Serum Profiles of Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoprotein, Oestrone Sulphate and Progesterone During Gestation and Some Factors Influencing the Profiles in Ethiopian Borana and Crossbred Cattle

Abstract

This study presents serum concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG), oestrone sulphate (E1-S) and progesterone (P4), and the effects of some dam and foetus-related factors on these profiles during gestation in Borana and crossbred cattle. The PAG concentrations at 4th week post-conception ranged from 1.5-5.5 and 2.1-4.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 6) and crossbred (n = 8) cattle, respectively. The mean PAG concentrations increased progressively from 4th to 33rd week of gestation (from 3.3-173 ng/ml for Borana and 4.2-240 ng/ml for crossbred cattle) and reached peak around calving. Breed, parity status, dam body weight, foetal sex and foetal birth weight significantly influenced the PAG concentrations. After delivery, the PAG concentrations declined steadily to 5.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 7) and 3.9 ng/ml in crossbred (n = 6) cattle 10 weeks post-partum. The serum E1-S concentrations at 17th week of pregnancy ranged from 0.3-2.6 and 0.9-5.7 ng/ml in Borana (n = 8) and crossbred (n = 9) cattle, respectively. The mean E1-S concentrations increased progressively from 17th to 33rd week of gestation (from 1.1-4.6 ng/ml for Borana and 2.7-10.8 ng/ml for crossbred). Breed, parity status, dam body weight and foetal sex significantly influenced E1-S concentrations. The P4 concentrations at 4th week of pregnancy ranged from 3.2-5.1 and 1.7-8.9 ng/ml in Borana (n = 6) and crossbred (n = 8) cattle, respectively. The P4 level remained elevated throughout pregnancy. This study indicated that the serum PAG and P4 concentrations at 4th and E1-S approximately 17th week of pregnancy were above the cut-off value for pregnancy test and the hormonal profiles observed were comparable to the previous reports. Furthermore, the PAG and E1-S profiles were considerably influenced by factors such as breed, weight and parity status of the dam, and foetal sex and foetal birth weight (only PAG).

Serum, milk, saliva and urine progesterone and estradiol profiles in crossbred (Zebu x Holstein Friesian) dairy cattle

“…The P4 concentration recorded in the present study in crossbred cattle in early stage (first trimester) of pregnancy was similar to previous reports in crossbred cattle as well as local breed (Zebu) cattle in other part of Ethiopia [78] and in Zebu cows in Bangladesh [58]. In contrast, crossbred cows and heifers in the present study had higher serum P4 during their early pregnancy than HF cows in Pakistan [10].…”

Subspecies differences in early fetal development and plasma pregnancy-associated glycoprotein concentrations in cattle1

“…There are also indieations that PAG concentrations differ between genotypes. For example, serum PAG concentrations differ between Ethiopian Boran and Boran x Holstein-Friesian crossbreds during pregnancy (Lobago et al, 2009). Differences in PAG concentrations also exist between Texel and Suffolk ewes (Vandaele et al, 2005).…”

Placental PAGs: gene origins, expression patterns, and use as markers of pregnancy

“…In addition to those described in this review, circulating concentrations of PAGs are also influenced by other factors such as breed, weight, parity status of the dam, fetal sex, fetal number, fetal birth weight as well as the assay platform/antibodies used to perform the PAG measurements themselves (Patel et al 1997, Echternkamp et al 2006, Lobago et al 2009, Mercadante et al 2013. Despite the often perplexing differences observed in circulating PAGs, the measurement of these proteins in maternal blood and milk is becoming a common practice for pregnancy detection in many ruminant production systems.…”