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Fixed-time induction of ovulation in camels superovulated by different eCG modalities during the transition period in Egypt

Superovulation in camels during the transition period

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Abstract

The current investigation aimed to establish a fixed-time induction of ovulation/ insemination protocol in camels superovulated by different equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) regimens during the transition period in Egypt (mid-October to mid-November). Seventeen pluriparous camels, Camelus dromedarius, were used. All females retained controlled intra-vaginal drug releasers (CIDRs) for 13 consecutive days, and at CIDR withdrawal, the camels were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (n = 5) received 1 ml saline intra-muscularly (i.m.), whereas remaining camels were superovulated by 2500 IU eCG either in a single shot (SS, n = 6) or in serial decreasing doses over 3 days (DD, n = 6). Ovarian dynamics were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography at 2-day intervals, and ovulation was induced by 5000 IU hCG i.m. The changes in reproductive hormones throughout the period of the study were determined. The results showed that mean values of total no. of follicles and size of dominant follicles remained low (P < 0.05) in all groups until day of CIDR removal. Thereafter, total follicle no. increased (P < 0.05) in both superovulated groups compared to the control, where the dominant follicles attained the highest (P < 0.05) diameter 12 days after the eCG treatment. Double-ovulation rate was higher (P < 0.05) in SS (50 %) and DD (66.6 %) groups compared to that of control (0.0 %). However, 33.3 % of the SS group developed large anovulatory follicles (ø > 25 mm), which did not respond to induction to ovulation. These results elucidate that eCG administration in serial decreasing doses generates a reliable superovulatory response in camels, and ovulation can be blindly induced 12 days after the gonadotropin treatment. This fixed-time hormonal protocol represents a sufficient alternative to conventional day-to-day ultrasonography and would have profound implication for enhanced fertility in dromedary camels by facilitating infield application of embryo transfer technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal and Poultry Production Division, Desert Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Cairo, Egypt

    Marwa Ahmed Khalifa, Sherif Abdel-Razzak Rateb & Khalid Ahmed El-Bahrawy

  2. Researcher in Physiology of Reproduction, Lab. Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer (L.A.I.E.T.), Mariout Research Station, Al-Nasiriyah st., Mariout, Alexandria, 23712, Egypt

    Sherif Abdel-Razzak Rateb

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  1. Marwa Ahmed Khalifa
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  2. Sherif Abdel-Razzak Rateb
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  3. Khalid Ahmed El-Bahrawy
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Correspondence to Sherif Abdel-Razzak Rateb.

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The present document was achieved in the frame of PROCAMED project, supported by the European Union (ENPI-Joint operational Programme of the Mediterranean Basin-IEVP-CT). The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Division of Animal Production, Physiology Department, Desert Research Center (Egypt) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Khalifa, M.A., Rateb, S.AR. & El-Bahrawy, K.A. Fixed-time induction of ovulation in camels superovulated by different eCG modalities during the transition period in Egypt. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 823–829 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1037-2

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