Effect of prostaglandin F2α at insemination on sperm cell numbers and pregnancy rate in beef cattle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1988

Abstract

Fourteen cycling, nonlactating, multiparous beef cows were artificially inseminated (AI) 10 to 12 h after the onset of natural estrus. One unit of frozen-thawed semen containing 100 × 106 total sperm cells was deposited into the body of the uterus. Immediately after AI, alternating cows were injected i.m. with either 25 mg (5 ml) of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) or 5 ml of 0.9% saline-benzyl alcohol control solution. Cows were slaughtered 16 ± 1 h post AI, oviducts were retrieved, segmented into thirds (upper, middle and lower) and flushed with 1 ml of 0.2% gluteraldehyde in phosphate buffered saline. The number of sperm cells was counted using a phase contrast microscope. There were no right or left side effects (P=0.61) on the number of sperm cells recovered per oviduct within cow (389 vs 553; average SEM = 219). PGF had no effect (P=0.77) on the number of sperm cells recovered per oviduct (642 vs 300; average SEM = 231 for PGF and control females, respectively). More sperm cells were recovered from the lower third segment (P<0.05) compared with the middle and upper segments. Ovulation tended to affect (P=0.10) the number of sperm cells recovered per oviduct (742 vs 200; average SEM = 231). Additionally, 114 beef females (68 Angus × Hereford heifers and 46 Chianina crossbred postpartum suckled cows) were treated as described above following AI at natural estrus with 20 × 106 motile sperm cells. Pregnancy rates did not differ significantly in heifers (70.6 vs 58.8%) or in Chianina cows (34.8 vs 52.2%) for control and PGF-treated females, respectively. Overall, pregnancy rates were identical between control and PGF-treated females at 56.1%. In this study, PGF treatment immediately following AI in beef cattle had no effect on the number of sperm cells in the oviducts or on the pregnancy rate. © 1988.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Theriogenology

First Page

109

Last Page

118

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