Efficacy of Hormonal Injection on Day 11 Post-Mating in Reducing Embryonic Loss and Selected Blood Parameters in Awassi Ewes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijapm.2026.42.01.14Keywords:
Kisspeptin-10; GnRH; hCG; Metabolites; Reproductive Performance; Embryonic Loss; Awassi ewes.Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a single hormonal injection of Kisspeptin-10 ,GnRH ,hCG and progesterone administered on day 11 post-mating on embryonic survival, serum progesterone concentration, selected amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and reproductive performance in Awassi ewes. Fifty Awassi ewes (3–4 years old; 40–45 kg body weight) were synchronized using intravaginal sponges containing 20 mg flugestone acetate for 14 days and naturally mated. Ewes were randomly allocated into five groups :first group/ control (2 mL normal saline), second group /Kisspeptin-10 (10 µg/kg BW), third group /GnRH (2.5 mL), fourth group /hCG (0.5 mL), and fifth group / progesterone (0.5 mL), administered on day 11 post-mating. Blood samples were collected on days 34, 51, and 68 of gestation. Results showed significant increase (P<0.05)in progesterone and cholesterol of hormonal treatment on day 51,68 compared to control group. Hormonal treatments significantly increased serum amino acid and fatty acid concentrations (P < 0.01) compared with control. Hormonal treatments improved reproductive performance , fertility, twinning rate compared with control . In conclusion, hormonal administration on day 11 post-mating enhances luteal function ,and may contribute to reduced embryonic loss and improved reproductive efficiency in Awassi ewes.
References
Abadi, F. M., Mirfazeli, A., Zaeri, H., Nejabat, M., Taherizadeh, M., Ariaie, M., & Joshaghani, H. (2016). Analysis of plasma amino acids using RP-HPLC and pre-column derivatization with OPA/3-MPA. Medical Laboratory Journal, 10(2).
Abecia, J. A., Forcada, F., Palacín, I., & Beckers, J. F. (2020). Hormonal control of reproduction and metabolism in sheep. Animals, 10(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010070
Allain, C. C., Poon, L. S., Richmond, C. S. G., & Fu, P. C. (1974). Enzymatic determination of total serum cholesterol. Clinical Chemistry, 20, 470–475.
Al-Qass, J. E., Daib, I. A., & Al-Jalili, Z. F. (1993). Fundamentals of sheep and goat production and management. Dar Al-Hikma Press, University of Baghdad.
Antoniazzi, A. Q., Webb, B. T., Romero, J. J., Ashley, R. L., Smirnova, N. P., Henkes, L. E., Bott, R. C., & Hansen, T. R. (2013). Endocrine delivery of interferon tau protects the corpus luteum from prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced luteolysis in ewes. Biology of Reproduction, 88(6), Article 144. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.112.105684
Bazer, F. W., Ott, T. L., & Spencer, T. E. (1998). Maternal recognition of pregnancy: Comparative aspects: A review. Placenta, 19(Suppl. 2), 375–386.
Bell, A. W., & Greenwood, P. L. (2016). Nutrient partitioning and metabolic adaptations during pregnancy in ruminants. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 185–197.
Beltramo, M., Robert, V., Decourt, C., & Delaunay, F. (2018). Towards new strategies to manage livestock reproduction using kisspeptin analogs. Theriogenology, 112, 148–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.01.037
Christenson, L. K., & Devoto, L. (2003). Cholesterol transport and steroidogenesis by the corpus luteum. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 1, 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-1-90
Coleson, M. P. T., Sanchez, N. S., Ashley, A. K., Ross, T. T., & Ashley, R. L. (2015). Human chorionic gonadotropin increases serum progesterone, number of corpora lutea and angiogenic factors in pregnant sheep. Reproduction, 150(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-14-0632
Coleson, M. P., Sanchez, N. S., Ashley, A. K., Ross, T. T., & Ashley, R. L. (2015). Human chorionic gonadotropin increases serum progesterone, number of corpora lutea and angiogenic factors in pregnant sheep. Reproduction, 150(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-15-0103
Cunha, T. O., & Martins, J. P. N. (2022). Graduate student literature review: Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on follicular and luteal dynamics and fertility in cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 105, 8401–8410. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-21991
da Fonseca, J. F., Castro, A. C. R., Arashiro, E. K. N., et al. (2018). Effects of hCG administration on accessory corpus luteum formation and progesterone production in estrous-induced nulliparous Santa Inês ewes. Animal Reproduction, 15(2), 135–139.
Diskin, M. G., & Kenny, D. A. (2019). Optimising reproductive performance of beef and dairy cattle and sheep. Animal.
Duncan, D. B. (1955). Multiple range and multiple F-test. Biometrics, 11, 1–24.
Edwards, S. J., Smaill, B., O’Connell, A. R., Johnstone, P. D., Stevens, D. R., Quirke, L. D., & Juengel, J. L. (2016). Reduced ovulation rate, failure to be mated and fertilization failure/embryo loss are the underlying causes of poor reproductive performance in juvenile ewes. Animal Reproduction Science, 167, 125–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.02.017
Fernandez, J., Bruno-Galarraga, M. M., Soto, A. T., Cueto, M. I., Gibbons, A. E., & Gonzalez-Bulnes, A. (2018). Hormonal therapeutic strategy on the induction of accessory corpora lutea in relation to follicle size and on the increase of progesterone in sheep. Theriogenology, 105, 184–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.09.030
Fernández, J., Bruno-Galarraga, M., Cueto, M. I., Bonadeo, N., Notaro, U., Soto, A. T., et al. (2024). Changes on corpus luteum structure and progesterone synthesis pathway after hCG or GnRH treatment during the early luteal phase in sheep. Animal Reproduction Science, 265, 107474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107474
Gottsch, M. L., Clifton, D. K., & Steiner, R. A. (2009). From KISS1 to kisspeptins: An historical perspective and suggested nomenclature. Peptides, 30(1), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2008.06.016
Hitch, C. J., & Kansal, R. (2022). Kisspeptin and its potential as a reproductive therapeutic in domestic animals. Animals, 12(3), 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030345
Hosseinzadeh Aski, A., Masoudi, R., Zare-Shahneh, A., et al. (2016). The effect of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) injection combined with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment on reproductive performance of Zandi ewes during non-breeding season. Archives of Razi Institute, 71(4), 269–276.
Jordan, K. M., Inskeep, E. K., & Knights, M. (2009). Use of gonadotropin releasing hormone to improve reproductive responses of ewes introduced to rams during seasonal anestrus. Animal Reproduction Science, 116(3–4), 254–264.
Juengel, J. L., Quirke, L. D., Peers-Adams, J., Johnstone, P. D., & Smith, P. (2023). Embryo development and survival in peripubertal ewe lambs. Animal Production Science, 63(12), 1177–1187. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN22417
Karaca, F., Ataman, M., & Çoyan, K. (2009). Synchronization of estrus with short- and long-term progestagen treatments and the use of GnRH prior to short-term progestagen treatment in ewes. Small Ruminant Research, 81(2), 185–188.
Kittok, R. J., Stellflug, J. N., & Lowry, S. R. (1983). Enhanced progesterone and pregnancy rate after gonadotropin administration in lactating ewes. Journal of Animal Science, 56(3), 652–655. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1983.563652x
Kotani, M., Detheux, M., Vandenbogaerde, A., Communi, D., Vanderwinden, J. M., Le Poul, E., Brézillon, S., Tyldesley, R., Suarez-Huerta, N., Vandeput, F., Blanpain, C., Schiffmann, S. N., & Parmentier, M. (2001). The metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1 encodes kisspeptins, the natural ligands of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276(37), 34631–34636. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M104847200
Leroy, J. L. M. R., et al. (2022). Metabolic adaptations during pregnancy and fertility outcomes. Theriogenology.
Lorenzo-Torres, A., Rangel-Santos, R., Bautista-Pérez, Y. V., & González-Maldonado, J. (2025). The presence and size of the corpus luteum influence the in vitro production of sheep embryos. Veterinary Sciences, 12(8), 690. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12080690
Ismaeel, M. A., Saed, O. S., & Dhahir, N. N. (2023). Effect of different gestation periods on serum estrogen, progesterone, and some biochemical parameters in Awassi ewes. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 54(3), 884–889.
Macklon, N. S., & Brosens, J. J. (2022). The role of hCG and progesterone in early pregnancy. Human Reproduction Update.
Martínez-Soto, J. C., Landeras, J., & Gadea, J. (2013). Spermatozoa and seminal plasma fatty acids as predictors of cryopreservation success. Andrology, 1(3), 365–375.
Michels, H., Vanmontfort, D., Dewil, E., & Decuypere, E. (1998). Genetic variation of prenatal survival in relation to ovulation rate in sheep: A review. Small Ruminant Research, 29(2), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(97)00130-0
Navarro, V. M. (2020). Kisspeptin and metabolic control of reproduction. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
O’Connell, A. R., Demmers, K. J., Smaill, B., Reader, K. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2016). Early embryo loss, morphology, and effect of previous immunization against androstenedione in the ewe. Theriogenology, 86, 1285–1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.069
Pinilla, L., Aguilar, E., Dieguez, C., Millar, R. P., & Tena-Sempere, M. (2012). Kisspeptins and reproduction: Physiological roles and regulatory mechanisms. Physiological Reviews, 92(3), 1235–1316.
Quintero, J., Olguín, H., Quezada, A., et al. (2015). Effect of hCG application on day 12 post-mating on the reproductive efficiency and plasmatic concentrations of progesterone in hair ewes. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 49(4), 487–490.
Reynolds, L. P., Borowicz, P. P., Caton, J. S., Vonnahme, K. A., Luther, J. S., Buchanan, D. S., Hafez, S. A., & Grazul-Bilska, A. T. (2010). Uteroplacental vascular development and placental function: An update. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 54(2–3), 355–366. https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.082799lr
Roberts, R. M., & Schalue-Francis, T. (1990). Maternal recognition of pregnancy and embryonic loss. Theriogenology, 33(1), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691X(90)90505-H
Scaramuzzi, R. J., Martin, G. B., & Campbell, B. K. (2019). Regulation of ovulation rate and luteal function in sheep. Reproduction, 158, R173–R191.
Shorten, P. R., O’Connell, A. R., Demmers, K. J., Edwards, S. J., Cullen, N. G., & Juengel, J. L. (2013). Effect of age, weight, and sire on embryo and fetal survival in sheep. Journal of Animal Science, 91(10), 4641–4653. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2013-6415
Silva, B. D. M., Silva, T. A. S. N., Moreira, N. H., et al. (2015). Ovulation induction in ewes using GnRH in long- and short-term synchronization protocols. Animal Reproduction, 12(2), 312–315.
SPSS Inc. (2014). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 20) for Windows. SPSS Inc.
Steel, R. G. D., & Torrie, J. H. (1990). Principles and procedures of statistics: A biometrical approach (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Kogakusha.
Wahab, F., et al. (2018). Kisspeptin signalling in reproduction and metabolism. Journal of Endocrinology, 237, R1–R13.
Wolfenson, D., Roth, Z., & Meidan, R. (2000). Impaired reproduction in heat-stressed cattle: Basic and applied aspects. Animal Reproduction Science, 60, 535–547.
Yakin, K. (2023). Progesterone signaling in the regulation of luteal steroidogenesis. Molecular Human Reproduction, 29(8), gaad022. https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gaad022

