Hormonal Profiles in the Serum and
Follicular Fluid of Female Camel (Camelus
dromedarius) During the Peak and the Low
Breeding Season
Shujait Ali, Nazir
Ahmad*, Nafees Akhtar, Zia-ur-Rahman1 and Maqbool Ahmad
Department of
Theriogenology; 1Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan*Corresponding author:
profnazir53@hotmail.com
Abstract
Serum and follicular
fluid concentrations of some hormones during the low (May to October) and the
peak (November to April) breeding seasons in female camels with small and large
Graafian follicles were investigated.
Ovaries of 25 adult female camels slaughtered at a local abattoir were
collected. Jugular blood samples and
follicular fluid aspirated from small (5-9 mm) and large (10-20
mm) follicles were analyzed for progesterone, estradiol, T3, T4 and cortisol
concentrations. Serum progesterone and cortisol concentrations were
significantly higher (P<0.05) during the low than the peak breeding season.
However, reverse was true for the serum estradiol, T3 and T4 levels. Animals
with small follicles had higher (P<0.05) serum progesterone and cortisol
concentrations than those with large follicles, while reverse was true for serum
T3 levels. Follicular size had non significant effect on serum estradiol and T4
levels. In the follicular fluid, estradiol concentration was higher (P<0.05)
during the low breeding season. However, season had non significant effect on
follicular fluid levels of other hormones. Size of the follicle affected only
progesterone level in the follicular fluid, which was higher (P<0.05) in large
follicles. In conclusion, serum contents of estradiol, T3 and T4 were higher
during the peak than the low breeding season; while reverse was true for serum
progesterone and cortisol contents. For the follicle fluid, contents of
estradiol were higher during the low than the peak breeding season. Follicle
size influenced its progesterone contents only, which were higher in large than
in small follicles.