Original Scientific Article
Induction of twinning in Noemi ewes using two protocols of a recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone versus porcine pituitary-derived FSH and their subsequent impacts on maternal hormones
Moustafa Mohamed Zeitoun * ,
Mohamed Atieh Ali ,
Abdulrahman Omar El-Dawas

Mac Vet Rev 2020; 43 (2): 111 - 123

10.2478/macvetrev-2020-0024

Received: 29 January 2020

Received in revised form: 10 July 2020

Accepted: 13 July 2020

Available Online First: 07 August 2020

Published on: 15 October 2020

Correspondence: Moustafa Mohamed Zeitoun, mmzeitoun@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Twinning induction of single-bearing Noemi ewes is an important avenue to maximize the economic feasibility of sheep production. Sixty Noemi ewes were used and randomly assigned to six treatment groups (n=10/group).Two sources of FSH [i.e., porcine (P) vs. human (H)] were given as a single dose or in six doses. The control 1 group was given a single dose of saline (C1), while the control 2 group was given six doses of saline (C6). Ewes in group 3 (P1) were given a single dose of p-FSH, in group 4 six doses of p-FSH (P6), in group 5 a single dose of h-FSH (H1), and in group 6 six doses of h-FSH (H6). The ewes were inserted with CIDR for 10 days with FSH given on day 8. A fertile ram was used at the onset of estrus. Blood samples were collected for hormone analyses. The time between CIDR removal and onset of estrus (63, 38 and 26 hrs. in C, P, and H, respectively) was shortened by FSH administration. FSH increased the incidence of twinning, however single dose resulted in more stillbirths and mortalities. The neonatal survival rate decreased in the P1 (40%) compared to the P6 (65%) treatments. Both sources of FSH raised progesterone and estradiol 17-β compared to the controls. Contrariwise, both h- and p-FSH reduced T4; however, h-but not p-FSH raised T3. In conclusion, using rh-FSH at six descending doses of a total 180 IU in Noemi ewes produced two viable neonates. Moreover, the exogenous FSH raised the sex hormones and T3 in the ewes.

Keywords: ewe, estrogen, FSH, progesterone, T3, twinning

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Copyright

© 2020 Zeitoun M. M. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 43, Issue 2, Pages 111-123, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: 10.2478/macvetrev-2020-0024, 2020

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.