cattle a preferential resumption of follicle development contra-lateral to the previously gravid uterine horn has been reported, although a clear cause and effect relationship has not been conclusively determined [12], [13], [14]. A comprehension of the pattern of ovarian follicle recruitment and selection in postpartum buffaloes could provide some additonal insights, and lead to a better refinement of protocols for follicle synchronization and induction of ovulation for successive AI. Within this framework, in this study for the first time a group of primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes have been followed and monitored postcalving. Daily ultrasound examination of the ovaries and timely targeted determination of blood progesterone concentration have been carried out for 60 days from calving.

Section snippets

Animals and ultrasound monitoring

Ten primiparous (603 ± 19.2 kg of body weight; 3.2 ± 0.3 years old) and 10 pluriparous buffaloes (685 ± 6.3 kg of body weight; 7.8 ± 0.9 years old), housed at the research farm of the Ministry of Agriculture located near Rome (42°N), were used for this study. They have been confined for the entire period of the study to a barn with access to an open sheltered space. The daily feed allocation (unifeed) consisted of 5 kg ryegrass italian hay, 18 kg corn silage (30% dry matter), 2 kg soybean meal (44%

Uterine involution

Timing of uterine involution was 31 ± 1.0 and 33 ± 1.3 days in primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes, respectively P = 0.1. Both ovaries on each buffalo could be manually reached since the day following parturition. One pluriparous buffalo accumulated pus into the uterus for the entire period of study and thus the organ did not return to pre-gravidic size. Therefore, data from this animal were not included in the analysis.

First postpartum ovulation

Among primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes, within the 60-d period of

Discussion

Various studies are available on postpartum ovarian activity and the effect of subclinical uterine infection on uterine involution and estrus cycle in buffaloes [15], [16], [17]. Campo et al. [7], reported a similar time needed for uterine involution in mixed parity river buffaloes between animals calving in the rainy versus dry season, although the time required for resumption of ovarian activity was significantly different between seasons.

In this study, according to general criteria used for

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Alessandra Presicce for her valuable help during data collection.

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Cited by (35)

Ovarian and oviductal pathologies in the buffalo: Occurrence, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
2014, Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction
Ovarian pathologies observed in the buffalo include developmental anomalies, inflammatory conditions and neoplasm's, the usual incidence of which has been observed to be low (0.1%–19.0%) in abattoir studies. Ovarian functional disorders are the most frequently observed clinical entities in buffalo and include conditions such as sub estrus, (7.4%–55.8%), persistent corpus luteum (0.54%) and ovarian cysts (0.5%–1.4%). The diagnostic approaches for ovarian hypofunction and ovarian pathologies include transrectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography the efficiency of which continues to be suboptimal especially for unilateral small sized pathological conditions. Techniques such as laparoscopy have been utilized for visualization of buffalo ovaries however; their clinical use appears to be uncommon. The therapy of most ovarian pathologies except the functional disorders appears to be difficult. The prospects of surgical removal of ovaries in neoplastic ovarian pathologies are limited owing to the costs and loss of reproductive function under bilateral conditions. Oviductal pathologies in buffalo have been mentioned largely from abattoir studies and include salpingitis (0.2%–14.2%), hydrosalpinx (0.7%–14.2%), pyosalpinx (0.6%–11.9%), adhesions (1.5%–1.7%), congenital defects (0.2%) and oviductal blockage (1.2%–37.8%). The diagnosis of most oviductal pathologies in buffalo appears to be difficult except under conditions of gross enlargement. Under situations of bilateral involvement the therapy of most oviductal pathologies currently seems impractical as the reattainment of fertility appears to be difficult.
Induction of ovarian activity in B ulgarian M urrah buffaloes by hormonal treatment in the early postpartum period
2013, Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction
To determine the possibilities for induction of ovarian activity in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes by hormonal treatment in the early postpartum period.
Twenty six clinically healthy animals, weighing 480-520 kg, 3-5 years of age, with normal parturition, without clinical signs of endometritis during the entire experimental period were divided into 2 groups: control (n=10) and experimental (n=16). Primiparous and multiparous buffaloes were proportionally allotted into both groups. By 5, 21, and 28 postpartum days, control animals were intramuscularly treated with 2 mL physiological saline, whereas experimental buffaloes received 500 mg PGF2 α by the 5^th postpartum day, 100 μ g GnRH by the 21^st postpartum day and a second prostaglandin dose 7 days later. All buffaloes were submitted to transrectal ultrasound examination on days 5, 21 and 28 after calving. Evaluation of ovarian activity was made on the basis of follicle type and detection of a newly formed corpus luteum. The percentage of animals with small, medium or dominant follicle and corpus luteum after either spontaneous or induced ovulation was determined. Insemination management included introduction of two proven fertile bulls into the herd at the start of the treatment. Pregnancy ultrasound checks were performed on postpartum days 58, 68, 120 and 150. The proportion of buffaloes with clinical signs of spontaneous or induced oestrus until the 35^th postpartum day, pregnancy rates by the 35^th and 90^th postpartum days and service periods <60 days, 60-90 days and >90 days were registered.
On the 5^th day after calving, small follicles were predominating in the ovaries of buffaloes from both groups. Similar findings were established on the 21^st day in the control group, whereas the share of experimental buffaloes with small follicles was significantly (P<0.01) lower. By the 21^st day, there were no medium follicles in untreated animals, while in hormonally treated ones they were found out in 25% of cases. The proportion of experimental buffaloes with dominant follicle (56.3%) by the 21^st day was statistically significantly higher (P<0.01) compared to that of controls (10%). Cumulative percentage of animals with detected corpus luteum (66.8%) until the 28^th postpartum day differed considerably (P<0.01) from that in controls (10.0%). There was a substantial between-group difference (P<0.05) between the total percentage of buffaloes with clinical signs of oestrus and pregnancy rates until the 35^th day after calving. The share of buffaloes with service period <60 days was higher (P<0.05) compared to the untreated group. The analysis of results demonstrated that the PGF2 α -GnRH-PGF2 α treatment on 5, 21 and 28 postpartum days, was able to induce ovarian activity and oestrus in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes. The total proportion of animals with signs of oestrus (both spontaneous and induced) and pregnancy rates by the 35^th postpartum day were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the treated group compared to controls.
The tested hormonal treatment protocol, combined with the presence of fertile bulls in the herd, could be successfully used for reduction of service period and calving interval in clinically healthy buffaloes.
Ultrasonic evaluation of uterine involution in Bulgarian Murrah buffalo after administration of oxytocin
2012, Animal Reproduction Science
Citation Excerpt :
The events related to uterine involution in buffalo are still provoking the interest of researchers during the last years (Ramoun et аl., 2006; Qureshi and Ahmad, 2008; Snel-Oliveira et al., 2010; Amer et al., 2010). The average reported time intervals for complete involution of the uterus are 25.6 ± 1.0 days (Usmani and Lewis, 1984) and 28.37 ± 1.36 days (Chaudhry et al., 1990) in the Nili-Ravi breed, 40.3 ± 1.2 days (Aboul-Ela et al., 1988) and 36.20 ± 1.65 days (Ramoun et аl., 2006) in Egyptian buffalo, 31.1 ± 1.0 and 33.1 ± 1.3 days in primiparous or multiparous Mediterranean Italian buffalo (Presicce et al., 2005), 31.12 ± 0.9 days in Surti buffalo (Khasatiya et al., 2006) and 25.78 ± 6.14 days in Indian Murrah buffalo (Snel-Oliveira et al., 2010). The extreme variability of cited data is due to numerous factors such as the criteria for end of involution, the methods for detection of uterine size, the interval between examinations, climatic and management factors etc. (El-Wishy, 2007a,b).
The aim of this study was to determine the time taken for complete uterine involution in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes following normal parturition and oxytocin stimulated milking; and to establish the time course of the change in size of the uterine horns, the cervix and caruncles between parturition and involution by means of ultrasonography.
There were 17 animals in the study aged 3–6 years and average parity of 2.17 ± 0.18. They were administered 20 IU oxytocin 15 min before each milking. Rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography were performed at 3 d intervals from Days 1 to 34 post partum. The involution of the non-gravid and gravid uterine horns, and the cervix was complete by Days 22 and 25 post partum when their diameters were 2.7 ± 0.4 cm, 2.8 ± 0.3 cm and 3.12 ± 0.4 cm, respectively. Caruncles underwent rapid regression until Day 10 post partum. It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the caruncles after that time. The cumulative percentage of animals whose uterus was located in the pelvic cavity increased from 24% at Day 10 post partum to 100% at Day 34 post partum.
The combination of rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography provided a reliable method of evaluating changes in the uterus over time and determining the time of uterine involution. The present study showed that complete uterine involution, with the uterus located in the pelvic cavity, was achieved by Day 34 after parturition in all 17 Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes treated with oxytocin before milking.
Characterization of the Mediterranean Italian buffaloes melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene and its association with reproductive seasonality
2011, Theriogenology
Citation Excerpt :
Buffaloes living under Mediterranean latitudes can be considered to have a tendency to be seasonal breeding animals and their reproductive efficiency is usually negatively affected by increasing day-length which consequently influences productions [1,2].
The aim of this study was to examine the polymorphism in MTNR1A gene and its relation to reproductive seasonality in Mediterranean Italian buffaloes reared in Sardinia. The mating period and calving of 100 multiparous buffalo-cows were recorded for three years (2005–2008). Genomic DNA was subjected to PCR for the amplification of the exon II, then 40 amplicons were sequenced. The obtained sequence was deposited in GeneBank database (accession number GU817415). PCR products were checked for the presence of HpaI restriction sites and assigned to genotypes “C/C”, “C/T” or “T/T”. Allelic frequency of C and T alleles was 0.44 and 0.56 and genotypic frequency was 26% for genotype C/C, 40% for C/T and 34% for T/T. In the three observed years the animals with C/C genotype showed the highest number of mating in the semester between August and January and their calving mainly occurred from August to September. On the other hand animals with T/T genotype showed mating mostly in the semester between February and July and calving occurred largely from March to May in all the three years. Heterozygous, in all the three years, showed about the same number of animals mated within each six-month period. The results of the present study provide for the first time a partial sequence as well as one polymorphic site of the MTNR1A receptor gene from buffaloes. Moreover our data showed an association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and seasonal reproductive activity in these animals.
Transvaginal follicular aspiration and embryo development in superstimulated early postpartum beef cows and subsequent fertility after artificial insemination
2010, Animal Reproduction Science
This study was conducted to investigate in early postpartum suckled beef cows with and without FSH pre-stimulation: (i) the influence of the postpartum period on the number and quality of oocytes recovered by ovum pick-up (OPU), (ii) the overall efficiency of the OPU/IVP embryos from days 30 to 80 postpartum and (iii) if repeated OPU negatively affect fertility following a fixed-time artificial insemination protocol. After parturition suckled Angus cows (n = 30) were divided in three groups (n = 10 group⁻¹). All cows were anestrous at the commencement of experimental treatments (30.0 ± 3.2 days postpartum, mean ± SD; range 25–34 days). Group 1 treatments included: dominant follicle ablation (DFA), FSH treatment and OPU procedure 5 days after DFA. A total of 9 mg FSH (Ovagen™) was administered s.c. once a day over 2 days at equal doses (4.5 + 4.5 mg). For fertility test the cows received an intravaginal progesterone treatment from Days 78 to 86 postpartum and were fixed-time artificially inseminated (FTAI) at 56 and 72 h after device removal. Group 2: as cited for Group 1 with no FSH treatment. In both groups, OPU was repeated four times (Days 35, 49, 63 and 77 postpartum) and the collected oocytes classified as viable were in vitro matured, fertilized and presumptive embryos cultured for 8 days. Group 3 (Control FTAI): cows that had not previously aspirations were FTAI as Groups 1 and 2. Pregnancy was diagnosed by means ultrasonography 39 days after FTAI. The numbers (mean ± SEM) of follicles visible and aspirated at the time of OPU in FSH-treated cows were greater (P < 0.05) than in non-treated cows (10.6 ± 0.6 and 8.4 ± 0.4 vs. 8.0 ± 0.5 and 4.6 ± 0.3, respectively). Following FSH treatment, the number (mean ± SEM) of recovered oocytes per cow per OPU session and percentage of viable oocytes were greater in the treated (P < 0.05) than in non-treated animals (3.0 ± 0.1 and 39.5% vs. 1.5 ± 0.1 and 30.0%). The cleavage and embryo development rates were similar (P > 0.05) for both groups (14.8 and 6.4% vs. 16.6 and 5.5%). After FTAI the pregnancy rates were not different (P > 0.05) among groups (70, 60 and 90% for Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively). We can conclude that (1) FSH-treated suckled postpartum cows can be a source of oocytes for in vitro fertilization and (2) repeated DFA/OPU applied during postpartum period did not affect the subsequent fertility following FTAI.
Transrectal Doppler Ultrasound to Study the Uterine Blood Flow Changes During the Puerperium in the Egyptian Buffaloes
2023, Journal of Advanced Veterinary Research

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Theriogenology

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Animals and ultrasound monitoring

Uterine involution

First postpartum ovulation

Discussion

Acknowledgement

References (23)

Relationship of uterine infections and folliculogenesis in dairy cows during early puerperium

Theriogenology

Effects of β-caratone, selenium and vitamin A on in vitro polymorphonuclear leukocytic activity in peripartal buffalo

Theriogenology

The interovarian distribution of dominant follicles is influenced by the location of the corpus luteum of pregnancy

Anim Reprod Sci

Postpartum ovarian activity and uterine involution in the suckled swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Anim Reprod Sci

Uterine involution and postpartum ovarian activity in Nili–Ravi buffaloes

Theriogenology

Effect of subclinical uterine infection on cervical and uterine involution, estrous activity and fertility in postpartum buffaloes

Theriogenology

Spontaneous uterine infections are associated with elevated prostaglandin-F_2α metabolite concentrations in postpartum dairy cows

Theriogenology

Effects of intrauterine infection on the function of the corpora lutea formed after first postpartum ovulations in dairy cows

Theriogenology

Ovarian follicular population in buffaloes and cows

Anim Reprod Sci

Energy balance and ovarian follicle development prior to the first ovulation postpartum in dairy cows receiving three levels of dietary fat

Biol Reprod

Effect of the regressing corpus luteum of pregnancy on ovarian folliculogenesis after parturition in cattle

Biol Reprod

Cited by (35)

Ovarian and oviductal pathologies in the buffalo: Occurrence, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches

Induction of ovarian activity in B ulgarian M urrah buffaloes by hormonal treatment in the early postpartum period

Ultrasonic evaluation of uterine involution in Bulgarian Murrah buffalo after administration of oxytocin

Characterization of the Mediterranean Italian buffaloes melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene and its association with reproductive seasonality

Transvaginal follicular aspiration and embryo development in superstimulated early postpartum beef cows and subsequent fertility after artificial insemination

Transrectal Doppler Ultrasound to Study the Uterine Blood Flow Changes During the Puerperium in the Egyptian Buffaloes