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Effect of progesterone administration during growing phase of first dominant follicle on follicular wave pattern in buffalo heifers

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Abstract

In buffaloes, like other domestic mammals, antral follicles develop in a wave-like pattern. Factors predictive of a particular follicular wave pattern are yet to be identified. In this study, we examined the preponderance of 2- versus 3-wave patterns in 46 interovulatory intervals (IOIs) from 36 buffalo heifers, in which a subset of 10 heifers was scanned for 2 consecutive IOIs to record the repeatability of follicular wave pattern. Two-wave pattern was detected in 63.0% and 3-wave follicular pattern in 27.0% IOIs. The dominant follicles (DF) of both wave 1 as well as the ovulatory wave attained a smaller (P < 0.05) maximum diameter in 3-wave cycle as compared to 2-wave cycle. The mean duration of IOI was significantly shorter in 2-wave compared to three-wave cycles (20.5 ± 0.3 vs. 22.3 ± 0.2 days; P < 0.05). Out of 10 buffalo heifers, 7 displayed non-alternating patterns and 3 had alternating follicular wave patterns. We also tested the hypothesis that progesterone administration during early IOI results in increased preponderance of 3-wave pattern and heifers inseminated after ovulation of the third wave DF will have greater fertility. Sixteen heifers subjected to progesterone treatment from D0 (day of ovulation) in a decreasing dose until D5 were compared with control heifers (n = 10). Progesterone treatment significantly reduced the maximum diameter of DF of wave 1 (P < 0.001), whereas the mean duration of IOI remained unchanged (P > 0.05) between the two groups. Progesterone administration during early IOI significantly increased the proportion of 3-wave cycles as compared to control (P < 0.05). The hypothesis that progesterone administration during IOI results in increased preponderance of 3-wave pattern was supported. However, no change in fertility was recorded in progesterone-treated heifers (7 pregnant out of 16; 43.8%) as compared to untreated control heifers (4 out of 10 heifers; 40.0%). In summary, progesterone administration in buffalo heifers during the growing phase of wave 1 resulted in greater preponderance of 3-wave follicular patterns, with no significant effect on fertility.

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Acknowledgements

Our thanks to Director, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes for providing necessary facilities.

Funding

This study was funded by ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar (Haryana), India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Sub-Campus, Nabha, Punjab, 147201, India

    M. H. Jan, S. Kumar, A. Gupta & K. L. Mehrara

  2. ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India

    H. Kumar

  3. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana, India

    R. K. Sharma

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  1. M. H. Jan
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  2. H. Kumar
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  3. S. Kumar
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  6. K. L. Mehrara
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M. H. Jan conducted the experiment and prepared the manuscript, S. Kumar and A. Gupta assisted in animal experimentation, K. L. Mehrara provided assistance in animal handling and ultrasonography, R. K. Sharma and H. Kumar conceived and supervised the work.

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Correspondence to M. H. Jan.

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Jan, M.H., Kumar, H., Kumar, S. et al. Effect of progesterone administration during growing phase of first dominant follicle on follicular wave pattern in buffalo heifers. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 1395–1402 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02143-2

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