Effects of melatonin and controlled internal drug release device treatment on blood metabolitesof buffalo heifers during out-of-breeding season under tropical conditions

Abstract EN

Sixteen Murrah buffalo heifers, divided into control and treatment groups of eight animals each, were used to study the effect of melatonin and controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device treatment on the resumption of ovarian activity during out-of-breeding season (summer solstice).

Treated group were implanted with melatonin (18 mg melatonin /50 kg body weight) for 45 days, then heifers of both groups received CIDR for 9 days.

All heifers received im 500 IU eCG, at day before CIDR removal, and 10 μg GnRH at day after CIDR withdrawal.

All animals were subjected to estrous detection regime daily.

Blood samples in conjunction with transrectal ultrasonography were performed twice weekly to determine blood metabolites concentrations as well as to monitor the ovarian follicular activity.

During out-of-breeding season melatonin treatment resulted in a significant increase in plasma concentrations of albumin, ALT (P  0.01), glucose, HDL, Mg and Ca (P  0.05), while ALP concentrations was decreased (P  0.05).The effect of day after melatonin treatment exhibited increases in glucose concentrations (P  0.01) during day 0, 7 and 35, and creatnine concentrations in day 21 compared other days.

Melatonin and CIDR treatment resulted in an increase in plasma concentrations of albumin, glucose, ALT, Ca (P  0.0 1), HDL and Mg (P  0.05), and reductions in plasma ALP (P  0.01).

The effect of day after melatonin and CIDR treatments resulted in decreases (P  0.05)in the concentrations of plasma total protein, albumin and Ca but glucose increased (P  0.05) after melatonin with CIDR treatment .It is concluded that melatonin and CIDR treatment successfully improved reproductive performance and blood metabolites of buffalo heifers during out-of-breeding season ..