Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University
2
M.Sc. Graduate Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
3
Associated Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan,
4
Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Farm animals face different types of abiotic stresses due to many management activities. Stress has adverse consequences on the animal's health and welfare. Laparoscopic artificial insemination (LAI) in sheep is also one of the mini surgery activities that associated with the use of sedatives, catching and fettering the animal, the insertion of instruments into the abdomen, and manipulation of the reproductive tract. All these actions are stressful and may impact stress axis, hematological and biochemical alterations, antioxidant status and fertility outcome. The administration of acepromazine combined with a multivitamin and amino acids complex may be a useful strategy for reducing stress in sheep undergoing laparoscopic AI.
Materials and Methods: In this experiment, 50 non-pregnant Afshar breed ewes, aged 3-4 years, with almost the same body weight and score, were used. The estrous cycle of the ewes was synchronized by flurogestone acetate loaded sponges and eCG hormone. At the time of sponge removal, the ewes were divided into two groups (n = 25). All of the ewes, 54 h after sponge removal, were exposed to stress caused by LAI. In the first group (treatment), with sponge removal, each ewe was received 10 ml of the Multiaminoject intramuscularly. Also, 20 min before LAI, in addition to Multiaminoject, each animal also received 0.0834 mg aspromazine (i.v) per kg of body weight. At the same time, the ewes of the second group were injected with physiological saline and were considered as control. Changes in plasma cortisol concentration and its kinetics were measured from zero (20 min before LAI) to 180 min after through serial blood sampling. Changes of hematological and biochemical parameters of jugular vein blood were evaluated 20 min before and 40 min after LAI. The plasma antioxidant status was measured at the times of sponge removal, LAI and 3 days after LAI. The pregnancy rate was recorded by ultrasound at 45 days.
Results and Discussion: Laparoscopic AI induced stress response in the ewes, by that, 20 minutes after LAI, the concentration of cortisol increased significantly compared to the baseline concentration (P < 0.05). In this research, the injection of the aspromazine along with a multivitamins and amino acids complex could not inhibit the secretion of cortisol during laparoscopic surgery, and it caused the rejection of the hypothesis of this research. The reason for this discrepancy is related to the type of sedative used to reduce or eliminate pain during surgery. It has been reported that plasma cortisol response is reduced by ketoprofen is and completely removed by detomidine. As a result, after LAI, the number of white blood cells and the plasma concentration of malodaldehyde increased and the hematocrit, hemoglobin and total antioxidant capacity decreased (P < 0.05), but the concentration of plasma proteins did not change (P > 0.05). Acute stressors cause a transient increase in the number of blood cells in the blood circulation. The cause of this phenomenon is the contraction of the spleen due to the stimulation of catecholamines. In addition, with the increase in cortisol secretion, blood cells are released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. In a study, the use of supplements containing various vitamins and minerals, one week before and one week after laparoscopic surgery, improved the antioxidant status of patients after surgery and the level of plasma malodaldehyde decreased significantly. The reason for not seeing a significant effect on antioxidant parameters in this research may be the type of supplement containing antioxidants and the time of its use before and after surgery. Injection of aspromazine combined with Multiaminoject increased plasma proteins and decreased the level of aspartate aminotransferase enzyme (P < 0.05). Depending on its intensity and type, stress causes damage and release of tissue and liver enzymes into the blood. In a research, it was shown that the plasma concentration of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase increases due to transportation stress in pigs. The protective effects of vitamin and amino acid supplements in preventing liver damage have been reported in previous studies. The decrease in enzyme concentration after laparoscopy in the treatment receiving aspromazine and multi amino acids may be related to its protective effects. The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference in fertility outcomes between the two groups (P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate for the acepromazine and Multiaminoject-treated group was 50%, while the pregnancy rate for the control group was 45%. This result is probably caused by the lack of interference or partial interference of aspromazine with uterine contractions around ovulation and conception.
Conclusion: The authors concluded that acepromazine combined with a multivitamin and amino acids complex, did not have a significant effect on fertility outcome, blood hematological and biochemical alterations and the oxidative stress generated by laparoscopic AI in ewes, but the severity of tissue damage reduce and plasma globulin concentration increase in response to acepromazine combined with a multivitamin and amino acids complex injection. It is important to note that this is just one study and that more research would be needed to confirm these findings.
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