Effect of exogenous oxytocin on the expression of oxytocin receptor gene and uterine involution in local Iraqi cows

Abstract

The present work aimed to study the effect of exogenous oxytocin injection on the expression of the oxytocin receptor gene and the duration of uterine involution in the local Iraqi breed of Karradi cows. Twenty cows were divided into two groups. The first group was considered a control; the second group was injected with 100 IU/IM of oxytocin twice weekly for four weeks postpartum. The uterine involution velocity was monitored using ultrasonography by measuring the endometrium thickness, ovarian diameter, cervix diameter, uterine horns diameter, serum progesterone, and estrogen levels by indirect ELISA, and the expression of oxytocin receptor gene was monitored by conventional PCR. The result of the treated group showed that the progesterone concentration was significantly decreased. The estrogen concentration was significantly increased. Moreover, the endometrium thickness was significantly decreased in the second, third, and fourth weeks, also, the ovarian diameter was significantly decreased in the first and second weeks, but it has significantly increased in the fourth week. In addition, the cervix diameter was significantly decreased in the first and second weeks, and the uterine horns diameter was significantly decreased in all weeks compared to the control group at P<0.05. The findings of the PCR study explain a substantial link between rapid uterine involution and OTXRs gene overexpression, where OTXRs gene expression was increased in the oxytocin group in comparison with the control group. This result was present in a coordinated manner with the result of the estrus cycle and ovarian reactivation. We conclude that injection of exogenous oxytocin at 100 IU/IM twice weekly for four weeks postpartum will increase the expression of the oxytocin receptor gene, leading to a decrease in the duration of uterine involution. Accelerate the occurrence of estrus in the local Iraqi breed of Karradi cows.

Hormonal Levels Associated with Dystocia Due to Failure of Cervical Dilation in Sheep and Goats

“…According to the results of this study that is showed the concentration of the hormones progesterone and estrogen during the last days of pregnancy and in the first stage of labor plays a major role in the process of dilating the cervix and completing parturition in sheep and goats agree with [17]. Al-Watar and Hussein [18] illustrated a significant increment of the estrogen level from the 1 st week to the 4 th week over the postpartum period for all groups. The exogenous oxytocin has also exhibited a significant influence on the E2 concentrations.…”