Changes in Cervical Mucus as an Indicator of Fertility in Aceh Cattle

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cervical mucus viscosity and estrogen concentration, several blood biochemical profiles, and blood macro-mineral levels, as well as to determine the effect of cervical mucus viscosity and pH differences on pregnancy rates in Aceh cattle. Eight females Aceh cows aged 3-7 years old, with body weights of 150-250 kg were synchronized using a 25 mg single dose injection of PGF2α. Afterward, observation of estrus signs was performed for 30 minutes at 06:00 a.m. and at 06:00 p.m. Blood and cervical mucus samples were collected during the first cervical mucus secretion. The estrogen concentrations of each type of cervical mucus, namely thick, moderate, and thin were 29.39±6.29; 23.24±4.62; and 30.93 pg/mL, respectively. The pregnancy rate in cows with a cervical mucus pH of 6 and 9 was 0%. Meanwhile, the groups with a cervical mucus pH 7 and 8 had a pregnancy rate of 50%. An examination of cervical mucus showed different consistencies: five cows had mucus with a thick viscosity, with a 20% pregnancy rate; two had mucus with a moderate viscosity, with a 50% pregnancy rate and one had mucus with a thin viscosity, with a 100% pregnancy percentage. In conclusion, there is no significant relationship between estrogen concentration and cervical mucus viscosity levels in Aceh cattle. Levels of total protein, total cholesterol, and glucose were correlated to the viscosity of the cervical mucus. Higher levels of blood macrominerals (Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, and Mg) in female Aceh cattle resulted in greater viscosities of cervical mucus. The groups with cervical mucus pH of 7 and 8 had higher rates of pregnancy (50%) than the groups with cervical mucus pH of 6 and 9. The viscosity of cervical mucus also had an effect on the success of pregnancy in Aceh cattle.

Investigation of vaginal mucus parameters: Development of models for staging the oestrous cycle of the Bunaji cow

“…Current observation of high viscosity in a fairly high proportion of cows in SC group appears to be similar to an earlier report by Siregar et al. (2019). Though the earlier report was exclusive only for the stage of oestrus, present findings have shown the sustenance of high viscosity in most of the study animals in SC group as well as in USC group.…”

The most Applicable Physical Properties of Cervical Mucus Correlated with High Pregnancy Rate in Egyptian Cows under Heat Stress Condition

“…Also, Zaman et al (2013) reported that in normal cows, the cervical mucus pH was 7.35, paired with a 90% pregnancy rate. Moreover, Siregar et al (2019) informed that the conception rate of Aceh cows was 50% at pH 8.0. Hafez and Hafez (2013) indicated that alkalinity in cervical mucus could reduce sperm motility and cause fertilization failure.…”

“…The aqueous phase contains mostly water (92-95 %) with some ions and metabolites (Tsiligianni et al, 2001), while the glycoproteins (mucins) are the major component of the gel phase (Pluta et al, 2011). The level of gonadal hormones during estrous affect the quality and quantity of this liquid (Tsiligianni et al, 2001;Siregar et al, 2019). Cervical fluid is the first luminal medium that sperm cells encountered, for that cervical mucus is responsible for sperm transport and also plays as a barrier against microbe's infections.…”

“…The most important physical characteristics of cervical mucus related to fertility are appearance, pH, and viscosity (Tsiligianni et al, 2001) and directly associated with E 2 / P 4 ratio and fertility status of dairy animals (Rangnekar et al, 2002). Gonadal hormones show cyclic changes in the physical and chemical properties of cervical mucus (Siregar et al, 2019). The main functions of cervical mucus are sperm transport and also its role as a barrier against microbe infections.…”

The Validity of the Scores of Cervical Mucus during Artificial Insemination for Estimating the Probability of Conceiving in Clinically Healthy Cows

“…Cervical mucus consists of water (95-99%), ions, enzymes, mucins, plasma proteins and bactericidal proteins (Martyn et al, 2014). The mucus is under the control of the reproductive hormones (Siregar et al, 2019). Hormonal fluctuations impact mucus production, composition and ultrastructure of mucus during the oestrus which affects sperm penetrability and may result in fertilization failure (Nakano et al, 2015).…”